UAE Team Emirates’ Dan Martin produced another consistent ride to grab sixth place on the final stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Sunday.
It was the Irishman’s fourth top-10 finish this week – after building further on his consistent showing at the Tour de Romandie at the end of April.
The 31-year-old joined the counter-attacking group early on in the race and was successful in chasing down the escape initiated by Edward Ravasi until the final 10 kilometres.
On the climb to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, he attempted to move free but had to remain satisfied with his win on stage five.
Briton Adam Yates (Mitchelton–Scott) won the concluding 136km stage ahead of overall winner Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) and Daniel Navarro Garcia (Cofidis).
In the final overall classification, Martin finished in fourth, 2 minute 35 seconds behind the victorious Welshman.
And with the Tour de France starting in less than a month, it was the perfect preparation for Martin as he bids to improve on his sixth place finish in the 2017 edition of the race.
He said: “I felt good the entire stage, but in the final kilometers, my legs didn’t respond how I thought they would.
“I’m still happy with the overall results in this race. I’m at a physical level I didn’t really expect for this time of the year.”
Although he did not add to his two podium finishes in previous editions of the Criterium, Martin was still pleased to have completed Sunday’s final stage in fourth position in the General Classifications.
“I won a beautiful stage and I took fourth overall. The team were very young here and they rode well at my side and continued to work strongly the entire week. They were incredible,” Martin said.
“We struggled in the team time trial, but in the mountain stages, my teammates were always there, and were first in the escapes and then with support.
“Now, I’m going to recover for a few days and then build towards the Tour de France.”
Best for UAE Team Emirates on stage seven were: Valerio Conti (16th), Edward Ravasi (17th), Simone Petilli (76th) and Rory Sutherland (90th).
