SEAN INGLE in Bagneres-de-Bigorre



Dan Martin followed in his uncle’s footsteps as he became the first Irish winner of a Tour de France stage since Stephen Roche in 1992.

The Garmin-Sharp rider beat Astana’s Jakob Fuglsang to the line in Bagneres-de-Bigorre after the pair had attacked off the front, 5km from the top of the final climb of the day, and then stayed ahead down the long descent into town.

Birmingham-born Martin became only the fifth Irishman to win a tour stage, and the first since his uncle’s victory on stage 16 of the 1992 Tour in La Bourboule.

“Every win is important and special in its own way,” the 26-year-old said. “It was such an incredible day today because this team Garmin-Sharp shows such a team spirit.

“Everyone gave 100 per cent today and some of the guys nearly missed the time limit because they gave so much for my victory. We decided this morning on the bus that I was going to try and win the stage and we’ve succeeded so it’s incredible.”

Martin and Fuglsang made their move as the main contenders at the front of the race were engaged in a game of cat and mouse, with Chris Froome anxiously – and successfully – defending his yellow jersey against the likes of Alejandro Valverde and Alberto Contador, with his Team Sky team-mates nowhere to be found.

Although Fuglsang led the pair into town and towards the finish line, Martin was close behind and, after some nervous glances between the pair, he kicked out 250m from the line and Fuglsang could not answer.

“It’s hard to describe how it feels; it’s more relief actually because I knew I was the favourite coming into the sprint and I was quite confident, but I still had to do it.

“To come across the line knowing that I’ve won a stage of the Tour de France is amazing. In the end the scale of the event wasn’t on my mind – it was just another bike race. I was so focused on his wheel and beating that guy in the sprint that I didn’t even look behind once to see where the peloton was. It was just a case of focus on the finish line and get there first.”



Vuelta a Espana

While this was Martin’s first taste of tour success, it was not his first in a grand tour as he won stage nine of the Vuelta a Espana in 2011, and he called on that experience yesterday.

“I think there was a calmness that I developed in the sprint, rather than confidence. I’ve always had that sort of calmness; when I won the ninth stage of the Vuelta it was much the same sort of feeling. In the big situations I seem to be able to relax very well and just be in control and it pays off.”

Martin follows in the footsteps not only of Roche but also Sean Kelly, Seamus Elliott, and Martin Earley in winning a tour stage.

Martin was mentioned as an outside contender for this year’s tour thanks to his climbing ability and a proud uncle – who won the tour in 1987 – tipped him for future success. “The sky’s the limit,” Roche said. “He can challenge for the podium in the next few years.”

As Martin celebrated Froome looked on in blessed relief after finishing with his main rivals 20 seconds back. He countered a day of brutal hills with stubborn will and legs that stayed strong while his team-mates went wobbly.

dMeanwhile Team Sky’s principal, Dave Brailsford, sounded almost thrilled that his riders had suffered a swift and sharp rejoinder following Froome’s victory on the Ax 3 Domaines.

“On Saturday night everyone was saying ‘That’s it’, pulling long faces, game over and let’s go and watch the tennis,” he said. “That’s why this sport and this race is so brilliant.”

Yesterday was the cycling equivalent of a bad hangover – with the three riders that had worked hardest to put Froome into yellow suffering most.

The damage began on the day’s first climb, the Col de Portet d’Aspet, with Peter Kennaugh tumbling down a verge after being clipped by Garmin-Sharp’s Ryder Hesjedal. Luckily a bush broke his fall but he was still left with a bloody elbow.



Out of the race

Shortly afterwards Richie Porte, who had looked so strong at the vanguard up the Ax 3 Domaines, was dropped before coming in 17min 39sec back. And Vasili Kiryienka, who had also put in some big turns on Saturday, finished outside the time limit and is out of the race.

With Froome unprotected, the Movistar team of Alejandro Valverde sensed an opportunity. On the final climb of the day they sent Nairo Quintana, a classic Colombian escarabajo – flying beetle – who ascends for fun on the attack. He tried four times to wriggle free up the La Hourquette d’Ancizan, hoping to wound Froome so that Valverde could apply the kill. It never came.

“I felt quite within myself on that last climb but they did go for me,” said Froome. “It is not easy to follow Quintana. He is a little Colombian who can fly up hills so to cover his attacks definitely wasn’t easy.”

At the finish Brailsford was asked whether Sky’s struggles yesterday had showed his team were not superhuman after all. He nodded, adding: “That’s what we keep trying to tell everybody. People don’t want to believe it. Maybe they will after today. ”

He was supported by David Millar, who said he understood why Team Sky were secretive about their training methods.

“If we had their numbers we would be copying their training files and we’d know what to do to beat them. It’s better for them to remain slightly enigmatic. If you have a recipe which obviously work, why give away that recipe?”

Millar was also dismissive of suggestions comparing Team Sky with Lance Armstrong’s disgraced US Postal team.

“Even if we are saying Sky aren’t transparent, it’s night and day to what Postal was. They know they’re clean, they feel they’re doing it all right and perhaps rightfully so. They’re just very defensive about that. They think they are lumbered with another generation’s mistakes.”– Guardian Service.

Additional reporting: PA