Paris-Nice - Daniel Martinez: I gave everything I had left in the last kilometre
Mar 17 2019 01:06 am CET
EF Education First (c)Jojo Harper
EF Education First's Daniel Martinez has taken his first solo victory as a professional in Paris-Nice. The rider wanted to dedicate this victory to his country.
The Colombian time trial champion had already taken one stage victory in the past, in the team time trial of the 2019 Tour Colombia. This time, he showed to be strong on the climbs of the Queen stage of Paris-Nice and a last metres' acceleration gave him the win over his fellow countryman Miguel Angel Lopez.
"The break was a very strong one and I knew the qualities of each rider in it," Martinez commented. "I analysed each one of them, knowing that the mountain always puts you back in your place. In the finale, we really watched each other.
"I knew what my place was. I was tired but I gave everything I had left in the last kilometre. I was more afraid of Simon Yates because he won the TT and was in great form."
The rider has become another Colombian to win stages at a WorldTour level. "We showed that Colombia was a great cycling power," he explained. "We are all great friends and it also helps. Even we all compete in our own interest, we're always proud to win for Colombia.
"It's a very important victory for me because it's one of the greatest races in the world and a great honour to win here. From now I can only progress. With Bernal and Lopez, we are different riders. Bernal is younger and he's also better in time trials."
#ParisNice - Daniel Martinez @danifmartinez96 (@EFprocycling): I gave everything I had left in the last kilometre https://t.co/EnGDfW68bQ
— CyclingPub (@CyclingPub) March 16, 2019
?©A.S.O. / Alex Broadway pic.twitter.com/GWQ58ejj9b
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