Martin hails 'special' stage win

Dan Martin followed in his uncle’s footsteps yesterday as he became the first Irish winner of a Tour de France stage since Stephen Roche in 1992.

The Garmin-Sharp rider beat Astana’s Jakob Fuglsang to the line in Bagneres-de-Bigorre after the pair had attacked off the front, five kilometres from the top of the final climb of the day, and then stayed ahead down the long descent into town.