Dan Martin put in a great performance on today’s final stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné (2.UWT) to claim a podium finish as he moved up from fourth overall to third after a late attack on the final climb.
Today’s 151-kilometre stage took the riders from Le Pont to Superdévoluy and featured six categorised climbs, including the first cat climbs of the Col du Moissiere and Col du Noyer before finishing on the third cat climb to Superdévoluy.
Going into the stage, Martin sat in fourth position overall, nine seconds behind both Richie Porte (BMC Racing) and Romain Bardet (Ag2R-La Mondiale).
Etixx-Quick Step set a fierce pace coming onto the penultimate climb of the Col du Noyer with Tony Martin driving the peloton as they chased the lone leader – Steve Cummings (Dimension Data for Qhubeka). Cummings was the last rider out front from a break of fourteen riders which had gone clear inside the first hour of racing.
Contador (Tinkoff) who started the day 35″ down on Froome attacked on the Noyer about three kilometres from the summit and Dan Martin was the first to react.
The Irish rider was unable to get across with Froome next to try and bring back the Spaniard. Froome eventually caught Contador about one kilometre from the top with Porte and Bardet on his wheel, as Martin was dropped.
Cummings crested the Col du Noyer three minutes clear of Froome’s group with Martin just a few seconds down. Bardet and Contador took turns to attack Froome and these cat-and-mouse tactics played into Martin’s hands, allowing him to get back onto Froome’s group just before they started the final climb.
Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step) was next to bridge across to the yellow jersey group along with three of Froome’s team-mates – Mikel Landa, Wout Poels and Sergio Henao.
The Team Sky riders set a good pace as they started the climb, trying to discourage further attacks. Up front, Cummings stretched his lead to over four minutes with two kilometres remaining.
The chase group stayed together on the final climb as Team Sky continued to set the pace. Eventually, Pierre Rolland (Cannondale) made a move but shortly after he was recaptured, Martin surged clear.
He was chased by Bardet, but the others in the group were struggling. Martin claimed second on the stage for a six second bonus with Bardet finishing right behind.
Porte however, finished five seconds down to lose his podium spot. The result for Dan Martin caps off an impressive week for the Irish rider and the Etixx-Quick Step team. In addition to his third overall, Julian Alaphilippe finished in 6th place and also won the young rider’s competition.
Final General Classification
1. Chris Froome (Team Sky)
2. Romain Bardet (Ag2R La Mondiale) @ 12″
3. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) @ 19″
4. Richie Porte (BMC Racing) @ 21″
5. Alberto Contador @ 35″
Porte might aswell have stead with Team Sky if he gonna as good as ride for Froome. Deservedly lost his podium placing, Bardet and Martin deserved it for trying make something happen at least
Come on the Dan 🙂
Great week for Dan. Looking forward to watching him in TDF.