Ambitious Martin set to focus on Tour’s big picture

Following his stunning stage win on Sunday’s ninth leg of the Tour de France, Ireland’s Dan Martin said he might now have to consider riding for the overall General Classification as he is now just over two minutes back on leader Chris Froome in eighth place.

Martin ended a 21-year wait for an Irish Tour stage win in dramatic fashion when he outsprinted Danish powerhouse Jakob Fuglslang to the line in Bagneres-de-Bigorre and admitted he might now have to change his tactics.

“We’re there or thereabouts in the general classification and maybe we’ll have to start thinking about that,” he said last night.