|
|
|
Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
MARTIN LOSES TIME IN CRITÉRIUM DU DAUPHINÉ, BAGDONAS WINS IN BELGIUM
By Shane Stokes
3 Jun 2012,
|
Email this article
|
Hampered by wet, slippery weather conditions, Dan Martin got off to a modest start in the Critérium du Dauphiné in France today. The Irish climber placed 131st in the 5.7 kilometre time trial held in Grenoble, covering the flat course 33 seconds off the winning time set by Luke Durbridge (Orica GreenEdge).
The latter took his best victory to date of his new pro career, winning the test and taking the yellow jersey. He was one second ahead of last year’s overall winner, Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling), and a further two up on Andriy Grivko (Astana Pro Team).
Defending Tour de France champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) had a solid start with ninth, six seconds back.
Martin will look to show strong form in the mountains later in the race. However he faces the prospect of further time losses to the TT specialists in the long 53 kilometre time trial on Thursday, and so will likely target a stage win rather than overall honours. This year's race lacks the summit finishes of previous editions.
He is pushing for a place on the Garmin Barracuda team for the Tour de France. If he is selected, it will be the first time for him to compete in the world’s biggest bike race.
The WorldTour race continues tomorrow with a lumpy 187 kilometre race from Seyssins to Saint-Vallier.
Meanwhile the Irish-sponsored An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team had a fine showing in Belgium, with the 2011 An Post Rás winner Gediminas Bagdonas sprinting home first in the 1.2-ranked Memorial Philippe Van Coningsloo in Belgium.
The Lithuanian, who recently picked up two stages in this year’s An Post Rás, beat Benjamin Verraes (Jong Vlaanderen – Bauknecht) and Stan Godrie (Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team) to the line.
Team-mates Roy Jans also finished in the same time, netting fifth, while Mark McNally was three seconds back in 62nd place.
The result will bolster the team’s strong position in the UCI Europe Tour rankings, plus Bagdonas’ own high placing.
Critérium du Dauphiné, France (WorldTour)
Prologue - (ITT): Grenoble:
1, Luke Durbridge (Orica GreenEdge) 5.7 kilometres in 6 mins 38 secs
2, Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling) at 1 sec
3, Andriy Grivko (Astana Pro Team) at 3 secs
4, Carlos Barredo (Rabobank Cycling Team)
5, Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) at 5 secs
6, Simon Gerrans (Orica GreenEdge)
7, Paul Martens (Rabobank Cycling Team)
8, Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) at 6 secs
9, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
10, Andrey Amador (Movistar Team) at 7 secs
Irish:
131, Daniel Martin (Garmin-Barracuda) at 33 secs
Memorial Philippe Van Coningsloo, Belgium (1.2)
1, Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 4 hours 9 mins 11 secs
2, Benjamin Verraes (Jong Vlaanderen – Bauknecht)
3, Stan Godrie (Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team)
4, Maxime Le Montagner (Team Véranda Rideau-U)
5, Roy Jans (An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) all same time
6, Jef Van Meirhaeghe (Lotto - Ridley Espoirs) at 3 secs
Other:
62, Mark McNally (An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) same time
|
|
|
|
