Cycling: Tony Martin in road crash

Time trial world champion and Olympic medal favourite Tony Martin was being treated for a broken cheekbone and jaw yesterday after colliding with a car during a training run on Wednesday near his Swiss home.

“The left side of my face is totally smashed,” Martin said. “My left eye is bloodshot and completely swollen shut.”

The German rider said the accident happened when he was cycling at about 35 to 40 kph (22 to 25 mph) on Wednesday when a car suddenly crossed the road in front of him. “The lights went out,” he said, adding that he was unconscious for about 15 minutes and cannot remember anything further about the accident.

He was near the end of his training run, some three kilometres from his doorstep.

Martin was seeing medical specialists in Zurich to assess the best way for a swift recovery.

The 26-year-old is one of the top riders on the Protour and earned 12 victories last year, including Paris-Nice and the Tour of Beijing. It is unclear how long he would be out of competition. He is considered one of the favourites to win gold in the Olympic time trial in London.