BUT FOR A crash a week ago, Dan Martin could be wearing the Tour de France yellow jersey instead of Chris Froome, but the Irishman is unfazed by what might have been.
The 30-year-old was hugely unlucky to have been taken down by Richie Porte as the Australian crashed on a speedy descent.
Martin got up, dusted himself down and got to the finish of that ninth stage, but 1min 15sec behind Froome and other overall contenders.
As the Quick Step rider now sits 1:12 behind Froome, many have pointed out that he could have been in yellow but for that crash, and the back problem he has suffered from ever since.
But not Martin.
“The GC (overall) time, I’ve ignored it, it’s happened. The thing that grates me a little bit is missing out on the opportunity to win the stage, because at that point I was very confident I was the fastest sprinter there,” he said.
Nonetheless, since losing that chunk, Martin has been steadily snatching back time on Froome and the other contenders, a few seconds at a time.
On Thursday he took nine seconds off Froome and another nine on Friday. He was one of only two riders not to lose time to the champion on Saturday and then snatched 14 more seconds on Sunday.
Having dropped from 25sec off the yellow jersey to 1:44 back after his crash, Martin has recovered 32sec of his deficit in just four days.
And he says it’s down to greater tactical acumen than he had in the past.
“I rode aggressively but maybe a bit recklessly. I’ve just tried to be a little bit more calculating.
“It comes from the confidence I’ve had from the results I’ve had this year, and a calmness.
“I’m very relaxed on the bike and that lets you see things happening. I’ve got a very analytical brain, I look at the race situation and think about what’s coming up.”
He’s also able to disassociate himself from the bigger picture and avoid the stress of worrying about what might be.
“A lot of riders get caught up in the enormity of the event and the so-called pressure. It’s still only a bike race and that’s why I’m racing it like any other race.
“I never set objectives, I never say my ambitions.
“But at the end of the day, I’m just going to do my best and if my best is better than the other guys — I’ll win.
“If it’s not, they were better than me, that’s it.”
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Ashley Yonng never came across as the sharpest tool in the box
@Kieran: how is it dumb to keep trying to compete? He’s not saying they’ll be successful , just that he won’t give up trying. Real losers are the ones that quit. What would you do?
@Andrew Keane: thing is, United don’t try and compete. Especially not against good teams. They try not to lose.
@James Doyle: They competed against Chelsea!
@The Bunk: I said good teams….
But in fairness, they were at home against a team that has lost 3 out of the last 4, were beaten by 3 by both Watford and Bournemouth, and even then only “went for the win” with 30 minutes left, and Chelsea still had a goal incorrectly disallowed to equalize. It wasn’t all that great, really.
@Kieran: Tool? Yes. Sharp? No.
Ha.
Easy on the glue there Young ya gimp!
@glenn kilfeather: what do you expect him or anyone else put in that position to say ! Now who’s the ‘GIMP!’
@thatsnotme: Ashley Young
@thatsnotme: Ashley Young?
Playing to win? Is that what he calls turning out Jose’s patented 6-4-0 formation anytime United play a team in the top 6? Playing not to lose may get United tremendous results like a 0-0 at Anfield, or a 2-1 over an out of sorts Chelsea, but it does not a “title challenge” make. United have lost 16 points on Man City in 21 games. They were level after 7. That’s the opposite of “going to win every game”.
Deluded as the rest of them!
@Eoin McCarthy: why is he deluded?
@Andrew Keane: By thinking that United, or any team for that matter, might catch City at this stage.
New story on Young tomorrow, “Ashley Young fails drug test”
Dived in there Ashley
Well you hardly expect them to concede matches do you. Everyone else is playing for top 4 places since before Xmas.
Ah brilliant. You have to love Marlo Stanfields optimism. Hahahhah.
@England’s Envy: Careful now, or Young will get Chris and Snoop to put you up in those vacants.
@Alan J. McKenna: Haahaha McNulty will get their asS
You’re talking shiit Ashley….probably just returning what that bird dumped in your mouth that time though ha!
Clown
Hahahahahahahahaha…..lolololilolololololololol