Setback for Irish world championship contender

Irish professional Dan Martin will not be able to take the start of today’s eighth stage of the Vuelta a España, with the injuries from his crash on yesterday’s seventh leg proving too much.



The Garmin-Sharp rider hit the deck eleven kilometres from the end of the stage, ending up on the ground while riding along as part of the main bunch.



While he remounted and chased hard with two team-mates, the speed of the peloton meant that he was unable to rejoin before the finish, losing one minute and 33 seconds to the stage winner Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma Quick Step, and one minute 32 to the bunch.



Martin was taken to hospital yesterday evening for evaluation and after a couple of hours there, released to go back to the team hotel. He suffered multiple abrasions to his right side, but also incurred a blow to the head. It was the latter which was of most concern to the team doctors, who decided to make another assessment this morning prior to the start.



Martin told VeloNation that he won’t continue in the Vuelta. “I’m out of the race – the concussion is pretty bad.”



His aim now will be to recover as quickly as possible, and then make a decision about the remainder of the season.



He had planned to chase stage wins in the Vuelta a España, but also to use the race to prepare for his big end of season goal, the world road race championships.



His victory in the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Classic in April marks him out as one who could potentially win the worlds, as does his mountain stage win in the Tour de France in July.



Providing he recovers from the concussion, he may have enough time to ride other events instead to build up his racing sharpness, although the Vuelta a España would have been his best preparation for the worlds.



The Tour of Britain is one possibility that his team could look at, but everything will depend on how he recovers in the days ahead.



Today’s eighth stage of the Vuelta a España takes the riders from Jerez de la Frontera to the summit finish of Alto Peñas Blancas.



Martin’s compatriot and first cousin Nicolas Roche will continue as the sole Irishman in the race. He is currently third overall, just eight seconds off the race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).