Martin ’a gold medal contender’

Philip Deignan believes Ireland have a gold medal contender in Dan Martin for tomorrow’s Elite men’s road race at the World Championships in Spain.

“We did two laps of the course yesterday and it suits Dan down to the ground,” said Deignan. “It’s a real wearing down course like the one he won Liege-Bastogne-Liege on but a lot will depend on the weather conditions. They’re forecasting rain for tomorrow and that could change things — the final climb isn’t far from the finish and if someone had a gap over the top, it might be difficult to bring them back.”

Today, it’s the turn of the junior men where Eddie Dunbar will lead a very strong five-man team of Stephen Shanahan, Daire Feeley, Michael O’Loughlin and Dylan O’Brien in the 127km race.