Martin throws down Olympic TT marker

Berlin - Tony Martin stormed to his fifth straight German time-trial championships victory on Friday to send out an Olympic warning six weeks ahead of the Rio Games.

The German time-trial specialist is a triple world champion but was edged out at the 2012 London Olympic Games around the streets of London by local hero Bradley Wiggins.

But the 31-year-old Martin has shown his pre-Games form with an impressive 49.97km/h average speed run over 41km around the streets of Streufdorf.

"I'm highly satisfied with this victory, which I see as a good test ahead the Tour de France and Olympic Games. And finally breaking the ice in 2016 was very important," he said.

He finished a massive 1:39 ahead of Jasha Suetterlin in second and 2:23 ahead of Nils Politt in third.

Ahead of Rio, the Etixx-Quick Step man will try to add to his five Tour de France stages starting at Mont Saint Michel on July 2.