Dan Martin has been diagnosed with two vertebrae fractures and will be required to rest for the next three weeks.

The Irish rider was originally supposed to have lined up at Clasica a San Sebastian this weekend, but after a medical examination revealed two small transverse process fracture to the L2 and L3 vertebrae, he will be sidelined for the next number of weeks, during which the 30-year-old will need to rest and recover before returning to action.

Martin crashed at high speed on stage nine of the Tour de France from Nantua to Chambéry when Richie Porte (BMC) lost control of the bike on a corner and crashed hard, taking Martin with him. Over the following days, Martin struggled with injuries sustained in the crash with footage after the thirteenth stage showing the extent of the pain he was riding through.

“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 finished the Tour de France in sixth overall, his best ever Grand Tour result.

“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.”

Philippe Gilbert will now lead the Quick-Step Floors team for the Spanish classic. The Belgian won here in 2011 and finished runner-up at his most recent participation, in 2015, and is now ready to resume racing after a viral gastroenteritis forced him to abandon the Tour de France in the last week.

“It’s my first race since the Tour de France, so it’s hard to say where I am, especially as I had to pull out of the Tour due to illness. San Sebastian is always an important race, and of course I would like to do good, but it is difficult to say where I stand. I think my body is feeling better and I’m looking forward to racing again and to test the waters, but I’ll be able to say more after the race”, said Gilbert, who so far this season has landed five wins in the Quick-Step Floors jersey, including Ronde van Vlaanderen and Amstel Gold Race.

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80 COMMENTS

  66. This guy will be on the podium of the Tour next year all going well . I am sorry he is not in the Vuelta this year at least I don’t think he is but he is world class . I have a feeling about this guy he is in the top five cyclists in the world well donn Dan Gods Speed and I know you will win the Tour soon

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