Theo Bos (Rabobank) fractured a vertebra in his lower back in the Giro d’Italia, his team has reported. The Dutch sprinter - who was a multiple World champion on the track - crashed on the final corner of stage two, the first road stage of the race in Herning, Denmark, but managed to ride with the injury until the end of stage 16.
He failed to start the 17th stage - a mountain epic between Falzes and Cortina D’Ampezzo - and further medical examinations - including an MRI scan - have uncovered the root of his problem.
“A vertebra at the bottom of my spine, the L3, appears to be broken,” Bos confirmed. “Even after the Giro I continued to suffer; I had a lot of pain after riding, which was not so crazy as it turned out.
“The vertebra can recover with rest.”
Bos’ crash occurred on the final corner of stage two, as the course turned more than 90 degrees with 500 metres to go. The Dutchman was well placed, on the wheel of leadout man Mark Renshaw, but found his wheels sliding from under him as the entered the turn. Thankfully, not many riders came down with Bos, and his was the only serious injury; although he didn’t realise it at the time.
Despite the pain, Bos continued the race, finishing close to last on many of the subsequent stages as he waited for his form to return. He went into the race off the back of two stage victories in the Tour of Turkey, and was confident of getting a result in what was only his second Grand Tour.
The 28-year-old survived the hilltop finishes in the first half of the race, and even the mountaintops of Cervinia and the Pian dei Resinelli, but gave up before he was forced to climb the four Passos Valparola, Duran, Staulanza and Giau on the road to Cortina.
“I’ve ridden with the pain for quite a long time, so there was no recovery,” he explained. “Now I just have to take it easy for two weeks, and the fracture should heal with rest.
“This is really frustrating, but at the same time I’m happy that it’s clear where the pain is coming from.”