A stage win on the mountains is the target for Dan Martin as he prepares to tackle the Tour de France for the ninth time in his career.
Martin has two successive top-10 finishes in his last two Grand Tours, with stage wins on both.
He won Stage 3 in the Vuelta a Espana last year, nine years after his previous stage win in the race, en route to a fourth place finish in general classification.
And he performed extremely strongly in the first Grand Tour of 2021, finishing 10th overall at the Giro d'Italia and scooping a win on Stage 17, triumphing over the 193km route from Canazei to Sega di Ala.
Martin has three top-10 finishes in the Tour de France under his belt, his best overall performance being sixth in 2017.
But the Irish rider, riding for Israel Start-Up Nation, has different priorities heading into this year's race.
After his exertions in Italy, the general classification standings are not his priority this time around.
"This year is a little bit different for myself," Martin told Game On on RTÉ 2fm.
"Because I've obviously just completed the Giro and had a very strong race there. I don't really know where I'm at. I feel really good. But I don't know how much fatigue is in the body still.
"I don't really have any expectations for the first few days. The main objective for me will be to ride through the first week safely, stay out of trouble.
"I've already said to the team, any time that I lose, it doesn't matter. It's irrelevant. It's about getting my legs back, get my legs used to racing again. And preparing for the mountain stages that lie ahead. There are a lot of opportunities for me to win a stage.
"That's my main goal for this race, is to win a stage. Because the team has never won one before and I'm potentially the best candidate in the team to do that. I'll have full support on the days that I choose to really target."
Martin's last stage win on the Tour was his 2018 success on the hilly route from Brest to Mur de Bretagne. They arrive at the latter point at the end of Stage 2 this Sunday, although Martin is adamant he doesn't see a stage success coming that early in the race this time around.
"Obviously, I've won on the same finish line as Stage 2 three years ago. But I personally have changed quite a bit since then.
"I've become much more of a climber. And the sport has become much more competitive with the type of rider who can do well at that stage finish."
After an excellent 10th-place finish at the @giroditalia, @DanMartin86 heads for @LeTo, but it's at @Tokyo2020 where he's predicting a really big showing. pic.twitter.com/iXFTq2xsKH
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 24, 2021
Martin joined the Israel Start-Up team from UAE Team Emirates on a two-year contract in 2020. The team has three Grand Tour stage wins to its name, two coming courtesy of Martin in the most recent tours and the other through British rider Alex Dowsett.
The Irishman, however, is the team's chief prospect if they're to break their stage duck in the Tour de France in 2021.
"I think it shows the level I'm at. They believe in me. I've done it before, I've raced well at the Giro. And I definitely have the capability to win another stage in the Tour de France.
"It doesn't feel like pressure because we have a lovely atmosphere here. As long as I give my all, they'll be happy. Obviously, I'd love to win a stage but if it doesn't happen, we'll just be proud I've given my all."
The 2021 Tour de France will be shorn of the type of Irish interest we've become used to in recent years, with no Nicolas Roche and, most disappointingly, reigning points classification winner Sam Bennett being unable to defend his green jersey through injury.
Cork's Eddie Dunbar, who was recently crowned best young rider of the Tour de Suisse, missed out on selection for the Ineos Grenadiers team.
While Martin insists it was a let-down to see Bennett unable to defend his green jersey, he is nonetheless bullish about the immediate future of Irish cycling.
"It's a bit of added pressure, isn't it. It's incredibly unfortunate for Sam getting injured just before the race. He would normally be here, defending his green jersey.
"And then we see Eddie Dunbar getting the best young rider in the Tour of Switzerland. He's improving year on year and is coming through.
"We're in a great position. For a small country, we've got incredible representation in the world of cycling. Hopefully, cycling as a sport can be successful in Tokyo and inspire a few more kids on bikes."
