Cycling: Dan Martin makes move in time trial

If Tuesday’s stage of Paris-Nice belonged to Carrick-on-Suir man Sam Bennett after he claimed a stunning victory, yesterday’s was very much about Dan Martin as he climbed right into contention for the overall.

The flyweight Quick-Step Floors climber posted a brilliant result in the 14.5-kilometre individual time-trial to move up the standings to fifth overall and just 33 seconds off the podium. He was 13th quickest over the course, just over a minute slower than his teammate Julian Alaphilippe who clocked a blistering winning time of 21:39.

The Frenchman now leads the race at the halfway point with Martin lurking in fifth at 1:20 going into today’s fifth stage. Bennett had a somewhat easier day as he wound down from the high of Tuesday’s landmark win and losing over four minutes in the test against the clock won’t trouble him in the slightest as he looks towards today’s stage which should be another one for the fast men.