Gerald Ciolek and the Milram team have been dealt another blow today as it has been announced that the German sprinter has sustained a separated right shoulder and a broken scaphoid bone in his wrist, in addition to his broken collarbone. The additional injuries mean that Ciolek is expected to be out for as much as two months.
“That was the worst thing that could have happened to us at the beginning of the season,” said Team Milram general manager Gerry van Gerwen. “It means a major change of plans for not only Gerald but also for the rest of the team, since he was to be one of our major riders for the spring. We have to change now, and that means that other riders will have to take his place. Gerald's main task is to get well again, to train in peace and quiet, and to build up his form again, and then think about racing. We all wish that he gets well soon.”
After surgery tomorrow at the Vinzenz Pallotti Hospital in Bergish Gladbach it is expected that Ciolek will be able to resume light training after about three weeks. The 23-year-old will now miss Milano-Sanremo and the cobbled classics, which were to be his main targets for the spring. According to Radsport-news.de he is expected to return to racing at the Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt (formerly the Rund um den Henninger Turm).