Tour de France organisers ‘got what they wanted’ on chaotic Mont du Chat descent

Having crashed twice on the descent of Mont du Chat on stage nine of the Tour de France, Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) said that the race organisers "got what they wanted" in a chaotic end to the first mountain stage.

Martin crashed first in the incident that saw Richie Porte abandon the race, and then again shortly after when his brakes didn't work with a replacement wheel.

Speaking while warming down after the stage, the Irishman said described the moment Porte crashed in front of him.

>>> Richie Porte 'conscious and asking for his helmet and glasses' after Tour de France crash

"Richie just lost it on one corner. It was so slippery. I guess the organisers got what they wanted," he said.

"I don't think anyone wanted to take risks but it was so slippery under the trees. Richie locked up his back wheel, went straight into the grass, wiped out, and his bike just collected me. I had nowhere to go. I was very, very lucky to come off as lightly as I did.

"We take risks but for sure today the route didn't help with the rain. There was a lot of gravel on the road and a lot of fast technical descents."

>>> Five talking points from stage nine of the Tour de France

After getting up from the first crash, Martin then crashed for a second time, before eventually joining a group including Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and riding to the finish in ninth place, 1-15 behind the leaders.

"I got a spare wheel off Mavic [neutral service] but I didn't have any brakes. I couldn't stop and went straight on," Martin continued.

"The second one wasn't really much. I just got a spare bike off the team car and got going again. I think it's just superficial wounds.

"After I crashed the second time I was flying downhill and caught the group in front. We caught Nairo [Quintana] at the bottom and rode as hard as we could. It was a team time trail, just a case of getting to the finish.