Martin loses big time on stage 5; Catalunya hopes all but ended

Dan Martin, pictured, and overnight race leader Bart De Clercq (Lotto-Soudal) were the two big contenders missing from the front group that broke clear of the rest today. The Irishman is now 10th overall at 1:35.

By Brian Canty

Dan Martin has had his chances of outright victory at the Volta A Catalunya dashed this afternoon after he lost considerable time on the fifth stage of the race from Alp to Valls.

The Cannondale-Garmin rider ceded 1:35 to stage winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) who jumped away from a select front group of favourites in the final run-in towards the finish.

Martin and overnight race leader Bart De Clercq (Lotto-Soudal) were the two big contenders missing from that group and both have slipped out of contention.

The Irishman is now 10^th overall at 1:35 while the Belgian is 12th at 2:27.

It means Team Sky’s Richie Porte is the new race leader and though he missed out on a time bonus for finishing fourth on the stage today he’s now the man to beat.

He has Wednesday’s stage winner into Girona, Domenico Pozzevivo (Ag2r La Mondiale), hot on his heels at five seconds with Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) next at seven seconds.

Martin has nothing to lose now for the remaining two stages and if he has the energy he’ll surely go on the attack.

Richie Porte rides into the finish for the race lead today. He will have Nicolas Roche for support in the next few stages. The Tasmanian is having a great season, taking two stages and the overall at Paris-Nice. He has also clinched the Australian time trial title, a stage win and 2nd overall at the Tour Down Under and 4th overall, a stage win and the climbers' classification at the Volta ao Algarve.

Tomorrow’s stage from Cervera to Port Aventura is one where he could certainly do something in as it features a stinging category one climb midway through the 194 kilometre leg while the category three Alt Del Coll Reig with 30 kilometres to go is another pinch point.

But given his ominous form as the classics season looms, it’s unlikely a man of Martin's talent will be given any slack.

The only other Irishman in the race, Nicolas Roche, put in an excellent performance, crossing the line in 15^th at 44 seconds.

He’s 39^th on general classification at 19:20 and will know he’s in for a very difficult couple of days.

Already, Roche has been superb in service of Porte and on yesterday’s stage to La Molina he did some tremendous pulling on the front.

“Yesterday I was on the front at one stage for 40 kilometres in a crosswind and on the climb up to the finish I rode six kilometres on the front,” said Roche.

“I could feel the effort of that in my legs today but I still did quite a bit of work on the front to try and set it up for Richie.

“I was in the front when the groups began to split but Valverde's attack put me out the back door.

“I lost 44 seconds in the final eight kilometres but still wanted to ride hard as the team prize is something we want to do well in also,” he added.

Tomorrow, Roche and his teammates will need to put up an heroic performance to keep Porte in the race lead.

With the top eight separated by just 43 seconds the attacks will come thick and fast and the Irishman will be required to drag anything dangerous back.

Incidentally, Chris Froome looked in all kinds of difficulty today, losing over eight minutes and he trails by over 36 minutes now.

He has been ill and so the team has supported Porte as leader this week.