Last week VeloNation reported that AG2r rider Rinaldo Nocentini was involved in a crash during the GP Insubria and broke his tibia and fibula. After successful surgery that lasted three and a half hours, the Italian is hoping that he can head home as soon as tomorrow to begin the long recovery process.
Unfortunately for the leader of the French team his injuries were more than initially reported. "To be honest, in addition to the tibia and fibula I broke the malleolus, a bone in my foot and my heel: in short, I'm really messed up," he told tuttobiciweb.it.
Nocentini spent eight days in the leader's jersey at the Tour de France last year which catapulted both his confidence and popularity in cycling. He had a good winter and his hard work paid off with a win in the first stage of the Tour du Haut Var last month. The team was counting on him for Paris-Nice which runs from March 7th to the 14th, but will now have to change their plans.
The 32 year old said he's feeling pretty good after his surgery and expects his doctor to release him from the hospital after the examination tomorrow morning. He said he'll start his rehabilitation as soon as the doctors say he's ready.
Doctors are expecting him to be on a bike in six to eight weeks and are expecting a full recovery He could be on a trainer in as little as twenty days. His return to racing will depend on how quickly he can recover and regain his form.