Latest News

Race report: Martin 13th in stage; climbs GC

September 09, 2011 - Filed under: Team Garmin-Barracuda

Comments (0)

Dan Martin rode to 13th in Friday’s stage into Spain’s Basque Country and climbed to 13th overall at the Vuelta a España.

Martin finished with the main GC group at 1:33 behind the stage-winner. “I am little disappointed that it didn’t come back together for a sprint in the stage, because I think I would have had a good chance,” Martin said.

“I’ve showed a massive progression this year. I was in the front group again today in stage 19 and what’s been an incredibly hard Vuelta. Every day we’ve seen guys dropping out of the GC, so I’ve slowly been coming back, coming back. Too bad there isn’t a fourth week!”

The rest of Garmin-Cervélo’s squad made it through the hilly, five-climb 158.5km stage from Noja to Bilbao. Warm temperatures returned to the Vuelta after a string of cooler days and the thermometers shot up into the high-90s.

“It was a hot and hard stage again today. The guys did a great job to help Daniel and then finished off the stage as best they could,” said Garmin-Cervélo sport director Bingen Fernández.

“We were hoping that the break would get caught and we could challenge for a small bunch sprint of about 20 guys with Daniel. He’s very good in those types of finishes, but Antón rode a great finale today to win the stage.”

The 66th Vuelta continues Saturday with another hard stage across Spain’s Basque Country in a four-climb, 185km 20th stage from Bilbao to Vitoria.

“The Urkiola is hard, but it’s on a big road. I don’t think much is going to happen tomorrow unless it’s windy, but we haven’t had any wind at all. I think everyone is hoping a breakaway goes to the finish. Everyone is just so tired now,” Martin said.

“We’re back in the heat. It made it hard for every body. It’s been pretty cool the past 10 days or so, but the heat was back today. It really destroyed a lot of guys today.”