If finishing a disappointing seventh in the time trial at the World Championships wasn't bad enough for Tony Martin, the former champion also suffered the ignominy of having the grip tape on his saddle rip all the way through his skinsuit, rubbing against his bare skin by the end of the race.
Martin has used grip tape on the saddle of his Specialized Shiv TT bike, with the idea being that the extra grip will keep his backside firmly in place, stopping him from sliding forward in the saddle like many of his rivals.
>>> World Championships 2015 road races preview
However in this instance it appears to have backfired, with the grip tape managing to rub against the lycra and padding of his custom-made BioRacer skinsuit so much that it made its way all the way through the fabric, and starting rubbing against Martin's buttocks instead.
Whether or not the pain from his saddle contributed to Martin's disappointing seventh place in yesterday's race, we wouldn't like to say, but it could well have hindered the three-time World Champion's improvement in form since crashing out of the Tour de France while wearing the yellow jersey in July.
The German won the Tour du Poitou Charentes last month, where he was also third in the time trial just four seconds down on Adriano Malori, and was one of the favourites going into the World Championships. However Martin was off the pace from the start, eventually finishing one minute 16 seconds behind race winner Vasil Kiryienka.
Thank you for reading 5 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
-
-
Five talking points from stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia 2022
Alessandro Covi wins his first grand tour stage while Jai Hindley shines and Richard Carapaz cracks
-
'I'll die for the jersey tomorrow': Jai Hindley moves into the Giro lead
The Bora-Hansgrohe rider heads into the final day time trial 1-25 ahead of Richard Carapaz
-
Highest bidder of the Tony Martin Olympic medal auction returns medal to Martin
The time trialist's selfless act rewarded with €35,000 in funds raised and a return of his medal
-
Female pros want a separate Under 23s World Championships, not a race within a race, The Cyclists' Alliance says
Limited support for UCI plan to introduce an U23 jersey, awarded from the elite road race
-
Flanders 2021 produces cycling's first-ever sustainability report for Road World Championships
Organisers focussed on limiting the event's environmental impact, measuring its carbon footprint at 2,292 tonnes of CO2
-
Tony Martin left 'absolutely speechless' with the UCI and race organisers over safety concerns
The now-retired German powerhouse made the decision to step off the bike due to not feeling safe anymore
-
Neilson Powless rescues remarkable fifth for USA at World Championships road race
The American was shouldered with all his nations' hopes after Quinn Simmons crashed out early on
-
Here is the Great Britain women’s team for World Championships 2020 in Imola
The swiftly re-arranged World Championships are just a few weeks away and the Great Britain women’s team has been confirmed.
-
Tweets of the week: Yorkshire World Championships special
The best social media posts from across the cycling world this week
-
Zwift and UCI to host inaugural E-Sports World Championships in 2020
Next year's world championships will offer something for the online racers
