Following this morning’s news that Matti Breschel crashed out of the Vuelta a España, his Rabobank team has confirmed that he has two broken bones and will be forced to take some time off the bike.
He hit the deck in the neutralised section of today’s sixth stage of the race and was taken to hospital afterwards for X-Rays. Team spokesman Luuc Eisenga listed the initial injuries to Velonation. “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,” he said. “He is in hospital right now with the team doctor and is getting X-rays to his chest, ribs and hands.”
The results of that examination is now known and Eisenga has confirmed two factures.
“In add [addition] to known injuries: bruise on the chest, broken middle- and ringfinger of the right hand. Operation tomorrow in Amersfoort,” he stated via Twitter. He added that it was too soon to say if the rider would be able to compete next month in the world road race championships in his native Denmark.
“Next update tomorrow after the operation, normally one week rest and assessment of the situation, forecast [for] worlds impossible now,” he indicated.
Breschel was confirmed earlier this morning as the ‘undisputed leader’ of the Danish team for the worlds by the coach Lars Bonde. While the rider missed many races earlier this year due to a knee injury, Bonde confirmed that his form was progressing well and that he was confident that he’d be in top shape for the worlds.
That preparation is now clearly compromised, although Bonde will hope that the rider recovers sufficiently to be able to return to training. While riding the Vuelta is the best preparation for the worlds, Breschel could aim to compete in the Tour of Britain. It begins on September 11th and runs for eight days.
He finished third and second in the 2008 and 2010 world championships.