Dan Martin has gotten back to winning ways; taking the stage and climbers’ jersey for his efforts.
Ireland’s Dan Martin has wasted no time in getting his tenure with Etixx-QuickStep off to a flying start by taking stage victory at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stage race in Spain.
The specialist climber waited until the ascent up to the finish and put in a blistering surge that carried him to victory on Thursday’s stage 2.
He also collected the polka dot jersey for the best climber in the race thanks to his efforts.
It was Martin’s first win since 2014.
The victory atop the climb at Fredes came after the breakaway was caught very close to the finish and the Irishman put in his daring late move.
He came across the line clearly delighted and with a two second advantage over Jesus Herrada of Movistar who led home the main group Martin had pounced from.
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Race leader Wout Poels of Team Sky, who won the opening time trial on Wednesday, was 3rd and retains his grip on yellow.
Movistar’s Jose Herrada had attacked further down the final climb at the end of the 163km stage from Castellon to Fredes.
And he was still out front as he passed under the red kite signalling just 1km remained.
However, the front of the Team Sky-led main group just behind was a hive of activity.
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Race leader Poels reacted when Roompot Oranje Peloton’s Pieter Weening attacked in pursuit of Herrada up front.
And while a number of others also kicked off the front of the group, nothing stuck until Martin put in the decisive move that carried him clear after Herrada, whom he caught and passed.
The only consolation for the Movistar man was that it was his team mate and brother Jesus who came through for 2nd place.
Martin lost 1:02 during Wednesday’s TT so he does not feature overall, thus far. The race continues until Sunday.
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
Stage 2: Castellon-Fredes (163.3km)
1. Dan Martin (Ire) Etixx-Quick Step, 4-10-06
2. Jesus Herrada (Esp) Movistar, at 2s
3. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, st
4. Beñat Intxausti (Esp) Team Sky, st
5. Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale, st
6. Ion Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, st
7. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, st
8. Eduard Prades (Esp) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, st
9. Dayer Quintana (Col) Movistar, st
10. Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale, st
General Classification
1. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, 4-32-42
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, at 15s
3. Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana, at 22s
4. Jesus Herrada (Esp) Movistar, at 26s
5. Bob Jungels (Lux) Etixx-Quick Step, at 27s
6. Javier Moreno (Esp) Movistar, at 32s
7. Beñat Intxausti (Esp) Team Sky, at 33s
8. Ion Izagirre (Esp) Movistar, at 38s
9. Leopold Koenig (Cze) Team Sky, at 39s
10. Stef Clement (Ned) IAM Cycling, at 45s
13. Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx-QuickStep 1:00
Climbers' Classification
1 Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) 10 points
2 Wouter Poels (Sky) 9 points
3 Jesús Herrada (Movistar) 8 points
4 Federico Burchio (GM Europa Ovini) 6 points
5 Beñat Intxausti (Sky) 4 points
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