"Who does not try anything ... Nice 3rd place at the top of Orcières, 5th in the general classification, and no regrets", summarized Guillaume Martin on Twitter.
The French supporters were watching Julian Alaphilippe or Thibaut Pinot, they saw Guillaume Martin, attacked 500 meters from the line (after Pierre Rolland at 4.5km).
In the wake of a successful Dauphiné (3rd in the final general classification), the leader of the Cofidis team advanced with ambition on the Tour de France.
From the first arrival at the top, in Orcières-Merlette, this Tuesday, the end of the 4th stage of the Tour, the Normand was able to shine.
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>> READ ALSO: Roglic, Alaphilippe, Martin: What to remember from the 4th stage of the Tour
Third on the stage behind Slovenians Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).
He is in 5th place in the general classification, 13 ”behind Julian Alaphilippe (5th on the stage):“ The sensations were good.
The final climb was smooth.
There weren't a lot of attacks because the tempo was high.
It was more of a battle of positions.
Things were going well in the last mile and at 600m I tried to surprise them.
I said I would take the opportunities and that's what I tried to do.
I was not able to win in the sprint.
There will be much tougher days. ”
Before the start of the stage, he assured: “I hope that the masks will fall.
I hope to participate in this movement race. ”
“With Guillaume Martin, the team will take on another dimension. He showed that he was almost the equal of Thibaut Pinot. ”
Cedric Vasseur
Cédric Vasseur, the manager of the Cofidis team, recalled at the start of the Tour: “the secret hope of seeing a rider reveal himself in the Cofidis jersey.
I would like to see the equivalent of a Pinot, a Bardet, an Alaphilippe or a Barguil.
Guillaume Martin is in the shape of his life.
He made all the sacrifices.
The team is more open to him than to Elia (Viviani), the Tour being less suited for sprinters.
With Guillaume Martin, the team will take on another dimension.
He showed that he was almost the equal of Thibaut Pinot.
He will allow the team to surpass themselves.
There is no leader without a team.
There is no team without a successful leader.
To reach the stars, you have to aim for the moon.
He must have high ambitions.
Physically, we'll see if he can compete. ”
In Nice, the manager of Cofidis said: “I dream of a Pinot, Bardet, Martin, Barguil association in the mountains.
We wear different team jerseys but if the racing situation requires it, there will be a national alliance. ”
At the start of the Tour, Guillaume Martin (27) recalled: “The team's primary objective is to win a stage victory (expected by the northern team since 2008), I do not refrain from taking risks for that.
Afterwards, the good feelings of the past few weeks may give rise to ambitions for the future… "Guillaume Martin is satisfied, finally, to have torn off the label of philosopher that has long been stuck on him:" The situation suits me very well.
It's my 4th Tour de France, we talk less and less about philosophy and more and more about cycling.
Above all, I'm a very happy runner about this situation.
I'm happy that as a runner I'm being judged on my performance and not on the double hats, which I was asking for. "
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General classification of the Tour de France 2020
