Dan Martin is showing his first really top climbing form of the season in Spain and has set himself up for an asssault on overall victory.
By Brian Canty
Ireland’s Dan Martin has moved to within striking distance of the leader’s jersey at the Volta A Catalunya after another gutsy performance this afternoon.
The Cannondale-Garmin rider crossed the line atop the summit finish at the ski station of La Molina eight seconds behind stage winner Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing) to move to within 27 seconds of the race lead.
Overnight leader Pierre Rolland (Europcar) put up a brave fight in an effort to retain his hold on the jersey but he lost over five minutes and slipped outside the top 10 as the standings saw a considerable shake-up.
Bart De Clerq of Lotto Soudal is now the man everyone must try and distance over the coming three stages after he clung doggedly to that front group.
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The Belgian was in the break on day one which had almost three minutes on the peloton by the finish, but his time as race leader is only expected to be temporary.
He holds a 21 second advantage over Team Sky’s Rochie Porte who was second today, with yesterday’s stage winner into Girona, Domenico Pozzevivo (Ag2r La Mondiale), now third at 26 seconds.
Martin is well poised in fourth place at 27 seconds with Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) breathing down his neck a further second behind.
The Irishman yet again proved he’s in really good form at the moment with an attack out of a front group of around 15 riders with about three kilometres to go.
Just prior to that Team Sky’s Vasil Kiryienka had gone clear and eventual winner Van Garderen went in pursuit, with Martin becoming gapped slightly as the pace ramped up.
Then came a massive acceleration from Contador who surged forward and only Colombian Darwin Atapuma of BMC could go with him.
Contador seemed to flag slightly towards the line which allowed Van Garderen take the win while behind, Porte, sprang into action and rocketed around a host of riders – including Martin - for second.
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That late assault saw a sizeable shake-up overall but the top 10 on general classification are all separated by just 54 seconds, meaning the race is very much up for grabs.
And there are 10 different teams represented in the top 10, so it will be an enthralling battle over the coming days.
Tomorrow’s stage features a category two climb towards the finish so Martin could try something there.
But the likelihood is he will keep his powder dry until Saturday’s penultimate stage where there’s a category one climb midway through the stage and a short, sharp category three climb with around 34 kilometres to go.
Failing that, Sunday’s final stage features a tough finishing circuit where eight laps with a climb of 165 metres must be negotiated after a flat 70-kilometre run.
The only other Irishman in the race is Nicolas Roche and he came home in a group just over 10 minutes down today.
The Team Sky man is now 46th overall, 19 minutes down on De Clercq.
Stage 4, Volta A Catalunya
Tona - La Molina, 188km
1 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC 5:00:36
2 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky 0:03:00
3 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:08:00
4 Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin
5 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
6 Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) BMC Racing Team 0:11:00
7 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:15:00
8 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:19:00
9 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky 0:21:00
10 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Lampre-Merida
48 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky 0:10:03
General Classification
1 Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Soudal 18:32:02
2 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky 0:21:00
3 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:26:00
4 Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin 0:27:00
5 Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:28:00
6 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:45:00
7 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:48:00
8 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo 0:51:00
9 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:52:00
10 Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) BMC 0:54:00
46 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky 19:02:00
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