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Broken rib for Mark Cavendish in Tirreno-Adriatico crashMark Cavendish after Tirreno Adriatico crash (via Team Dimension Data on Twitter).JPG

Broken rib for Mark Cavendish in Tirreno-Adriatico crash

Dimension Data rider's run of bad luck continues with just over a week to go until Milan-San Remo...
by Simon_MacMichael
Thu, Mar 08, 2018 12:21
7

Mark Cavendish's Dimension Data team have confirmed that the Manx sprinter broke a rib when he crashed during the team time trial at the opening stage of Tirreno-Adriatico yesterday.

The injury to Cavendish, who was resuming racing after recovering from concussion sustained in a crash at last month's Abu Dhabi Tour, comes less than a week and a half before Milan-San Remo - a race he has never missed after winning it at his first attempt in 2009.0

It also follows a 2017 season that was disrupted first by illness in the shape of glanduar fever,  then injury following the crash with Peter Sagan at the Tour de France in which Cavendish broke his shoulder.

While the 32-year-old managed to finish the stage yesterday, he was outside the permitted time limit so was disqualified from the race.

Dimension Data team doctor Jarrad van Zuydams said; “Unfortunately Mark was involved in a crash with about 5kms to go in today’s team time trial. He came down pretty hard at around 55km/h and he sustained multiple abrasions and soft tissue injuries to his knees, hips, hands and some swelling on his face as well; but he had a lot of rib pain which we went to x-ray, and found that he has a fracture of the seventh rib on the right side.

“The fracture’s nice and stable and should heal well,” Dr van Zuydams continued. He added that the team had planned for Cavendish to race today until they learnt he was outside the time limit.

Cavendish said: “Thanks, as always, to everyone that’s sent messages, it’s hugely appreciated.

"It’s frustrating to have crashed today, particularly in light of the concussion that I sustained in Abu Dhabi, but I’m just pleased that there’s no major damage done."

He added: “Despite the pain from my injury I was really looking forward to a fast second stage and naturally disappointed that I’m not going to be a part of it.”

Mark Cavendish
Tirreno-Adriatico 2018
Milan-San Remo 2018
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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7 comments

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step83 | 6 years ago
1 like

With the number of crashes hes had wouldnt you have taken it as sign by now?

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Grahamd replied to step83 | 6 years ago
1 like

step83 wrote:

With the number of crashes hes had wouldnt you have taken it as sign by now?

I don’t think Richie Porte can be that far behind either...

 

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to step83 | 6 years ago
4 likes

step83 wrote:

With the number of crashes hes had wouldnt you have taken it as sign by now?

Suppose you'd tell all the top motorcycle riders and F1 guys who happen to be in crashes that they should pack it in right?

The problem with cycling is that it can be very unforgiving, these are open roads with all the little bits that can catch you out never mind a jostle for a corner or a rear end shunt or sideways swipe and so on. A crash can end a season or even a career in a split second, even on a high speed motorycle the courses are smooth and certainly without cracks, potholes or 10 riders going for the same gap on any given corner.

I'm glad he's still going, he showed earlier in Tour of Dubai he still can pull a win out with some top dogs even given he's not had much racing and has 5 wins this season already.

Want 5 more wins in the TdF and one on the Champs E. before he jacks it in, if he competes in this years and 2019 he'll be in the top 30 all time of most TdF competed in.

Get better soon Cav, written off too often only to come back and win (4 TdF wins in 2016 if you forgot)

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SingleSpeed replied to step83 | 6 years ago
0 likes

step83 wrote:

With the number of crashes hes had wouldnt you have taken it as sign by now?

 

A sign that he's basically a headbutting thug on a bike, that should probably be banned perhaps.

Avatar
Martyn_K | 6 years ago
1 like

Any footage of the crash..?  Been trawling the internet and can't find anything. I'm always interested to find out how riders crash in a TTT as it should not really happen when around team mates.

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Kapelmuur replied to Martyn_K | 6 years ago
0 likes

Martyn_K wrote:

Any footage of the crash..?  Been trawling the internet and can't find anything. I'm always interested to find out how riders crash in a TTT as it should not really happen when around team mates.

 

Newspaper report says his rear wheel hit a pothole.

 

Avatar
CXR94Di2 | 6 years ago
3 likes

Get well soon Cav

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