Dan Martin to undergo surgery in Dublin for broken collar bone after Giro crash

Dan Martin is one of two Garmin-Sharp riders who will undergo surgery for broken bones in Ireland later today, Saturday.

Following the team time trial crash in Belfast last evening that took him out of the Giro d’Italia, Dan Martin was due to undergo surgery in a Dublin hospital later today, Saturday.

When Martin came down, apparently after hitting a manhole cover, the three riders behind - Nathan Haas, Koldo Fernandez and Andre Cardoso - also fell.

It has emerged Fernandez will also undergo surgery from a broken collarbone.

A statement from his Garmin-Sharp team said Martin was taken from the site of the crash to hospital in Belfast where a broken clavicle, or collar bone, was confirmed.

While Fernandez got back on his bike and made it to the finish, a subsequent medical examination has confirmed a broken collar bone.

Cardoso and Haas suffered what the team called “contusions and abrasions”.

The team’s director sportif on the Giro, Charly Wegelius said the crash necessitated a change in strategy for the team, with Martin their main rider for the general classification heading into the event despite starting as co-leader with 2012 winner Ryder Hesjedal.

“We came in with two leaders, Dan and Ryder, and a strong team built to support them and give us options throughout the race,” Wegelius said.

“We still have a strong team and we have Ryder, who’s already won here. It’s heartbreak for Dan in particular, we all know how much this meant to him, but that gives us motivation. We’ll keep fighting forward.

“These guys are not just teammates, they are good friends and we’ll all use this as motivation for the next three weeks to shake up the race and create opportunities for ourselves.

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“For the team to wait for Dan, for the whole team and the injured who were able to do so - to pick themselves up and press on - shows true courage and character and that’s what we will continue to do here.”

Hesjedal said while he felt for all four riders who fell, the crash was particularly disappointing for Martin as an Irish rider racing in Ireland.

“I’m especially sad for Dan. I know how much it meant to him to be racing here, and how much this race meant to him,” the Canadian said.

“But with that comes motivation for the rest of the guys here. We will regroup and refocus – we have a strong team here and we’re fighters. We will look for opportunities for the rest of the race and do everything we can to make Dan and Koldo proud.

“We may be down, but don’t count us out. These are moments that we will use as motivation to push us forward.”