Mixed feelings for Stybar as Martin crashes out

Etixx-Quick Step rider Zdenek Stybar of the Czech Republic celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 191.5-km (118.9 miles) 6th stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling race from Abbeville to Le Havre, France, July 9, 2015. REUTERS 

LE HAVRE, France: Zdenek Stybar said he had mixed feelings after winning Thursday’s (Jul 9) Tour de France sixth stage but seeing teammate Tony Martin crash out of the race.

Martin suffered a broken collarbone after hitting the tarmac in a crash in the final kilometre of the 189.5km stage from Abbeville to Le Havre. His Etixx-Quick Step team manager Patrick Lefevere later told Europe 1 that the 30-year-old German was out of the race.

He had to be helped over the line by a couple of teammates as he couldn’t hold his handlebars - he was instead clutching his injured shoulder.

“It’s absolutely a double feeling right now. It’s a really amazing feeling, I don’t really get it yet that I have won a stage of the Tour de France,” said 29-year-old Czech Stybar. “For me, for the moment, it’s a really amazing feeling, but on the other hand I feel really sorry for Tony.

“For Tony it must be really crazy because he lost the (opening stage) timetrial, which he was focusing on, for five seconds. Then he missed out on the yellow jersey on the next two stages for one second and then took it on a stage he was never expecting.

“He won a stage he wouldn’t dare to dream about and then crashed today. For him, it must be crazy but from what I’ve seen here is the Tour de France, it’s crazy. You don’t know what will happen around each corner.”

Martin initially seemed defiant despite tweeting about his collarbone from hospital. “Collarbone is broken. We will discuss further steps,” he said.