Monday Blues: Daniel Martin, Argyle Blue...

He has been building up to it, over the course of his career, over the course of the spring campaign, and on Sunday Daniel Martin finished off Liege-Bastogne-Liege with, what is arguably, his biggest win yet. With about 1 km to go to the finish of the Spring season's final classic, Joaquim Rodriguez attacked with Martin right behind; with 400 meters left, Martin accelerated with enough power to leave Rodriguez in his wake and solo in for his first Spring Classic victory.

Interestingly, Martin earlier in the year won the Volta a Cataluna. He noted that his Irish compatriot from the previous generation of racers, none other than the great Sean Kelly, won the Volta and followed up with Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 1984. That historic stat was at the back of his mind leading up to the race, and the well-deserved finale win.

Blue: A color, a mood or emotion, a genre of music. Tune in each Monday for another installment of the Blues, with a cycling twist.