Martin to continue in Tour de France despite fractured wrist

Tony Martin, Tour de France 2012, prologue

World time trial champion Tony Martin will continue in the 2012 Tour de France despite fracturing his wrist as a result of a crash on Sunday's opening road stage.

Martin tangled with Garmin-Sharp's Robbie Hunter during stage one from Liege to Seraing, falling heavily on his left side. He was taken to hospital for X-rays at the stage finish to assess the injury, which was diagnosed as a fractured scaphoid bone.

Martin's Omega Pharma-QuickStep team issued a statement on Monday morning ahead of stage two saying that Martin has been fitted with a plastic cast on the affected wrist and will continue in the race.

"We will take it step by step, kilometre by kilometre," Martin said in the statement.

"The first objective is to try and arrive to the next time trial on next Monday. I know it won't be easy, it will be painful, but I really want to try. The Tour de France is really important for me and I don't want to give up without trying."

Aside from his aims at the Tour, Martin is also aiming to fight for gold in the Olympic Games time trial in August. This latest injury throws that into doubt, particularly as he has only just recovered from his injuries after being hit by a car during a training ride in April that saw him fracture his arm, cheekbone and shoulder blade.

Martin's team-mate Jerome Pineau also crashed on stage one and like Martin was taken to hospital for X-rays. No fracture was found, and Pineau will also continue in the race.

Related links

No surgery for Tony Martin after being hit by a car

Tour de France 2012: Latest news

Liquigas coach tips Sagan for future Grand Tour win

Cancellara's win lifts morale in RadioShack team

Hincapie makes history with 17th Tour start

Goss has eye on Tour's green jersey

Hincapie's lucky seventeen bike

Evans ready to fight for his Tour title

Tour de France 2012: Teams presented in Liege

Millar misses Tour presentation due to illness

Nibali plans mountain attack in Tour

Sky Tour de France recon: Photo special

Hesjedal ready to take on Tour

Tour 2012: Who will win?

Tour won't knock Cavendish down

Brailsford: You've got to prioritise

Tour de France 2012: Teams, riders, start list

Tour 2012: Who will win?

Tour de France 2012 provisional start list

Tour de France 2012 team list

Tour de France 2012: Stage reports

Stage one: Sagan wins at first attempt

Prologue: Cancellara wins, Wiggins second

Tour de France 2012: Comment, analysis, blogs

Analysis: How much time could Wiggins gain in Tour's time trials

CW's Tour de France podcasts

Blog: Tour presentation - chasing dreams and autographs

Comment: Cavendish the climber

Tour de France 2012: Photo galleries

Stage one by Graham Watson

Prologue photo gallery by Andy Jones

Prologue photo gallery by Roo Rowler

Prologue photo gallery by Graham Watson

Tour de France 2012: Team presentation

Sky and Rabobank Tour de France recce

Tour de France 2012: Live text coverage

Cycling Weekly's live text coverage schedule

Tour de France 2012: TV schedule

ITV4 live schedule

British Eurosport live schedule

Tour de France 2012: Related links

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish

Brief history of the Tour de France

Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

1989: The Greatest Tour de France ever

 

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