Magical Martin ‘in shock’

Dan Martin ended Ireland’s 21-year wait for a classic win when he claimed the Liege-Bastogne-Liege crown in Belgium yesterday.

The Garmin-Sharp rider was easily the strongest in the closing stages of the 261km race, outsmarting Spaniards Joaquim Rodriguez and twice winner Alejandro Valverde in the final kilometre to take the oldest — and arguably most prestigious — of the sport’s ‘big five’.

The win was the first classic success for Ireland since Sean Kelly won Milan-San Remo in 1992.