Dan Martin hoping to start Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Still recovering from his crash in Wednesday's Fleche Wallonne, Dan Martin is hoping to start Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday.

“Medical staff continues to closely monitor Dan following his crash at Fleche Wallone,” stated his Cannondale-Garmin team yesterday. “Known injuries include contusions, abrasions and soreness in his neck.

“His health is our top priority and we will see how he progresses but remain hopeful that he will be able to start Liege-Bastogne-Liege.”

Precaution

Martin crashed early in Wednesday’s race and while he was able to return to the peloton, withdrew as a precaution. He has a strong history in Liege-Bastogne-Liege. He won the race in 2013 and looked set to repeat that success last year before sliding out on the final corner.

In other news, the An Post Chainreaction Seán Kelly team are among three squads confirmed for next month’s Rás. The Irish Continental outfit, who previously won the race overall and have taken multiple stages, will start with the same goals on May 17th .

"Ryan Mullen is racing again this weekend after his crash in the Under-23 Tour of Flanders. He is a certainty for the race," stated the team's general manager Kurt Bogaerts. Mullen is one of Irish cycling's most promising riders, having taken second in last year's world under-23 time trial championship.

Conor Dunne and Seán Downey are also likely to ride on the team, although Jack Wilson and Eoin McCarthy will miss out due to injury. The final lineup will be confirmed closer to the race.

Rás

Also set to ride the Rás is the British Madison Genesis team and the French Pays de Dinan squad.

The 2015 An Post Rás will begin in Dunboyne on May 17th and will feature stage finishes in Carlow, Tipperary, Bearna, Newport, Ballina, Ballinamore, Drogheda and Skerries.