Martin back in training after nasal surgery

CYCLING:VISITING IRELAND for a few days, Daniel Martin is making a good recovery from his recent nasal surgery and believes he is on track for a good season in 2011.

The Garmin-Cervélo pro underwent an operation last month in order to try to reduce the flare-up of allergies he has at certain points of the season. He’s doing well and is back training, despite complications.

“I ended up having two operations, as I ruptured an artery in my nose and had to get that treated,” he told The Irish Times yesterday. “But I’m feeling much better. It is three weeks today since I had the operation, and I have been back on the bike a week now. I normally don’t resume training until the start of December, so I haven’t really missed anything. I won’t get out on the bike while I am here, though, as the roads are too icy.”

Martin had a fine 2010 season, winning a stage, plus the overall classification in the Tour of Poland, taking first in the Tre Valli Vareseine, netting second in the Giro dell’Emilia and then capping things off with victory in the Japan Cup. He could well have been in the fight for the Tour of Lombardy, but crashed during the rain-soaked event.

“I’m starting back in a good way,” he said. “Okay, I couldn’t go to the team training camp due to my recovery from the operation, but I finished the season well and will have kept some of that fitness. I always say that you are only as good as your last race, and I won my last race. That means my confidence is very good heading towards next year.”

Martin is not yet sure of his racing schedule, but his Garmin-Cervélo team will have training camps next month and February. His stay this weekend is to visit family in Ireland and also to meet fans at the Cycle Superstore on Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, several of Ireland’s track riders have been working hard in advance of the next round of the UCI World Cup in Cali, Columbia. The event runs from next Thursday until Saturday and the quintet of Jennifer O’Reilly, Caroline Ryan, Ciara Horne, Martyn Ireland and Felix English are now due to fly out, before making final preparations there.

The three women will ride the team pursuit, Omnium and scratch race, while Irvine will do the Omnium and English the men’s scratch race.

Fixtures – Saturday: Bike Pure cyclocross race, Bellurgan Park, Dundalk. Sunday: Killorgan Hamper Event, starts 11am. Further info from Mary Concannon at 087 2443360.