Australian rider Michael Matthews will push on with the Tour de France, despite fracturing two ribs.
Scans revealed a pair of small fractures in the Orica-GreenEDGE sprinter’s ribcage, suffered in a nasty crash on stage three of the race.
“After evaluation, Orica-GreenEDGE medical staff have given clearance that it is perfectly safe to continue racing,” the team said in a statement posted online.
“Matthews has vowed to keep fighting. (He) will continue to be monitored.”
The 24-year-old has struggled through the two stages since the accident, finishing stage five in 176th and nearly 15 minutes behind the leaders.
But race organisers still awarded him the jersey for most-combative rider, on a day the team honoured ANZAC soldiers who followed a similar route to the Western Front in WWI.
“Today was definitely a special day for our team … to be able to make a tribute to those who sacrificed for our future,” sport director Matt White said.
“For Michael Matthews to be recognised was a nice cap off.”
The diagnosis was not so great for his teammate Michael Albasini, who fractured his arm and will not start stage six.
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