Rider had suffered concussion yesterday, but doctors deem it safe for him to continue
Having waited until this morning to assess his condition once again, the Omega Pharma Quick Step team and its doctors have given Tony Martin a green light to start stage two of the Tour de France.
The German rider crashed inside the final ten kilometres of yesterday’s stage and suffered a number of injuries. He limped in to the finish, but reportedly lost consciousness on the team bus. He was then taken off the bus on a stretcher and brought to hospital.
Assessed in the general hospital in Bastia, fractures were ruled out but he was diagnosed with a concussion plus a contusion on his left lung. In addition to that, soft tissue damages to his hip, chest, left knee and shoulder were identified, as was a deep 5cm wound on his left muscles. The team said that this “causes a lot of pain and a problem moving his arm.”
It said last night that it would not take a decision about his continued participation in the race until this morning. Now, having reassessed his condition, the team doctors have ruled that it is safe for him to start.
In addition to targeting the team time trial and two solo races against the clock, the world TT champion is also an important part of Mark Cavendish’s lead out train.
Asked about the wisdom of the rider continuing after a concussion, the team said that he had been fully assessed by medical staff and that it was safe for him to ride on.
Martin has thanked the race leader for his well wishes. “Marcel Kittel sent me a SMS and said he hoped that I would get well soon. This really boosted me and made me happy. After the biggest success of his career he still thought of me.”