After Flèche crash, Dan Martin’s arm “not exactly working”

LIEGE, Belgium (VN) – Dan Martin is starting Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but will be fighting a troubling arm injury suffered in a crash on Wednesday. The Garmin-Cervélo climber told VeloNews that his left arm is nearly immobile after the crash in the finale at La Flèche Wallonne.

The young Irishman said he was extremely disappointed to have crashed at the end of the race that was the target for his early season. The elbow injury makes the incident all the more bitter.

Martin was with the leaders when his cousin, Ag2r La Mondiale’s Nicholas Roche suffered a mechanical. A backup ensued on the steep Mur de Huy and Martin, a few wheels behind, went down hard and landed with his full body weight on his left elbow. It was the first time Martin has ever abandoned a race to the hospital.

“I just got caught up in the aftermath. It’s just bad luck; wrong place, wrong time,” Martin said. “I was really lucky not to break my elbow.

Martin will start Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège in support of teammates Ryder Hesjedal and Christophe Le Mevel. How far he makes it into La Doyenne is unknown. Martin said he could stand on the pedals in training, but was unable to pressure his left arm under the force of an acceleration.

“It doesn’t hurt,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes tomorrow, but I’m having a bit of trouble using my arm. My arm’s not exactly working.”

FILED UNDER: News / Road TAGS: Daniel Martin / Garmin-Cervelo / Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Brian Holcombe

Brian Holcombe is the managing editor of Velo Magazine. Holcombe joined VeloNews in 2009 following years spent introducing students to whitewater kayaking and working in avalanche control, among other more risky ventures. His graduate work in communications at the University of Denver focuses on innovation and digital media management. Holcombe is a CSU Ram fan and proud parent and has been accused of attacking too much on the VN lunch ride. Follow him on Twitter @FCBrian.

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