Martin hoping to recover from whiplash in time (AFP)

Ireland’s Dan Martin said Saturday he hopes his whiplash will have improved enough to allow him to challenge for victory at Sunday’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege Ardennes Classic race. Martin, 28, won this prestigious ‘Monument’ race two years ago and looked a dead certainty to retain his crown last year before crashing on the final bend as he streaked clear of the rest of the field. “I’m definitely fit enough, it’s just seeing where this whiplash I’ve got is,” said the nephew of 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen Roche. After Martin crashed at the finish in Ans, Australia’s Simon Gerrans sped past to win a sprint finish ahead of Alejandro Valverde and Michal Kwiatkowski.