Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) has been unstoppable in the time trials this year and today's race against the clock at the Criterium du Dauphiné was no exception. Despite stomach problems, he beat Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp) by 47 seconds and was especially happy to beat Chris Froome (Sky) by a further 5 seconds as he expects the Briton to be his most dangerous rival in the Tour de France time trials.

Prior to today's Criterium du Dauphiné stage, there was some uncertainty over Tony Martin's ability to keep his run of time trial success alive as the world champion had lost time during the previous stages due to stomach problems. The big German did, however, put those doubts firmly to rest as soon as he blasted past the first intermediate time check in a time that was way better than those of his rivals.

Martin kept the pace for the remainder of the stage and finished his ride in a time that was 47 seconds faster than new overall leader Rohan Dennis (Garmin-Sharp). Hence, his winning streak continues and he has only been beaten once in a time trial this year when he was unable to overcome Chris Froome in the very unusual mountain prologue at the Tour de Romandie.

Martin admitted that he was feeling much better today but insisted that there was more to come as he had still not recovered completely from his health problems.

"I was really looking forward to today," he said. "It was the first long time trial since the Volta ao Algarve. It was a really nice form test for the Tour. In the past days I had some stomach problems due to a virus. The biggest problem I had was two days ago, and yesterday I was already feeling better. Not 100 percent but when I woke up this morning I was pretty OK, feeling optimistic and feeling confident. So, I'm not 100 percent recovered, but almost. I'm happy with the stage win."

The course was completely flat and non-technical and so one for the pure specialists. That was certainly an advantage for Martin even though the world champion insisted that he would actually have preferred a few undulations along the way. At the same time he was especially happy to see himself put no less than 52 seconds into Chris Froome as he expects the Tour favourite to be his biggest rival in the two long time trials at the world's biggest race.

"I enjoyed the course, even though I enjoy even more when it’s a little bit hillier," he said. "As for me, I was happy about my gap to a rider such as Froome today because we’ll be the main contenders for the time trials at the Tour de France too. I'm not 100% fit, so I'm happy with my result."

Last year Martin lined up at the Tour with the objective of taking the yellow jersey in the prologue but a puncture dashed those hopes. This year his main objective is once again to ride himself into the coveted jersey and his ability to fulfill that aim will hinge on the stage 4 team time trial. He will have to stay in contention in the one flat and two hilly stage on the island of Corsica and then his team should strike in the collective event in which they are already world champions.

Besides that target, the German also hopes to battle for the wins in the time trial but acknowledges that the last of those could be too difficult for him. Finally, he also expects to play a role in the train that should deliver Cavendish to a number of stage wins.

"We have two ITTs at the Tour, but also at the beginning a team time trial," he said. "So, it's really important for me and the team as it is also a good chance to fight for the yellow jersey. We also have one of the best sprinters with Cav, so I think we will have a lot of opportunities. It's a nice moment right now, but I have to be realistic. The first ITT at the Tour suits me, but the second one for sure is pretty hard. I go to see it after the Dauphiné and then I can make my opinion."

For now, Martin will be a domestique for his team as the Dauphiné peloton now heads into the mountains. Teammate Michal Kwiatkowski finished 5th today to move himself into 3rd on GC and could very well take an overall top 10 result in the race.

"In the next days I will try to be useful for the team in the mountains," he said. "I have to improve a bit on the climbs before the Tour and the last days of the Dauphine are perfect for it."

Starting at 12.45, you can follow tomorrow's mountain stage on CyclingQuotes.com/live.