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Cycling

Ireland's Dan Martin pipped for a podium place at the Flèche Wallonne

Martin’s hopes of a top-three finish in the Belgian classic were hampered by a puncture 20 kilometres from home.

Updated 17.45

IRELAND’S DAN MARTIN just missed out on a podium placing as he was pipped in a sprint finish to this year’s Flèche Wallonne.

Martin’s continued his flying start to the season when he finished fourth in the Belgian one-day classic, won by Katusha’s Daniel Moreno.

It could have been even better for the Garmin rider, who last month became the first Irishman to win the Volta a Catalunya since Sean Kelly in 1986.

A puncture just over 20 kilometres from the finish line in Huy cost him valuable time and energy as he had to battle to rejoin his place in the peleton.

With Moreno home and dry, Martin’s brave effort fell just short and he was edged out for second and third place by the Colombian duo Sergio Henao (Sky) and Carlos Betancur (AG2R La Mondiale).

All three riders were credited with a time of 4:52:36, three seconds behind Moreno, as was fifth-placed Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step).

“Gutted to be so close to the podium today,” Martin tweeted afterwards. “Literally 2 inches.

“I raced the climb, not the riders. Easy to say what could have been. #happy

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