Not quite as spectacular as Monday’s high speed coming together but it could prove costly for the Irishman.
Dan Martin fell victim to the hazardous combination of rain and cobblestones, this afternoon, as the Tour de France competitors raced from Seraing to Cambrai.
The Irishman’s tour had been going well, after three stages, but a fall from his bike left him with a mountain of work to do, to catch the peloton.
Two kilometres to the second section of cobbles and the stage beginning in earnest. Dan Martin has just crashed. Tinkoffs at front.
— David Walsh (@DavidWalshST) July 7, 2015
Rain is falling in northern France as we approach the treacherous cobbles. Dan Martin is the first to fall! #TDF2015 pic.twitter.com/mKa6KS7nxe
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) July 7, 2015
Martin was one of 20 race participants that hit the deck but all were able to continue after running repairs.
Meanwhile, Australian rider Michael Matthews is continuing to race on despite breaking ribs in yesterday’s huge pile-up.
He told cyclingnews.com, ‘I’m a bit sore. The skin off isn’t that bad, a lot of riders hit me at about 70 kilometres per hour into my ribs and my back. So that’s the real sore point at the moment.’
Some trooper.
