Peleton Injury Report
Cipollini
"No, I'm not going back to Belgium, I have a severe
inflammation of the left knee and don't want to risk tendonitis. I must
unwillingly renouce Ghent-Wevelgem," said Mario, winner of the race in 92
and 93, and second in 92.
"My knee problem started during La Panne and during the Tour of Flanders it
became impossible. I was tired 30km from the end of Flanders and arrived
at the end stuffed. I tried to ease off but got to the end with no energy.
Today I feel fine, but I don't want to risk my knee. I'll be back north
for the Escault and Amstel Gold.
Colombini
Fabio Colombini fell at 130km in the Tour of Flanders. He got back on the
bike but after a few pedals the pain forced him to stop. At hospital it
was revealed that he had two composite fractures of the pelvis, and will
have to rest for 6 weeks.
Nelissen
In Gent-Wevelgem
the Belgian champion slammed violently against a wooden barricade marking the
beginning of the cyclable course. The accident caused an exposed compond
fracture of the right tibia, broken right femur and broken nose. As a result
of the
exposed fracture he lost 1.5 litres of blood before race doctor stopped the
bleeding and transfused 2 litres of blood before getting him
to hospital, where he was operated on at 4pm.
Erwin Thijs who was following him described the incident: "We were doing
60km/h with Nelissen right on the outside of the peleton to shelter from
the wind. He wasn't looking and was out of the saddle when he slammed
straight into this massive half metre high block of wood. I heard his leg
break."
After his victory, Tom Steels (who won the sprint in 54x12) said
"I didn't see him fall, but I would
rather have had him beaten me in the sprint than have him in hospital
with that broken leg."
Pantani
"At Easter I pedalled for four hours to see how I was, but the next day
was bad. My recovery is going slowly, very slowly. The road vibration
hurts, and my training has to be at the cadence of a tourist. I have about
60 days of training left before the Tour but I can only do about 60km a day
at tourist's pace, not a real effort. My general condition is good with all
the swimming but my legs aren't up to it. In this condition its very hard
to see how I could be well enough for the Tour.
Its a very nasty year for me."
Sciandri
At 130km in Gent-Wevelgem Max Sciandri fell on his left wrist but an X-ray
showed there was no break. He may ride Paris-Roubaix with his wrist in a
special bandage.
Vogels
Dutch teletext reported that Henk Vogels was concussed in an accident
before Easter.
John Paul II
The pope yesterday received the director of the Amore e Vita (Love and
Life) team, who presented him with a bike.