With no less than five stage victories and three stints in leader’s and polka dot jersey, German riders were so far very impressive in the 101st edition of the Tour de France, and while Marcel Kittel emphasized his position as the fastest man in the professional peloton, it was Tony Martin who made eyebrows rise during last days of competition.

In his already established stile, the 29-year old German powerhouse time trialed for at stage victory on Sunday to become a main force in the strong breakaway during the first real mountain stage of the race just one day later, dictating a fierce pace in the nine-rider group up until the penultimate climb for the Omega Pharma-Quick Step leader Michał Kwiatkowski.

Martin’s unusual strength and significantly improved climbing skills, with his latest splendid performance at the Tour de Suisse in mind, forced some cycling enthusiasts to question his future in the Belgian outfit while others started to openly suggest in the social media that it wouldn’t be possible to generate this range of power without reaching for prohibited methods.

Rightly described as quiet, loyal and focused on his work 29-year old German refused to make other than casual comments on any of those suggestions, claiming that starting such discussions wouldn’t leave him any time for bike racing.

“The rest day came at the right moment. We were all at out limits,” Martin told DPA news agency.

“In the social media anyone is free to say anything they please. I wouldn’t have any time left for cycling if I reacted every time it happens. Anyone who knows me is also aware that this kind of behavior is in my nature.”

“Tony has done nothing wrong. He worked hard and achieved it thanks to his talent and hard work,” Martin’s agent Jorg Werner added.

The doubts around performances of the Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider has been triggered by very well-known anti-doping protagonist David Millar on Twitter, and caused some discussion about Martin’s increased capabilities, which was commented by rider’s agent as “wild interpretations”.

In regards to the second topic of interest, Martin’s future in professional cycling, Werner suggested that nothing has been discussed yet and there’s no reason to rush things or worry as results stand firmly behind the German rider. In the same time the Omega Pharma-Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere compared the ITT world champion to Eddy Merckx and claiming that the Belgian team would provide him with bigger support in reaching his personal goals in the future, including the preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games.

“We want some clarity soon, sooner rather than later. But after Tony’s stage victory there is absolutely no reason to panic,” Werner said, and added that staying in the Omega Pharma-Quick Step outfit still would be “the first option” for the German.

Both German riders and their agent, Werner, also hope that their recent performances will help cycling return to German public television stations ARD and ZDF, where the discipline was totally omitted since many years due to doping controversies.