Volta ao Algarve chief Dani Martínez and his Bora-Hansgrohe got here by a fraught dash finale on stage 3 with the Colombian’s management of the race intact, however after the stage, Martínez most well-liked to maintain his ft on the bottom relating to his choices of remaining in yellow after Saturday’s time trial.
When he heads down the beginning ramp of Saturday’s rolling 22.5-kilometre time trial across the coastal city of Albufeira, Martínez morale will probably be boosted by the information that final 12 months it was his efficiency towards the clock in Algarve, putting fourth, which sealed his total victory.
It’s true {that a} four-second benefit on overwhelming favorite Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) can be a slender lead in anybody’s guide, and with loads of different prime names within the combine like Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) and final 12 months’s TT winner Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), the Colombian might want to produce an excellent time trial to stay within the lead.
But as a four-times Colombian Nationwide TT Champion, in addition to having the benefit of beginning final, Martínez can not at all be dominated out of the battle.
“I’ve accomplished some good time trials, however Remco and Van Aert are specialists on this,” Martínez claimed, “we’ll see.”
Requested by Cyclingnews if longer time trials had been extra to his liking, the 27-year-old was equally non-committal, saying, “If in case you have the legs, it doesn’t actually matter that a lot if it’s a 20-kilometre course or 40 kilometres. I do know that it’s a demanding time trial with plenty of brief climbs and descents, a tricky route.”
“I’m in good situation, and I’m motivated for tomorrow.”
Martínez already did a recon of the TT earlier than the race, he informed Cyclingnews, using across the course a number of occasions, “so, I do know what to anticipate.”
“I’ve been placing in plenty of work with the time trial bike for the Nationals, too, again dwelling in Colombia, and I just like the bike lots.”
No matter what occurs on Saturday, he mentioned, the time trial within the Algarve can also be a very good alternative to check out TT materials for the upcoming stage races in his 2024 marketing campaign, with the Giro d’Italia his first Grand Tour of the season.
And fairly than questioning now how a lot time he may lose or achieve towards a star identify like Evenepoel, he was centered on his personal efficiency fairly than making predictions.
“That’s not in my head in any respect. It’s the form of time trial is about going flat out and seeing what I can obtain and as soon as I do know that, I’ll plan out my technique for the ultimate day.”
