Martin hoping to lord it in Liège

CYCLING NEWS:IRISH PROFESSIONAL Daniel Martin is aiming for a high finish in the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Classic in Belgium on Sunday, having fared well in Wednesday's Flèche Wallonne.

The 23-year-old Garmin Transitions rider finished 18th at the top of the Mur de Huy, the ferociously steep climb which acts as the finish to the race.

He said yesterday evening he was happy with his performance, even if he felt he was limited due to a springtime reaction to pollen.

“I felt a bit flat at the start and my breathing definitely wasn’t up to scratch, but my legs were unbelievable. I had really, really good legs and I was super strong. I just don’t quite have that top-end yet, whether it is from training or allergies. I wasn’t able to push myself to the limit.

“It was a really strange feeling. But hopefully everything will go my way for Sunday, as I definitely have the form to be in the front. Obviously top 20 in Flèche is in the front of the race, and that bodes well.”

Martin was prescribed an inhaler to combat the allergies. That could take five to six days to work but, even if it doesn’t have an effect, he said the nature of the course should mean he won’t need to dig as deep.

“Liège is a longer race so you don’t really have to go max heart-rate, it is more of an endurance thing. I definitely have some good form in me, with the strength I have got from all the weeks of hard training. I am just hoping for a really, really hard race on Sunday, with plenty of riders going out the back.”

Fellow Irish pros Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Philip Deignan (Cervélo Test Team) are also due to compete in the race. Roche was 30th, while Deignan had an off-day and did not finish. Both will hope to perform better on Sunday.

In other news, another international team has been announced for this year’s FBD Insurance Rás, which begins in just under one month’s time. The Austrian KTM-Gebrüder Weiss squad will head to Ireland aiming for another strong showing, having placed a rider third overall last year and taken third in the teams’ classification.

The competitor in question, Jan Barta, has since moved to a different squad and his slot as likely leader will be taken by Josef Kugler.

The 26 year-old was eighth on stage one in 2009 and finished 12th overall. He will be joined by compatriots Hannes Gründlinger, Michael Singer and Stefan Probst, plus Romanian rider Lars Pria.

“We are looking forward to this race and we are sure that we can perform there at a high level,” said Kugler yesterday.

“Our overall goal is to represent our sponsors well and to give a good performance every day, as we did in 2009.”

Thus far teams have been confirmed from Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, the USA, Wales and now Austria. More international teams will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Fixtures:

Saturday:Peter Bidwell Memorial, Drogheda Retail Park. Starts 5.30pm

Sunday:Rás Na nÓg two-day, Donore. Stage one starts 11am from Drogheda Retail Park. Coombes Connor Memorial, Drogheda Retail Park. Starts 1pm. McCann Cup, Halfway House, Seskinore, Fintona. Starts 1pm. Silver Pail GP, Fermoy. IVCA 80km DMS, Batterstown. Starts 9.15am. Connacht RR League, starts from Castlebar Mitchell's GAA 10am.