"We still have a chance at a podium finish" - Daniel Martinez heading into third week at Giro d'Italia full of optimism

With 15 stages down at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, BORA- hansgrohe's Daniel Martinez is holding firm in his fight for a first Grand Tour podium finish. The 28-year-old, who's previous best was 5th at the 2021 Giro, reaches the second rest day sitting third overall.

"I have to say, I'm feeling pretty good up until now. I'm excited and motivated for the last week," assesses the Colombian of his level, as he takes stock in a rest day press release from the BORA - hansgrohe team. "Of course the last week is going to be hard, when you look at the profile and also take into account that everyone will suffer from accumulated fatigue. But I'm feeling good, and the atmosphere in the team is positive."

In all honestly, the Maglia Rosa is likely gone for Martinez. Despite, as mentioned, sitting third overall at the second rest day, the Colombian is as good as seven minutes down on the supremely dominant race leader, Tadej Pogacar. Nevertheless, a podium finish at a Grand Tour is nothing to be sniffed at, and BORA - hansgrohe sports director, Bernhard Eisel is confident in his leader's chances of securing at least a top-3 finish in Rome.

"The second week went really well for us. Dani is now in third place in the general classification, and we still have a chance at a podium finish," Eisel reflects. "We have a really strong team here, and the squad is working very well together. We're always up front. Our domestiques are doing an extremely good job, and we're heading into the third week with confidence."

"Looking at the past week stage by stage, it's clear that everything was naturally focused on Tadej," the BORA - hansgrohe DS concludes. "Although we consistently tried with Danny van Poppel on the flat stages, our efforts weren't successful. But primarily, we've always backed Dani, and that has worked out well. We're looking forward to the third week and hope that everything goes according to plan."