Irish Olympian Dan Martin of Garmin-Sharp who won the Volta a Catalunya in Barcelona, becomes only the second Irishman to achieve the feat.
Martin, who had led the race’s general classification since winning stage four on Thursday, finished towards the front of the field today to maintain his 17-second lead over Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez of Katusha to win the seven-stage tour.
Martin follows in the foot steps of Waterford’s Sean Kelly, who won the Volta in 1984 and 1986.
The final stage, a 122km ride from El Vendrell to Barcelona which included eight passes over the category three Alt de Montjuic, was won by Belgium’s Tomas de Gendt of Vacansoleil-DCM in a bunch sprint in a time of 2:45:42. Spain’s David Lopez Garcia of Sky rolled home second.
“Winning here in Catalunya is very special, it’s my home,” Martin, who has lived in the Catalan town of Girona for the last five years, told reporters.
“This is my most special victory ever and I think I’m going stronger than ever before”
To hear Dan’s post race inetrview click here:
http://www.rte.ie/sport/player/734/378207/
