"It's been my hardest and most disappointing season so far" - Guillaume Martin out to prove a point at the Dauphiné and the Tour de France

For Cofidis rider Guillaume Martin, 2023 has been a frustrating year. Numerous bouts of illness and near misses mean that the 29-year-old Frenchman is entering a key stage of the season yet to taste victory.

"It's been my hardest and most disappointing season so far compared to my ambitions," admits the former King of the Mountains winner at the Vuelta a Espana in conversation with Cyclism'Actu. "I caught covid and I felt like I was fighting against it all the way from the start of the season. I fell ill several times, so it really impacted my results. I was tired all the time, I only wanted to sleep."

Top 10 finishes at the likes of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Paris-Camembert and most recently at the Mercan'Tour Classic do show signs of improvement however. And as Martin enters the stage of the season that always holds some extra reverence for French riders, the former 3rd placed finisher overall at the Critérium du Dauphiné will return to the race looking to prove a point as the Tour de France looms on the horizon.

"Even if I don't have to be 100% on the Dauphiné either and there will still be time to improve. It will be a good indicator in any case," he says. "As for the Tour, it is still the year when the course suits me very well. I remember the feelings I had last year and I'm going to try to get back to that level, or even a little better. If I succeed, there will be a way to make a good ranking."