Determined Dan Martin not giving up on Tour de France dream

When Dan Martin crashed hard on stage nine of the Tour de France last Sunday week and crossed the line 1’15” down on stage winner Rigoberto Uran, many felt his best ever chance of a podium in the sport’s greatest contest had passed him by.

Crashing hard is an occupational hazard of professional cycling but on a perilously steep decline when you’re pushing the dial towards three digits the consequences can – and have been, fatal.

Martin crashed because the man directly in front of him at the time, Tasmanian Richie Porte, also went down after he lost control on a hooking left-hand bend.