We haven’t heard a lot of Dan Martin so far this year – or any of his Cannondale-Garmin team-mates for that matter.

But it is now that the Birmingham-born Irishman has come to life in recent years – second last year and inside the top-six in each of the last three editions.

Martin started his Ardennes Classics campaign with a stronger showing at the Amstel Gold Race than in the past – finishing 15^th, which could suggest good form or a change of tact from Jonathan Vaughters’ men.

But either way, Martin will be expected to be among the front runners – especially is he finds the room to attack on one of the two final climbs.

Giro di Lombardia victory made amends for his near-miss at Liege-Bastogne-Liege last season, a crash denying him an almost certain second victory.

Now he stands a great chance of adding another one-day Classic win to his palmares as he bids to hit Liege-Bastogne-Liege in top form again this year.