Irish pro Daniel Martin took a fine stage win in the Tour of Poland today, breaking clear on the final climb and reaching the finish 20 seconds clear of the next rider, Grega Bole
The Garmin Transition rider's attack inside the final 4 kilometres of the 149 kilometre mountain stage to Ustron also saw him take over the race leader’s jersey, and moves him 14 seconds clear of Bole in the overall standings.
Martin predicted this morning that he would win and bided his time while Maciej Bodnar (Liquigas-Doimo), Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil) and Ben Swift (Team Sky) went away 30 kilometres after the start in Jastrzębie Zdrój. The breakaway trio built up a four minute lead over the next 50 kilometres, but work by the Lampre-Farnese Vini team of overnight leader and stage four winner Mirco Lorenzetto kept the gap to manageable levels.
After the third of the five first-category ascents that preceded the finishing climb, mountains leader Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) clipped away and took the points for fourth at the summit. He was joined soon afterwards by Mateusz Taciak (Poland BZG) and Martin Reimer (Cervélo Test Team), and together they bridged across to the leading riders.
The junction was made just inside 40 kilometres to go, at which point the break had a minute’s advantage. Bodnar and Reimer were shelled close to the summit, where Hoogerland netted the prime and fortified his lead. However they were all caught soon afterwards, and a dwindling group of riders crested the top together, led by Taciak’s team-mate Marek Rutkiewicz.
The Caisse d’Epargne team were working hard to set things up for Vasili Kiryienka, but their efforts proved fruitless when first Astana and then Garmin ramped up the speed. Martin attacked hard with four kilometres remaining and, rapidly turning the pedals around, eked out a growing lead over those chasing behind. He hit the finish line alone, arms aloft, and was followed in twenty seconds later by Bole, Sylvester Szmyd (Liquigas-Doimo) and seven others.
This group also included Martin’s Garmin-Transitions team-mate Tom Danielson and last year’s race victor, the former world champion Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing Team).
Martin now heads the ProTour race going into tomorrow’s 228.5 kilometre penultimate stage. He is 14 seconds clear of Bole and a further seven ahead of Ballan. Danielson is 30 seconds off yellow in tenth place.
The showing is a strong one for the Garmin Transitions squad. It both confirms the talent 23 year old Martin has shown thus far in his career, and also illustrates that Danielson is coming into fine form in advance of his big season target, the Vuelta a España.
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Tour de Pologne (ProTour, August 1- 7):
August 5, Stage 5: Astrzebie Zdrój – Ustron:
1, Daniel Martin (Garmin - Transitions) 149 kilometres in 3 hours 51 mins 13 secs
2, Grega Bole (Lampre-Farnese Vini) at 20 secs
3, Sylvester Szmyd (Liquigas-Doimo)
4, Mauro Santambrogio (BMC Racing Team)
5, Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Farnese Vini)
6, Bauke Mollema (Rabobank)
7, Michael Albasini (Team HTC – Columbia)
8, Marek Rutkiewicz (Poland BGZ)
9, Thomas Danielson (Garmin – Transitions)
10, Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing Team) all same time
General classification after stage 5:
1, Daniel Martin (Garmin – Transitions) 2 hours 52 mins 11 secs
2, Grega Bole (Lampre-Farnese Vini) at 14 secs
3, Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing Team) at 21 secs
4, Sylvester Szmyd (Liquigas-Doimo) at mins 26 secs
5, Michael Albasini (Team HTC - Columbia) at 28 secs
6, Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) at 29 secs
7, Marek Rutkiewicz (Poland BGZ) at 30 secs
8, Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Farnese Vini)
9, Mauro Santambrogio (BMC Racing Team)
10, Thomas Danielson (Garmin - Transitions) all same time