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Dan Martin rode well on the queen stage in Switzerland today while Nicolas Roche put in some Trojan efforts and appears to be building the form he came to this race in search of.
Gavin McLoughlin
A valiant Dan Martin took 6th place on the queen stage of the Tour de Suisse today, Friday. The Irishman finished in the second group on the road, 22 seconds behind eventual stage winner Rui Alberto Costa (Movistar).
Tejay van Garderen’s (BMC) presence in the lead group meant Martin fell one place in the general classification standings - to 7th place overall - but the Garmin-Sharp rider did not lose any time on the overall lead and is still 1:23 behind Mathias Frank of BMC.
Nicolas Roche put in a herculean effort in support of Saxo-Tinkoff leader Roman Kreuziger on the slopes of the day’s critical hors-categorie climb, and the Irishman eventually finished the day in 14th place, 1:15 behind Costa. This result elevates Roche into 13th place on general classification, 3:37 behind Frank.
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While obviously far from the best result of Roche's career, he was still at the head of the race despite his team work duties on the climb and having come to this race seeking form, he appears to be shaping that objective very nicely.
The nerves were jangling at the start in Meilen this morning as this was the day where the favourites would fight their greatest battle. The hors-categorie Albulapass loomed large up the road, and Irish observers were praying for fortune to fall upon Martin and Roche.
In the early part of the day, it took a considerable amount of time for a breakaway to be established. Sam Bewley (Orica-Green Edge) charged clear immediately after the stage began, but the Kiwi was unable to make his move stick. Attack followed attack, but it wasn’t until the 70km mark that a 14-strong contingent managed to get up the road.
Luis Leon Sanchez (Blanco Pro Cycling) was the danger man as far as general classification was concerned, the Spaniard having begun the day 6:29 behind the lead.
The breakaway’s efforts were always going to be in vain today, however, and as the race approached the lower slopes of the Albulapass the massed ranks of Roche’s Saxo-Tinkoff squad set about reeling in the escapees.
Joe Dombrowski (Sky) was first to attack the group of favourites, and the young American’s move was shortly replicated by Simone Stortoni and Michele Scarponi (both Lampre-Merida).
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With 5 kilometres left to the summit, the tenacious Roche assumed control of the pace-setting and gradually the race began to come back together. A smattering of bike-lengths behind, Martin still looked comfortable.
The key move came when Dutch powerhouse Bauke Mollema sprung vigorously forward and dragged Costa, van Garderen and Thibaut Pinot (Francaise des Jeux) along for company.
Roche’s tank was empty and neither he nor Martin could follow the move initially. Martin was then able to settle into a rhythm, desperately driving a small group up the mountain in pursuit.
The Garmin-Sharp leader’s pace was too strong for his companions and as the summit neared the Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner’s blue helmet bobbed wonderfully into shot as he latched himself onto the back of the lead group.
But Martin paid a heavy toll for his efforts and when Pinot danced away to crest the mountain first and commence the speedy 10 kilometre descent to the finish-line, the Irishman could not hang on.
The leaders plunged downhill with Martin and Dombrowski in pursuit, but it quickly became apparent that an epic triumph would elude the Irishman.
There was a moment of panic for television viewers when the inflatable arch positioned 2 kilometres from the finish collapsed just as the leaders were passing through, but fortunately none were harmed as bystanders held it up off the road with just enough room to enable the riders squeeze under.
Rui Costa led the lead group through the final bends, and the Portuguese would cling on to take a marvelous sprint victory.
So no stage victory joy for the Irish on this most arduous day of the Tour de Suisse, but both are very well placed overall as we enter the final weekend of the race.
A bunch finish is likely tomorrow, and we conclude on Sunday with a 27 kilometre time-trial of which the last 10 kilometres are uphill. That course should play to Roche and Martin’s strengths and will hopefully enable the Irish duo to hold on to their high overall placings or maybe even nudge higher.
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