Dan Martin’s head drops and he has to be helped to stay on his feet after a brilliant finish at the end of a punishing stage 5 at the Tour de France today, Wednesday.
Dan Martin never spares an ounce of effort when he smells blood in a race and today that was very much the case for the Etixx-QuickStep man on stage five of the Tour de France.
Knowing how closely congested the top of the general classification was and keen to take seconds wherever he possibly can, Martin absolutely smashed himself in the final 50 kilometres – and all the way to the finish line in Le Lioran.
As the video below shows the Irishman is in a very confused state as he tries to get his bearings in the immediate aftermath of the stage finish, which featured four climbs in the last 40k or so.
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Surrounded by a mix of press, team soigneurs and fans Martin is in a world of suffering as he followed Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez of Katusha over the line, before temporarily losing his footing.
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In his group crossing the line were most of the big favourites, the exceptions being Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff).
If Martin was this shook afterwards, we can just imagine what kind of suffering those behind him went through on what was the first real mountain test of the race – and held in 30 degree heat for most of the afternoon.
His head drops here and he clearly has to be helped so as not to lose his footing completely; old school effort from a real racer.
Martin aftermath
Watch Martin catch his breath but almost collapse from the effort he just put in.
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