Robert Gesink (Rabobank) has been told that it will take at least six months for him to return to full fitness, according to AD.nl. The Dutch climber suffered a fractured right femur in a crash while out training on Sunday and has had a pin inserted into the broken bone at the Amersfoort Medical Centre, posting a picture of it on the Rabobank team website.
“My recovery will take some time,” said the 25-year-old Dutch Tour de France hope. “I must first learn to walk again, and then we will see further.”
The incident was the latest in an up and down season for Gesink that saw him make a winning start at the Tour of Oman, followed by second place in Tirreno-Adriatico. The Dutchman started the Tour de France aiming at the podium, but was one of the many overall contenders to fall victim to crashes in the first week.
He managed to finish the race, in a disappointing 33rd place then, once recovered, he travelled to the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado. He followed this with the two ProTour races in Canada, where he was one of the most aggressive riders and finished second in the GP de Québec.
Gesink was heading towards his big Autumn target, the Giro di Lombardia, on top form, but will have to miss the race once again.
“Twice a year I fall off my bike,” he said. “Once at the Tour, and the other time I break my leg.”
Gesink was due to be riding at the World championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, this week and was taking in some last minute training behind a car in the Netherlands. Unfortunately he came down on a patch of wet tarmac and landed heavily on his right side.
His problems didn’t end there though, as it reportedly took two ambulances to transport him to the hospital.
“I think I was there at the crash spot for about half an hour. The first ambulance sent had engine trouble, so it took a while before I was away.”
Gesink’s place has been taken in the Netherlands team by Rabobank teammate Steven Kruijswijk.