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TEAM GARMIN-SLIPSTREAM ANNOUNCES TOUR DE FRANCE ROSTER CHANGE
Injured Dan Martin Will Be Replaced by Martijn Maaskant
July 2, 2009 – Monaco – Dutchman Martijn Maaskant, the first reserve for Team Garmin-Slipstream’s Tour de France Squad, will replace former Irish national champion Dan Martin on the start line on Saturday. Martin is suffering from knee tendonitis. Multiple team medical staff members have been working closely with Martin to resolve the issue and today team officials made the decision to replace him with Maaskant.
“These decisions are always hard,†said director Matt White. “The medical staff has done an outstanding job working with Dan but for his health and the benefit of the team, we have decided that Martijn will start on Saturday. We had Martijn on standby and we are very confident in his form and know he will deliver for the team even with such short notice.â€
According to Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports: “Dan has shown outstanding grace and character as we have gone through the decision process. He wants what is best for the team.â€
Maaskant has been training with the Tour squad since Martin’s knee problems surfaced earlier this week.
“Of course I would have loved to start the Tour, but I want what is best for the team,†said Dan Martin. “The medical staff and directors have been incredibly supportive, but at this point we’ve exhausted all of our resources. I wish the outcome would have been different, but Martijn is in great form and will be a strong replacement.â€
Martijn Maaskant said: “I know this has been a challenging situation. Dan has been in exceptional form and to be forced out by injury right before the start is hard. But we’ve worked hard to position me as the alternate, and I will do everything possible to deliver good results for the team and especially for Dan.â€
Comment of the day, July 1, 2009:
Our Lance, who art in
By: Wheelsucker
Wed, 07/01/2009 – 2:50pm
Our Lance, who art in France,
Hallowed be thy Tour.
Thy campaign’s begun,
Seven you’ve won,
But this year will be your hardest.
Give us this day our daily tweet,
And forgive Alberto for pimping,
Himself to Sideburns or anyone out there.
And lead Horner back into the fold,
Since that Levi guy, he’s getting old.
For thine is the Livestrong,
The wristband, and the 501(c)(3),
At least until the IRS comes after you.
Amen.
i feel like i’m the only one not at fitchburg right now.
i was gonna post a smart-ass comment but the question was “who rode a smart race” and i refuse to participate in that. so now you miss out on my smart-ass comment.
… and the world is so much worse for it.
you have no idea. it was really insightful.
nah, it wasn’t even TC worthy, much less a COTD/COITUS material
someone delusional…http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/94137/vino–says-he-will-be-on-astana–or-heads-will-roll
I dunno. Those are his sponsors.
My back hurts.
help i’ve fallen and i can’t get up!
Contador, Armstrong and Vino on the same team? Really? I can’t see that working at all.
Photo and gallery tagging is here. Welcome to 2003! Please tag with care and discretion.
Lanbertal Armstrontadov
Just got off the phone with Evie Stevens. She finished 2nd in the Women’s P/1/2 TT at Fitchburg, less than 1 second (!) off the winning time set by National Champ Alison Powers.
Nice.
Oh, and this was on a borrowed TT bike that she had never ridden before this week. Go get’em Evie.
What we have here is a fucking champ in the works.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/is-bicycling-bad-for-your-bones/
Nothing against Evie, she seems like a great person, but to take up cycling and a year later be one of the best in the country really points up the huge genetic contribution to success in this sport. Again, not meant to be negative as I am a huge Evie fan and not her competition (male).