New race leader also received cobbles advice from Tom Boonen
Tuesday 7 July 2015 19:52, UK
New Tour de France leader Tony Martin has revealed pep talks from cobbles legend Tom Boonen and cycling great Eddy Merckx spurred him on to victory on stage four.
The Etixx – Quick-Step rider escaped from a leading group of 35 riders with 3.3km remaining and held on to claim the fifth Tour stage win of his career by three seconds.
Martin also claimed his first yellow jersey at the fourth time of asking in this year’s race, having narrowly missed out on each of stages one, two and three.
The German, who started the day one second adrift of previous race leader Chris Froome, admitted he had received advice on tackling the day’s 13.3km of cobbled roads from team-mate Boonen, who is a four-time Paris-Roubaix winner.
He said: “This morning Tom Boonen gave me a call to talk about the cobblestones and Eddy Merckx motivated me on the start line, but I'm definitely surprised to win this stage and take the yellow jersey.
“My emotions of the past four days have been a roller coaster. I have missed the yellow jersey by seconds. My goal was to get it on the first day. I was super upset that I didn't. The pressure was getting higher every day. I really wanted the yellow jersey for myself and for the team.”
Martin claimed victory despite having to jump on team-mate Matteo Trentin’s bike following a puncture 20km out.
He added: “Taking the yellow jersey after all the bad luck I have in the last three days, and also today with the flat tyre towards the end, it's a super nice story and it makes me super happy.
“Matteo Trentin gave me his bike straight away after I punctured, then I had to be focused because it wasn't my bike, I had some difficulties to brake and I had lost a lot of energy in the chase.”
Martin will now aim to hold the yellow all the way through to the race’s first high mountain stage, in the Pyrenees on stage 10.
He said: “My goal now is to keep the yellow jersey until the first rest day. There are a few hard finales, but normally, I should be able to stay at the front and we are also one of the favourites for the team time trial [on stage nine].
“I'm pretty sure I have a fair chance to remain in the lead until the Pyrenees.”
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