Dan Martin is still in the fight for a podium place at La Vuelta 2020; emerging from the most dangerous day with his dreams of a first Grand Tour podium still intact. But he now has work to do.
The Irish cyclist was beaten by most, though not all, of his GC rivals on today's stage 13 TT. But he performed as well, perhaps a little better, than expected of him on a mainly flat race against the watch.
However, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) did exactly what was expected of him; winning the stage and putting time into every one to re-take the race leader's jersey.
Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) perhaps did a little better than expected and while he lost the race lead to Roglic, the time gaps are not insurmountable.
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The general classification man of the day was Hugh Carthy; the EF Pro Cycling rider taking a career-best TT result in 4th place.
Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) remains 4th overall. And while the time he must make up on the British rider is no longer a game of reclaiming seconds here and there, he is still in the fight.
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The TT - some 33.7km from Muros to Mirador de Ézaro with a short climb to finish - was won by Roglic in a time of 46:39; the Slovenian breaking Will Barta's heart after the American CCC Team rider led for so long only to be beaten by one second by Roglic.
In 3rd place today was Nelson Oliveira (Movistar), who was just 10 seconds down on Roglic. Then came Carthy; not a noted TT rider but clearly in the form of his life after his summit finish win on Sunday. He was also buoyed by riding for the Grand Tour podium. Carthy was 4th today, just 25 seconds down on Roglic; a brilliant ride.
Carapaz was 7th, some 49 seconds down on Roglic, and Martin was 13th, some 1:17 down on Roglic; a solid day's work from the Irishman in what has always been a weaker discipline for him.
Enric Mas (Movisar) was the biggest GC loser today as he started the day in 5th place overall but could only manage 16th on the day and was 1:43 down.
The result means Roglic now leads the race again, with a 39 second cushion on Carapaz in 2nd place. Then comes Carthy; 47 seconds down on Roglic and just 12 seconds down on Carapaz.
And then comes Dan Martin in 4th place; 1:42 down on Roglic, 1:03 down on Carapaz and 55 seconds down on Carthy. And as Mas is 5th and now 3:23 down on Roglic, barring major incident the race for the three podium places is between the top four men.
In truth, it is difficult to see how and where Dan Martin will make up time on Carthy, Carapaz or Roglic. But if he is to do so he must go on the attack and hope for one of them to have a bad day.
Martin's hopes of making the podium have suffered a set-back today but, unlike many other times in his career, he has emerged from this TT with his chance of making the podium still alive. It's harder for him now but it's still possible. There is still a long way to go.
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