Team manager of Etixx-Quick Step, Patrick Lefevre, has confirmed that the signing of Dan Martin will happen shortly. The Irish rider is set to race for a team other than the Garmin squad for the first time in his career, and a number of teams had been linked with him.
Lefevere spoke to Het Nieuwsblad about the imminent signing, and feels that there are good opportunities for Martin to work well with Julian Alaphilippe.
“In the difficult hilly classics we had the departure of Kwiatkowski to Team Sky, which left a gap. Agreed, Julian Alaphilippe this year was second in Flèche Wallonne and second in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but he did it again under the wings of Kwiatkowski,” said Lefevre.
“Julian is still only 23 years old. It would not be fair to him to have all that pressure to win next season. Along with Daniel Martin, he can form a lethal pair next year in the Ardennes, “said Lefevere.
Martin has proven that he can win the top races. In 2013, he won Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the following year, took victory in the Tour of Lombardy. In addition, he has also won the Tour of Poland and the Tour of Catalonia.
And Lefevre doesn’t just see opportunities for Martin in the one-day races. He said, “Martin was seventh last year in the Tour of Spain and also won a stage in the Vuelta and the Tour. I’m not saying he will win the Tour, but Martin is still only 28 years old (ed: he’s 29).
With the departure from the team of the Colombian rider Rigoberto Uran, Lefevre will be eager to have somebody to fill that gap as a GC contender.
Raymond Leddy
seems strange, EQS don’t have a great showing in any mountainous stages, D might have a lot of work to do to any of his trademark victories? BMC would have been a better base for his talent.
Gary Power
A good move in summary!!!
Good man Dan…!!
Good move in my very humble opinion
Jonathan H. Shannon whaddya think this will mean for their Ardennes squad? Alaphilippe is surely one of the biggest talents to emerge this year, and certainly deserves Ardennes backing. Martin has 2 Monuments to his name, and was a bad corner away from a third. Can they coexist/play off of each other in Ardennes?
I think they will work v well together. DM will be the more senior “go to” man but Alaphillipe will need to make his mark. I think they will split monuments. It makes sense (fortunately there are lots of Spring Classics)
Agreed, I dunno if I can think of a better hilly classics duo going now. Also, Alaphilippe’s got a big kick for an Ardennes bunch sprint, wonder if they can play the Martin otf/Alaphilippe waiting for the finish game as he grows stronger.
Absolutely. It will be amazing to watch them in 2016.
Heck. I will have the time to actually watch them in person 🙂