Daniel Martínez gearing up to Tour de France after modest Suisse build-up

Daniel Martínez has taken to the start of the Tour de Suisse as a co-leader, alongside Adam Yates, but INEOS Grenadiers eventually saw Geraint Thomas rise, take the sole leaderships and the eventual overall win with a lot of support for the Colombian.

Martínez wasn't at the expected level. Earlier in the season he won the time-trial national championships, a stage and GC at Itzulia Basque Country, podium at the Volta ao Algarve and Paris-Nice, and Top5 at Flèche Wallone and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. This consistency and high level is pushing him into a podium contender level for the Tour de France, but in Suisse he played a supporting role for the team.

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After loosing time on the opening day it was said that he could be struggling with the heat - which is a possibility - but all throughout the week the Colombian showed a more modest level. Nevertheless, he perfectly slid into supporting role for Geraint Thomas, pacing the GC group on most of the two final climbs on the two mountainous days.

Nevertheless he finished the race in eighth place, having ridden a very strong time-trial into fourth place in the final day. His level seemed to have increased throughout the week, and the concerns of a lower level seemed to be out the window as the Colombian is having a more calm approach to the Tour de France unlike the likes of Thomas, Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard who have all taken wins throughout the past weeks.

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