Oh Danny boy...

Daniel Martin won the Tre Valli Varesine today.

Add this one to his recent Tour of Poland victory, and it's clear that Garmin's Irish climber is finding super form now.   The roads that surround Varese are hilly and hard.   This Italian summer classic, which has a long tradition that goes back to the time of Coppi and Bartali, is no small race.  Winning solo against all the Italians who rode in hopes of showing new Azzurri D.T. Paolo Bettini they're got the form to be selected for the World Championships, is no small feat.  

The last big one- day pro race won by an Irishman?   I believe we'd have to go back to 1993, and that Milan San Remo taken by Sean Kelly.  For us bhoys, it's been a long time.   

And yes wielercafe fans, despite his childhood in England, Danny Martin is ours.  He's a Paddy.  Better yet, one on an American team.

Dan and his cousin Nicolas Roche are leading an Irish renaissance in the peloton.   Not since the eighties have we had so much to cheer for in top European racing.    Uncle Stephen must be smiling in his Pastis at the Roche Marina hotel outside Nice.

A great day for the Irish today.   I'd have a Guinness if I wasn't planning to race the Greylock Hillclimb on Sunday.

Maybe I'll wear that full-zip, Garmin Irish champions jersey.        

Comments

  1. MalcolmCogJanuary 11, 2011 at 3:14 PM

    Er, Dan isn't exactly Irish, he was born in England, his Dad is ex UK pro Niel Martin his mother is Steve Roche's sister.
    He chose to ride for Ireland as the stupid English development squad wanted track based test results, which is why another talented British rider chose not to ride for the English team.
    Look at the wins that Danial and that sprinter have had, Wiggins could only dream of that much success !

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