Bouhanni takes Giro d’Italia stage to Bari

Four days after he crashed out of the Giro d'Italia and suffered his first-ever broken bone, Irish rider Dan Martin has confirmed he is healing and intends to make a successful return to racing this year.

Martin underwent an operation in Dublin on Sunday to repair the collarbone fractured in three places in a crash in Friday’s team time trial in Belfast.

"It's the first time I've broken a bone but I'm certain to bounce back better then ever with the circle of support I've had from the team, family, friends and my incredible fans," Martin said.

'Silver lining'
"As always I strive to find the silver lining. Success will be even sweeter later in the year after such a rough period the last few weeks. Have to take the downs with the ups in this sport so time for a mental reset and I'll be back."

The Giro d'Italia continued yesterday with stage four to Bari in southern Italy. After three wet days in Ireland, the race's move south did nothing to improve the conditions the riders faced, with heavy rain drenching the peloton.

The 2012 French champion Nacer Bouhanni was quickest to the line, winning a bunch sprint ahead of the Italian Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) and Dutchman Tom Veelers (Giant-Shimano).

Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano), who won stages two and three in Ireland, was a non-starter due to fever.

Conditions were treacherous on normally dry roads, prompting the bunch to ride slowly for much of the stage.

The race organisers agreed to take the times for the general classification with one lap of the 8.3 kilometre finishing circuit remaining rather than at the finish; this allowed the general classification riders and others to back off, while the sprinters and their leadout men were able to fight it out for the stage honours.

Both Irish riders in the race finished safely, with Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff-Saxo) crossing the line in the main bunch and Philip Deignan (Sky) finishing a further 31 seconds back.

As the last lap did not count towards the general classification, the duo remain 37 and 49 seconds behind the pink jersey.

It continues to be worn by the Australian rider Michael Matthews of the Orica GreenEdge team. Roche is 26th while Deignan is 39th.

Bouhanni’s victory came despite problems encountered towards the end of the stage. “Thirteen kilometres from the finish line, I suffered a puncture and a broken rear wheel,” he said. “I had to stand at the side of the road waiting for help, and then change bikes.”

Roche and Deignan both believe they are going well but will get a clearer indication of their form on today’s lumpy fifth stage.