Danish rider had been confirmed today as ‘undisputed leader’ of world championship team
Matti Breschel’s hope of taking a world championship victory on home soil in Copenhagen in one month has received a big knock due to the rider’s enforced withdrawal from the Vuelta a España this morning.
The Rabobank competitor crashed during the neutralised section of today’s sixth stage to Córdoba, falling on the way out of Ubeda. He has been taken to hospital in order to have his injuries assessed and treated.
“Matti fell in the neutralised part of the race. He has a wound on his chin which needs stitches, as well as road rash on his knees, elbows and hips,” said Rabobank press officer Luuc Eisenga to VeloNation. “He is in hospital right now with the team doctor and is getting X-rays to his chest, ribs and hands. He is in pain so we want to check everything out and make sure we know what the situation is.”
Breschel is due to race with the Danish team on home soil in next month’s world championships. He struggled with a knee injury earlier this year, missing many races, but was building form in the Vuelta for his tilt at the world title. He had shown growing condition of late, netting second twice on stages of the Tour of Denmark plus two other top ten finishes there, and this week was fifth and sixth on stages two and three of the Vuelta.
Breschel was a bronze medallist in the 2008 worlds and finished as runner-up behind Thor Hushovd (Norway) last year. The nature of this year’s course is thought to suit him well.
National coach Lars Bonde confirmed earlier today that the rider would be number one on the team. “I am in very close correspondence with Matti Breschel who have status as our undisputed leader in this World Cup,” he told Sporten.dk.
“I think this is the first time in my time as a coach that I can sign everybody ready. One can clearly feel a great motivation of riders because it is the World Championships in Denmark. There really is something to race for this year.”
Bonde said that he felt Breschel was progressing well. “Matti is right where he should be at the present time, seen through my eyes. There are still four weeks to the World Cup, so there is time yet to hit the absolute top.”
Even if he is able to recover soon from today’s injuries, missing a large portion of the Vuelta will impact on his world championship preparation. The last ten champions either completed the race or did a substantial part of it.
Fellow sprinter Mark Cavendish (HTC Highroad) is in a similar situation, having pulled out of the Vuelta two days ago.
The Rabobank team said that it was unsure at this point in time how the injuries would affect the remainder of his season. “We will first wait for the results of the X-rays and then we will see how things will be,” Eisenga concluded.