Two days after he was hit by a car during a training ride, Tony Martin’s Omega Pharma Quick Step team has revealed that the German has been diagnosed with additional fractures.
The latest medical checks at the Zurich University hospital determined that the world time trial champion has a small fracture in his left shoulder blade and upper arm.
Yesterday, in a frank blog entry on his website, the rider spoke about his injuries and said that he had suffered considerable damage to his face as a result of Wednesday’s crash. He said that his cheekbone was broken, and that he also had fractures to his jawbone and eye socket.
Fortunately he’s healing up, and got good news that he won’t have to be operated on. "My feeling today is much better than the last two days” Martin said. “I am happy that the fractures won’t need surgery. I’m at home now. For me it’s really important.
“The day of the accident I was thinking - why has this happened to me? - but now I have to say I was lucky, it could have been much worse. I had a great medical staff around me.”
The Omega Pharma Quick Step rider thanked those staff and noted the affection he felt from his family and others close to him.
Although an operation is not necessary, it will still take time for him to recover fully. As a result he’s not putting himself under pressure to be back by any particular point in time; that will be determined at a later point.
“My first objective now is to take all the time necessary to heal well.,” he said. “I thank all those who with their messages gave me a support in these difficult days. I really appreciate them.”
Martin has had a solid start to his 2012 season, netting second in the Volta ao Algarve and fifth in last week’s Vuelta al Pais Vasco. He has identified the Olympic Games as one of his major targets for this season, and will hope to be able to ride the Tour de France as part of his buildup.