Kelly: Martin and Roche must justify grand ideas

Irish cycling legend Sean Kelly believes the Grand Tour potential of Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin is still unclear ahead of the Giro d’Italia, which starts in Belfast on Friday week.

The former world No 1, Tour de France green jersey and Vuelta overall winner, said Martin was improving and Roche had something of a breakthrough season last year, but the question now is how much more they can go in their respective careers.

“I think with Dan Martin, he’s improving all the time,” Kelly said of the Garmin Sharp man, who will lead his team at the Giro and has already won a mountain stage in both the Tour de France and the Vuelta A Espana.