X-rays confirm clean break for World number one following incident with race moto
Post-race x-rays have confirmed Marianne Vos (Rabobank) fractured her right collarbone in a crash during yesterday’s Parkhotel Holland Hills Classic. The Dutch champion crashed in the first half of the 95km race, which was based on the circuit that will be used in the Limburg World championships later in the year, but remounted and went on to finish second in the race that she dominated last year.
Vos was riding in a two-woman breakaway with Sharon Laws (AA Drink-Leontien.nl), when she collided with a race moto on the descent of the Fromberg after 25km. Despite her injuries, Vos chased Laws for another 25km, including several climbs of the Bemelerberg and Cauberg, and managed to rejoin the British rider.
A late attack from the peloton from Vos’ Rabobank teammate Annemiek van Vleuten bridged across to the two leaders, and the World Cup winner attacked to win with 500 metres to go. Vos still managed to outsprint Laws and cross the line with both arms raised as she celebrated a one-two for her team.
Vos attended the post-race press conference with an ice-pack on her shoulder, and spoke of some problems with her right arm; a visit to hospital confirmed that these “problems” were a clean break to her collarbone.
The immediate treatment and recovery plan will be looked at further on Tuesday; Vos’ next big targets were to be the Giro Donne, which starts on June 29th, followed by the Olympic road race in London on July 29th. With the Olympics - and World championships at home - regarded as much bigger targets this time, Vos was not planning to attack the Giro in the same way as 2011, when she won five of the ten stages and took the overall by more than three minutes.
Her approach to the nine-day Italian race will likely be entirely different still, although her Olympic preparation is not thought to be affected.