Martin shines as Evans’ hopes fade in Pyrenees

On a day when the defending champion, Cadel Evans’ defence of his Tour de France title disintegrated on the perilously steep slopes of the Pyrenees, Ireland’s Dan Martin turned in one of the performances of his career to finish seventh on yesterday’s 16th stage from Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon.

Martin, riding his first Tour, in the colours of the Garmin-Sharp outfit, was part of a 38-man breakaway group that forged clear of a splintered peloton early on in the 197-kilometre stage and he was instrumental in thinning out that group to three by the time they hit the famed Tourmalet.

The 26-year-old climber surged clear with eventual stage winner Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) and Brice Feilliu (Saur Sojasun) but paid for his exertions when he was dropped one kilometre from the summit and never regained contact.