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Armstrong taken to hospital after crash in Vuelta Castilla y Leon
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Photo: Vuelta Castilla y Leon web site
In the slightly modified words of the late, great Townes Van Zandt, there’s “Bad news from Palencia” today. Lance Armstrong crashed heavily on the opening stage of the Vuelta Castilla y Leon and has been taken to a hospital in Palencia, Spain. It has just been confirmed by race organizers that he broke his right collarbone.
As many as 12 or 15 other riders were involved in the crash which happened on a narrow stretch of bumpy rural road. The peloton was hustling at that point, as they were only about 20 Km from the finish and they were chasing a two rider breakaway in earnest. Although Thomas Vaitkus, one of Armstrong’s teammates, stopped, apparently with the intention of helping Armstrong regain the flying peloton, Armstrong waved him off. Shortly thereafter he entered an ambulance and was taken to Palencia for medical treatment.
Armstrong was making his fourth appearance in a professional race since announcing his return from retirement last fall. The Spanish race is a mini-stage race (5 stages in all) that was meant to help move his form forward on the path towards a meeting with the Giro d’Italia in early May. Given the diagnosis of his injury, that planned rendezvous may or may not have to be changed.
It will be a shame if he cannot race the Giro this year. Although it’s clear to everyone that his major goal for 2009 is the Tour de France and a possible 8th victory, he has never been a factor at the Giro and it would broaden his Palmares considerably were he to manage a podium finish in that race. Because his injury is “merely” a broken clavicle, it’s possible that he could get back to racing shape by early May. Although possible, even that outcome is pretty unlikely.
Normal recuperation from a broken collarbone is 4 to 6 weeks. Although medics won’t want him on the road for at least two weeks, I know from personal experience that it’s possible to get back on a trainer within a week of such an injury. His doctors will surely be more conservative than I was, but I also know it’s possible to do some pretty hard training fairly quickly if you’re willing to take on some risk (like what happens if you crash on that same shoulder again). I rode a 600 Km Brevet 3 weeks to the day after the last time I broke my clavicle.
If Lance’s injuries turn out to be more than a broken collarbone, he won’t be racing the Giro. If it’s “just” a broken clavicle, I’m guessing he still will not race the Giro. With his real goal being the Tour, I don’t think at this point he’s willing to take any additional risks that might threaten that outcome. Under this scenario, he’ll be riding a trainer within a week to 10 days, he’ll be back training on the road within a month and he’ll then have to choose a different set of tune-up races to get him prepped for the Tour. Let’s hope it’s nothing worse than a broken collarbone.
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