The INEOS Grenadiers is left without one of its three leaders to fight for the general classification of the Tour de France. Daniel Felipe Martínez, who was in the top 10 of the race, did not have a good day this Sunday and his podium chances are virtually ruled out. Apparently he is not in good health and that led him to fail in this stage 9.
Martínez spent most of the day with the main group of Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic, Geraint Thomas, Nairo Quintana, among others. The Colombian supported the first three ports, but in the ascent to the last one, of first category, it began to drop. With a little more than 21 kilometers to go, he was released by the bosses.
The INEOS runner ended up coming within more than 16 minutes of the day’s winner, Bob Jungels. He came in 70th place with the same time as Bauke Mollema and Gorka Izagirre. In the general classification, Dani moves from tenth place to box 30 at 17:12 behind the leader Pogacar. His teammates Geraint Thomas and Adam Yates are third and fourth respectively. He now he must run for them.
The best Colombian of the day was Nairo Quintana entering 52 seconds behind the Dutchman and 3″ behind the two-time champion Pogacar. In the general classification he is tenth, 2:13 behind the Slovenian and less than a minute off the podium. Rigo was the protagonist of the escape and became a virtual leader at some point in the race. In the end he paid the consequences of the effort and is almost 10 minutes from the lead.
This Monday there will be rest in the Tour and the activity will return until Tuesday, July 12 with a half-mountain stage of almost 150 kilometers. According to some media reports from France, the continuity of Dani Martínez in the Tour is not assured.