Dan Martin finished Tour de France with fractured spine, scans reveal

Irishman Daniel Martin rode the Tour de France with two small fractures in his vertebrae after crashing on stage nine - Martin will not ride Clásica de San Sebastián on Saturday

Daniel Martin in the 2017 Tour de France.

(Image credit: Yuzuru Sunada)

Dan Martin completed the 2017 Tour de France with fractures to two of his vertebrae. The 30-year-old Irishman was unaware of the fractures that came as a result of crashing on stage nine of the race and said the delayed diagnosis was a 'surprise'.

Martin (Quick-Step Floors) was descending the Mont du Chat when he was caught in a collision with Richie Porte (BMC). Both riders landed heavily, and although Porte abandonded the race immediately due to his injuries, Martin remounted and carried on.

>>> Dan Martin: ‘I raced like an idiot at the Tour last year, but I’ve learned a lot’

Martin then rode through a gruelling final week in the Alps, often staying seated during climbs due to the pain he was suffering. He finished sixth overall - his highest ever Grand Tour placing - four minutes and 42 seconds behind winner Chris Froome (Team Sky).

Martin's Quick-Step Floors team announced on Thursday that a post-Tour medical examination revealed that Martin had fractures to the L2 and L3 vertebrae in his lower back.

Watch: the best of the 2017 Tour de France

"During the Tour I didn't have any problems when racing, but off the bike I wasn't feeling very comfortable, so this week I did a scan and got the news," said Martin, who has now been forced to withdraw from starting the Clásica de San Sebastián on Saturday and rest for three weeks.

See more

"It's a real pity I won't ride San Sebastian, because the legs were there and it's a race I like, but fortunately this injury isn't something to worry about.

"In order to tackle my future goals in good condition, it's better to take a break and give the fracture time to heal. There's nothing else I can do, just rest and then build up for the final part of the season."

Martin later said on Twitter: "Diagnosis of 2 small fractures took me by surprise. Shows how powerful the mind is in pushing through. No wonder I couldn't stand up straight".

See more

Martin's Tour de France team-mate Jack Bauer replied: "Just a 6th place in the @LeTour GC with 2 fractures in his back. No biggy. Strong bro, real strong!"

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.