Martin can climb highest

DAN MARTIN can soar with the eagles to claim a podium finish for Ireland in the Tour de France, according to cycling legend Sean Kelly. Martin’s highest finish was ninth place last year while his cousin, Nicolas Roche, was a career high 12th in 2012. But the 30-year-old Quick-Step rider, one of the finest climbers in the sport, has an outstanding chance of breaking into the top five, if not higher, according to Kelly. ‘A top finish in the Tour is something Dan needs to do in his career and this is a great opportunity for him,’ said Kelly. ‘It’s a hilly route this year but has fewer time trials and that will suit him. He was ninth last year but I think he can get on the podium with [Chris] Froome and Richie Porte. ‘He is riding better now than he was in the spring and he showed good form in the Dauphine to finish third, just ahead of [Chris] Froome. Kelly feels Tour stalwart Nicolas Roche, riding his eighth Tour, will provide staunch support for Porte, the chief rival to Froome. ‘Roche will ride a solid Tour. He had one bad day in the Dauphine

but you can rely on him for a three-week Tour.’ Stephen Roche, the uncle of Martin and father of Nicolas, is the only Irish cyclist to mount the Tour de France post-race podium in Paris, following his stunning overall victory in 1987. Kelly, who rode 14 Tours, finished fourth (1985) and was also fifth (1984), seventh (1983) and ninth (1989). The first Irishman to wear the yellow jersey of race leader was the late Shay Elliott in 1963. Kelly and Roche also wore cycling’s most famous coloured cloth.