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The Colombian cyclist has completed an exciting start to the season and postulates him as one of the leaders of the Ineos Grenadiers for the gala round. He recognizes that he is going through the best sporting level of him.
In the past, Daniel Felipe Martínez, 26, has been a luxury domestique for his teammates, but in 2022 he has exhibited himself as a leader capable of leading one of the most powerful teams in the peloton. The Colombian Ineos Grenadiers cyclist has just won the Tour of the Basque Country, being third in Paris – Nice, fourth in Liège – Bastogne – Liège and fifth in Flecha Wallonne.
From Envigado, where he is finishing his preparation before the Tour de Suisse, one of the preludes to the Tour de France, he acknowledges that he is “without a doubt” going through his best moment: “It has been the best year I have had in my sports career.”
Although with his previous team, Education First, he won a Critérium du Dauphiné, now he has become the leader of his new squad and has had riders like Adam Yates or Geraint Thomas himself as domestiques. “It’s a lot of responsibility to see that a Tour de France champion is working for you,” he says.
For the gala round he defines himself as “second” in the squad behind Adam Yates but affirms that “the race puts everyone in their place”. Despite the fact that there are 53 kilometers of time trial, Martínez affirms that he can counterbalance the Slovenians, favorites in the French Grand Tour: “If I get to the Tour in good shape I think I can rival Pogacar and Roglic”.
On the doping problem in Colombia: “It’s unfortunate”
Daniel Felipe Martínez is part of a golden generation of Colombian riders, along with other names such as Egan Bernal, the first Latin American champion of the Tour de France, Nairo Quintana or Rigoberto Urán. However, the coffee nation is also the country with the highest number of active sanctions for doping.
“It’s unfortunate,” says Daniel. “Latin American cycling still has a very old chip. This should not happen.”
For the cyclist born in Soacha, it is a problem of “conscience”, especially in young people. Also, he declares, “more doping controls are needed”.
Despite this scenario, Martínez maintains faith that the golden generation that he is part of will have a replacement that will continue to give glory to his country.
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