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Leipheimer out of Tour of Basque Country but "lucky to be alive" after being hit by car

No broken bones for Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider, but he's on way home to California for tests...

Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider Levi Leipheimer has said that he is “lucky to be alive” after being hit from behind by a car while on a solo training ride ahead of the Tour of the Basque Country. The news takes some of the shine off what had been a great day for the team with Tom Boonen’s victory in the Tour of Flanders.

In a statement, the Belgian team said: “Leipheimer suffered soreness and swelling to his lower left leg.

“He was transported to the hospital where an echo was performed.

“No broken bones were found, and there is hope that the injury is just a muscle contusion to his left calf.”

The 38-year-old, who joined his current team from RadioShack at the end of last season, has returned immediately to California, where he will undergo further tests.

"I was kind of in shock, you know," he explained. "The bottom line is it was super scary and I am lucky to be alive.

“I'd also like to add that the team has been really supportive.

“The doctor here took great care of me, Ro, who handles all our travel did a great job at making sure I get home really early, and I've received good messages from the team.

“I'm really thankful for that."

Leipheimer is the second high-profile rider to have been injured in a training ride in the space of 24 hours, the two incidents happening on opposite sides of the globe.

Earlier today, we reported that Australia’s Shane Perkins suffered bruising and a sprained wrist while training in his home city of Melbourne, where he plans to defend his world kierin title later this week.

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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russyparkin | 12 years ago
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nightmare, hope he is back soon.

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