Tony Martin quits the Tour de France 2012
World Time Trial Champion, Tony Martin of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step abandoned the Tour de France because of the crash during the first stage of the race.
The cyclist crashed during the opening prologue of the event and fractured the scaphoid bone of his hand. He continued the race till stage 9 but has finally decided to throw in the towel on his Tour de France campaign.
The 27-year-old was having an outstanding season and was looking good for the biggest cyclist race of the season, the Tour de France.
He started riding professionally with Team High Road in 2008 and spent a period of three years with the side.
The American team announced its demise by the end of 2011 season and Martin had to find a new home to continue his 2012 pursuit.
He accepted an offer from Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step in 2012 and helped the team with numerous victories in the first half of the season.
His first victory in the season came during the Individual Time Trial stage 4 of the Tour of Belgium and he also managed to claim an overall win at the race.
Tony finished first during the National Time Trial Championships, second overall at the Volta ao Algarve and occupied the fifth spot during the Tour of the Basque Country.
The decision to leave his team-mates at the Tour was definitely not an easy one but he had to choose wisely, considering the 2012 Olympic Games right around the corner.
"But it's the right thing to do now, and I know that even the guys will understand. I will go home and I will try to recover as much as I can. I don't want things to get even worse going into the mountains".
“I cannot imagine sitting in the back of the peloton suffering every day a little bit more as I did during this week”.
"I have still three weeks before the Olympics. I know that it won't be easy, but I will do all my best to be in good shape for the Olympics".
The 2012 Olympic Games are scheduled from July 28 to August 12 and Martin is a definite favourite to grab gold at the coming race.
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