Keep Calm And Start Winning

2017 finds Dan Martin cool, calm and collected and with a new TT position that he hopes will make him a GC weapon at the Tour.

- James Shrubsall

You’ll know Dan Martin. He’s the flyweight Irishman with a knack for bringing races to life and making the world’s best GC riders look ponderous and hesitant. He has a list of wins to his name that most can only dream of, including two Monuments and a Tour de France stage win. Last year, riding for Etixx-Quick Step, he looked stronger than ever, but his victory tally — totalling two stage wins at the Tour of Catalonia — didn’t tell the whole story. For that, look to his 12 top-fives — nine coming at the Tour de France, Critérium du Dauphiné and Flèche Wallonne. Big achievements, but Martin, now in his second season with the newly named Quick Step Floors, is under no illusion that there are improvements to be made. 

“It’s about winning, this team,” says the 30-year-old. “I came second so many times last year, and so many top-fours. It wasn’t frustrating, it was great racing, it just lacked that little bit to having the most incredible season.”

But those who revelled in Martin’s impertinent mountain attacking last year should expect a more measured display in 2017, as he attempts to tame his temperament in favour of more considered racing and more first places.