Stephen Clancy is quietly learning his trade with Novo Nordisk on the Continent and in the US this year; seen here in the Bayern Rundfahrt (UCI 2.HC) stage race in Germany at the weekend where he and Dan Martin had a tough time.
By Graham Healy
Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) has luckily managed to avoid any serious injuries in a high-speed crash in Bayern Rundfahrt (UCI 2.HC) which finished yesterday.
Following on from a well-deserved break from racing after his incredible spring campaign, Martin started his build-up to the Tour de France in the southern German stage race.
It started off well as he helped his team mate Alex Rasmussen to victory in a bunch sprint on the opening stage. The Dane, who has just returned from suspension last month after missing out-of-competition doping tests, also took the yellow jersey in the process.
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Martin came in a minute down on that stage, and on the following day’s key stage, the Irishman worked to help designated team leader Michel Kreder move up to equal 9th on GC as Rasmussen lost the overall lead.
Unfortunately for Martin, he was to crash in Saturday’s 31-kilometre time-trial whilst on a fast stretch of the course when he was hitting a speed of 65 kilometres per hour. Somehow, he emerged unscathed to go on to finish the stage.
It was a reflection of his good performance in the time-trial that despite the crash he still managed to finish in the top half of the field, in 64th place. He then decided not to take to the start line of yesterday’s final stage, as he wasn’t feeling 100 per cent.
Next up for the 26 year-old is the Tour of Switzerland in two weeks time.
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Stephen Clancy (Team Novo Nordisk) was also racing in Bayern Rundfahrt, but unfortunately did not finish yesterday’s final stage, as half the field were listed as DNF.
It has been a big step-up for the Limerick man, as he was racing domestically last season. But he will be hopeful of coming into good form after some solid racing miles recently in both Germany and also the Tour of the Gila.
You'd wonder how they keep the gear so white; Stephen Clancy (left) just before flag down in Germany in the Bayern Rundfahrt which ran from last Thursday to yesterday.
Stephen Clancy's diabetes diagnosis came as a shock to him last year but he's turned it around by gaining a place with Novo Nordisk, a pro team with an all diabetic rider roster.
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