Martínez eyes Tour de France after Basque Country victory

Primož Roglič struggles with painful knee injury

- Chris Marshall-Bell

Dani Martínez delivered a message to his anticipated Tour de France rivals after his Tour of the Basque Country victory that he can still improve ahead of his bid to win the yellow jersey.

The Ineos Grenadier overturned a two-second deficit to Remco Evenepoel on the final stage of the race to claim his second-ever WorldTour stage race triumph. It came 20 months after his maiden one at the 2020 Critérium du Dauphiné.

It was, however, the 25-year-old's first for Ineos, the team that he is expecting to lead at July’s Tour alongside Adam Yates and Geraint Thomas.

Speaking after his win in what is commonly referred to as the hardest week-long stage race in the world, Martínez said: “I feel good and for the Tour de France I still have a long way to go.

“The team has clear objectives, there are other very strong riders too, and I will do what the team wants me to do for what is to come.

“This victory is very special and it’s very important for what comes next. But like I said, I’m still missing quite a lot for the Tour de France.

“I’m calm about it. The team we will have has very good riders: there’s Adam Yates and Geraint Thomas who you’ve seen get much stronger every day. He has the experience and he will arrive at the Tour very well. It’s a big responsibility [to have the team riding in support of him], but they give me confidence.”