Dan Martin proved that he is ready to fight for the top positions in the Vuelta a Espana when he finished second in the hard stage 3. Pleased with his sensations, he was frustrated to have had Michael Matthews on his wheel and believes that he would have been able to beat just about any other rider in the sprint.
Going into the Vuelta a Espana, Dan Martin claimed that he had never felt better before a grand tour and today he proved that he was right. In the hard stage 3, the Irishman beat all his fellow GC contenders when he finished second behind Michael Matthews.
He gained a few seconds on his rivals courtesy of bonifications but he wasn't too pleased with the outcome.
“I saw the finish on Friday and I immediately had a good feeling but Bling [Matthews] was just too fast in the end,” Martin said. “I didn’t run out of legs, he was just quicker.
“I went at 500 metres to go but Chris Froome accelerated at the same moment so I got on his wheel. Then with 300 metres to go, I attacked. I didn’t know that Matthews was on my wheel but at that point I was committed so I just had to go to the line. If it was anyone other than Matthews on my wheel I would have won, but he is really very fast.
“It’s a finish that was good for me as puncheur. I can be happy with how I rode but to finish second again is a bit disappointing. Still, I’ve shown that I’m riding well and I’m content for what’s to come.
“On Friday we came and see the finish of today’s stage. So I knew it was a good one for me. I’m disappointed to come second but Matthews was just quicker than me. When Chris Froome went in front of us, I was committed.
"It went perfect all day. My team was fantastic. Andrew [Talansky] helped me at the bottom of the climb. I didn’t run out of legs but it would have been nicer to win a stage.
“I’m better, much better [than before the Giro]. I don’t think I’ve ever gone into a Grand Tour with these sensations. I seemed to be getting better the whole of the last week.”
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