Stuart O’Grady’s Tour de France participation appeared out the window when he crashed on the fifth stage of the Tour of California but, against expectation, the tough Aussie expects to be riding the Tour de Suisse.
Providing that goes well, he could yet line out for the Saxo Bank team in the Tour, where he will hope to help one or other of the Schleck brothers to overall victory.
He filled the same role in 2008 when he was a strong lieutenant for Carlos Sastre, the final victor.
O’Grady spoke about his accident and also what will be an incredibly quick recovery.
“We were going at high speed and suddenly a rider crashed in front me. Although I nearly made it around him, I fell down on my shoulder,” he explained. “I knew immediately that something was broken.
“Luckily, it was a clean break which means I will be back on the home trainer within a week and I will be participating in the Tour de Suisse.”
The Swiss race begins on May 12th.