Dan Martin: I don’t think anybody wants to even consider that we may not race till 2021
Mar 24 2020 05:38 am CET
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Israel Start-Up Nation's Dan Martin is currently in his home in Andorra where he has reflected about what has happened and will come in the cycling season.
Martin, just like the rest of the peloton, has been forced to stop his season due to the coronavirus crisis and keeps training in his home, where he also shares extra time with his wife and twin daughters. The Irishman is in a lockdown in Andorra, where he also thinks about the rest of the season.
"I had just finished a really big training block when we got the announcement that the population in Andorra needed to self-isolate," said the rider. "It’s been pretty strict but incredibly well adhered to by the whole population so far so hopefully we can train outside again soon.
"Of course I’ve taken to my trainer like much of the pro peloton but as I finished a big block, I had an easy week meaning the laps hasn’t been big yet and it’s obviously very tricky to plan ahead now when we have no idea when we will race next."
Martin was highly disappointed by the cancellation of all the races -particularly because he showed to be in good shape at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and the Volta ao Algarve- but soon the global situation gave another perspective to that original feeling.
"My initial reaction to the race cancellations was one of disappointment, as I had worked so hard to get into fantastic shape," the Irishman explained. "This had been a three to four month process of hard work and then just before my objectives, my chance to win a first WorldTour race for the team it was taken away from me.
"But that was before I understood full the gravity of the situation and suddenly I found perspective. Nobody had any idea that this virus would take hold on a global scale, never mind how quickly things would progress so we also do not have much idea on the future. I am just taking it day by day, focusing on each ride and not thinking too far ahead. Technology such as Powerwatt and Zwift with my Elite home trainer are invaluable these days and make riding indoors."
The rider faces what's coming with uncertainty. "I don’t think anybody in the sport wants to even consider that we may not race till 2021 but that could be a possibility," Martin explained. "Obviously I’m not getting any younger, so to miss a whole season would be tough, especially as I was feeling sooo good, not just physically but with this team.
"But if that is the case, I have it in perspective. Health is more important during these times and there is not much I can do personally to change the situation other than self-isolate. I’ve given up trying to predict what will happen and when we will start racing again. We just all need to stay strong, isolate, support each other through the difficult times and together we can beat this. And the sooner it’s in the past we can get back to racing."
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