Daniel Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) set out from Alpago on Saturday morning nurturing obscure notions of attempting to win the penultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia, however he rapidly put the concept out of his head when maglia rosa Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates) accelerated a shade below 6km from the summit of Monte Grappa.
Not for the primary time on this Giro, Pogačar was in a division solely of his personal. Martínez instantly centered his consideration on competing in opposition to the boys in his personal weight class for the suitable to accompany Pogačar on the rostrum in Rome on Sunday.
“I began with the mindset of attempting to win the stage, however Pogačar was unbelievable,” Martínez stated when he rolled to a halt on Bassano del Grappa’s Viale delle Fosse. “He’s in spectacular situation, and the second he attacked, no one might observe.”
Martínez was already second total earlier than the day started, albeit with only a 22-second lead over his outdated Ineos Grenadiers teammate Geraint Thomas. When the Welshman misplaced floor on the higher reaches of Monte Grappa, Martínez sensed a chance to safe a firmer grasp on the second step of the rostrum. He discovered an ally of circumstance within the form of Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), who was driving to safe the white jersey of finest younger rider.
“I noticed Thomas let the wheels go and so when Tiberi attacked, I went with him. We collaborated as a result of we had been each fascinated with gaining time,” stated Martínez.
“I used to be attempting to place extra time into Thomas, however I couldn’t handle it. We gave every part, however on the descent he caught us with a bunch.”
At that time, on the lengthy drop into Bassano del Grappa, a détente of kinds broke out within the chasing group behind Pogačar, the place all appeared content material to carry on to what they’d. They got here in 2:07 down on the stage, with Martínez sprinting to 3rd place on the stage.
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The Colombian will thus journey into Rome on Sunday in second place total, some 9:56 behind a Pogačar who has been totally with out rival because the second this race left Turin.
For Martínez, second place affords a affirmation of the Grand Tour promise he had proven by profitable the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2020 and which he had hinted at all through his time at Ineos. Three years in the past, for example, Martínez took fifth total on the Giro, despite the fact that his principal position on the race was to shepherd his compatriot Egan Bernal to victory.
On that event, Martínez memorably steadied the ship for Bernal at Sega di Ala and once more at Alpe Motta. When given his personal shot at management, nonetheless, Martínez had tended to flounder. He began the 2022 notionally with a free position, for example, however he rapidly fell out of the GC battle and into domestique duties for Thomas.
Martínez swapped Ineos for Bora-Hansgrohe within the winter with a watch to exploring his personal potential as a Grand Tour chief, although he should have had his doubts when the German squad later signed Primož Roglič. Jai Hindley and Aleksandr Vlasov are constructing their seasons round working for Roglič on the Tour, however Martínez – who might but characteristic as a deluxe domestique in July – was granted the liberty to steer on the Giro.
Martínez suffered some mishaps on this Giro, together with on the primary summit end at Oropa, when he restricted his losses regardless of jammed gears. The one apparent setback got here within the Desenzano del Garda time trial, the place he briefly conceded second place to Thomas, however he seized it again on the steep summit end at Monte Pana on stage 16.
“There have been lots of robust moments, there are all the time a number of robust moments, however I feel I disguised them effectively,” Martínez stated.
The 28-year-old’s success in weeklong stage races has lengthy been contrasted along with his tendency to endure ruinous off days within the Grand Excursions. Martínez’s success in staying the course right here, albeit virtually ten minutes down on Pogačar, was proof that three-week racing is certainly inside his vary.
“I’ve labored very onerous for this. Typically issues have gone effectively, typically they’ve not gone the way in which we wished them to, however that is what life is about, to maintain going, to persevere,” stated Martínez.
“There are riders like Nairo [Quintana], who’re all the time there from the beginning within the high 10 in three-week races. I’m going at my very own rhythm, however I’m getting there.”
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