Before you all throw things at me for being hard-hearted, hear me out.
Today the news broke that Andy won't be riding the Tour as he has "fractured the sacral bone of his pelvis" and won't be riding a bike at all for 4-6 weeks.
It happened when he fell during the Dauphine TT, of course: we all saw those photos of the heavy fall, and the external damage that it did: well, two days later he retired, in pain, and went home for the usual x-rays and so on.
It appears that the x-rays didn't show anything, but he had an MRI which revealed the fracture, which shows that it's worth having private medical care.
As an aside, do we think that pro cyclists have season tickets to their local hospitals? Or should I say, their nearest private hospital? I know that they have team doctors, but do we think that they have a "pet" hospital, wherever they are based?
(note for non-UK residents: over here we have a two-tier system: free medical care -allegedly - if you have lots of time to wait and don't mind catching a new infection while you are there: or "private" medical care which costs a bomb but you get superb care and the hospitals are clean.)
Personally, I would assume that any professional sportsman would want private medical care: certainly it's staggering to me to hear of all these collarbones which get plates in them, and the guys are back riding within just a few weeks. Every broken collarbone I've known of in the UK means weeks in a sling, and months of pain and stiffness afterwards. I can't imagine that they heal any faster than I do, so I can only assume that they get rather better medical care.
Anyway, to end this digression: poor old Andy was still in pain, so he had the scans, and now we know he has a fractured bone, and won't be cycling for a while.
Am I downhearted by this news? No! Of course, I don't want any cyclist to be hurt or in pain, and of course I hope that he gets better as quickly as possible, but come on guys, there is a massive silver lining here:
Andy now won't have to compete in a race that doesn't suit him, during a period when his form is not quite where it should be, and where he and his confidence have been subjected to a quite extraordinary amount of stress, what with firstly the responsibility of the Leopard team, and then the horror of the takeover, not to mention the recent media, er, issues that he has been having.
No, instead of quite possibly struggling in the Tour, he can target la Vuelta - hey Andy, watch out for the zombies - as well as Lombardy, the Worlds, and - apparently - the Olympics! Whoo hoo! Andy is coming to London!
I hope you are right Coug.
ReplyDeleteMy experience (as a physical therapist) is that frequently injuries like this, core structure cracks, fractures and breaks can mean major issues after - for some even just to return to regular life - let alone cycling. Yes, some heal up fine, and some more quickly than others.
Just yesterday I was having a (somewhat) friendly argument with my son and I said I did not believe Andy would be fit for the tour. That when he got blown away in the TT - he didn't just fall - he and the bike were picked up by the wind and slammed to the pavement. With someone like Fabian - there is muscle and bulk to absorb the impact - with someone like Andy - it's like throwing a skeleton off a high building. Very different kind of impact.
I do really hope he heals quickly and can rejoin the festivities...but I am not betting the farm on it - so to speak. This could be a game changer for Andy.
Hate to say it - and I WANT to be wrong.
But for me, it's not a yippee situation at all until he is actually able to ride again.
BE
I'll also say that an S3 fracture is the last kind of fracture this boy would want. The biggest challenge after healing is flexibility. I'll be bold and say...this will not help him in TT's and in fact could make it much more challenging than it already is for him due to his basic frame and structure.
ReplyDeleteSorry - don't shoot the messenger - but this is really not good at all.
BE
Appreciate your insight.
DeleteKat
If this interests anyone, here is the link to the article in the Washington Post breaking the story about USADA's charges that Armstrong doped. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lance-armstrong-faces-fresh-doping-charges-from-usada/2012/06/13/gJQAefnPaV_story.html
ReplyDeleteHow it affects the conversations here is that the USADA has linked Mr. Bruyneel to all of this.
Kat
To be fair and objective ... here is Armstrong's response to the allegations: http://lancearmstrong.com/news-events/lance-armstrong-responds-to-usada-allegation
DeleteKat
The USADA process will be very, very interesting. Wasn't it a month ago when Lance said he was done fighting? Humm. Guess he never expected to be banned from doing Tri - and he's pissed! It will be interesting.
ReplyDeleteA person on Twitter asked an interesting question - if charges are made against Johan, can't he be fired from RSNT? And if so, how quickly?
No answer yet - but it's being looked into.
What a horrendous day in cycling! And Sagan didn't even win today! Must be some astrological anomality!
BE
Lance is another subject - I have things to say on that subject and will do so in a new post, when I get time.
ReplyDeleteBut I must say in my defence, BE, I am not shouting "hooray, hooray, Andy's been badly hurt" I am taking lemon and making lemonade, as someone kindly described it on Twitter yesterday. This is extremely bad news, but there is no point crying over it, there is a good side, and I have tried to make that point, and support that good side.
For that matter, there is no shame in a 27-year old writing off a season, in my opinion: as Andy said himself, he is only 27 and has plenty of time, and if this injury does not heal as we all hope, and it means he misses the rest of the season altogether, well, that's not the end of the world and I would rather see him miss out on the Vuelta etc altogether, than strain or damage himself trying to regain fitness and then maybe failing to complete a race, which would be demoralising.
I was just about to go on to say that Vino has recovered from a terrible injury, not quite the same but in a similar area (please don't bother to give me all the detailed medical differences, I'm not that interested) which could be seen as hopeful: but I'm still not sure about the difference between "these guys are really fit and heal well" and "these guys' bodies are so on-the-edge that a small thing can tip them over".
I do have to take back my words on Vino, by the way: I honestly didn't think he would ride a race again, I thought he was only registering himself as a rider to fill in the time until he could take on a managing role, and I was wrong there.
So let's hope that Andy recovers well, but in the meantime let's not be all doom and gloom about it.
*singing* "Andy's coming to Looondoonn, Andy's coming to Looondonnn!" Talking of which, if Andy comes to London for the olympics, he will presumably not be taking part in the TT, in which case do we think that he will be standing around watching it? *rummages for plans of TT spectator arrangements*
Coug
I agree with Coug. Whilst it definitely sucks that Andy is injured, on the positive side of things, he won't have to deal with all of the 'he should have done the Giro' type comments that he would have had to deal with after the TDF if he didn't win/make the podium. I wonder who will be team captain now? I guess it would be Frank, though it would be interesting if they picked Jakob, since he did miss out on the Giro captaincy.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, fingers crossed Andy recovers well. (And fingers crossed I pass my exam tomorrow, eek!)
Bris. Gal
London, and the Vuelta (with Contador is what I am hearing. Should be much more suited to his style (assuming he heals).
ReplyDeleteI also had gotten the impression when he fell that Bruyneel thought Andy was being a wimp about the pain. Nyah, nyah then, Johan--the boy was really hurting, yet he FINISHED the time trial AND rode 60+ km the next day. Sounds pretty tough to me.
Hey Brisbane Gal, good luck with those exams! I have a few looming over me as well in the next few weeks... oh the joys of self-improvement.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten to mention the "he should have done the Giro" comments, you are quite right, that's another rather large side-benefit from this unfortunate accident. It's always very easy for people to make comments after the event, and yes, it had occurred to me that if Andy had gone to the Giro he may well have had a good showing in it.. but it's too late to say so, after the event! (Doesn't seem to stop those fervent Anti-Andies on the forums from making statements, though!)
I'm guessing that Frankie will be Team Captain for the Tour, as he was also on the podium last year: but as for who is road captain, no idea: it would be nice for Jakob if he got it, but I suspect Mr Bruyneel will think that he's too young, when there are more senior riders available. Ah well, only a couple more weeks until we find out.
Hey, Lady A, nice to hear from you again - yes, la Vuelta is going to be a great deal more interesting to watch this year, and I think it will be great (assuming Andy is recovered, fit, and in form) to see him cycling against Contador again. They used to be friends.. *sad face* ... maybe they'll re-connect? Or maybe they will spend the whole race looking over their shoulders at each other, and we will all throw our hands up in the air and yell "Andy! Stop looking at him! " as we did last year in the Tour.
And I had to LOL (as the kids say) at your final comment: yes, me too! I had the distinct impression that Mr Bruyneel was holding himself ready to criticise, and like you, I am massively impressed that he finished the stage, AND did the next day's race (stage 5) AND did 60k+ in stage 6 before falling off the bike. That should show a few of those rabid forum posters that Our Andy is not a wimp, no sirree!
*singing* "Andy's coming to Lunnn-dnnn, Andy's coming to Lunnn-dnn!"
Coug
I just try to be realistic in terms of injury. Nuff said on that!
ReplyDeleteLet's just see if RSNT is allowed to race at TdF. Their "consultant" and also a team Dr. are implicated in the USPS "Conspiracy" launched by USADA and the "rules" state those under investigation can not participate and their teams may be disqualified.
And the beat goes on....
BE
Go to www wort.lu
ReplyDeleteSchlecks may leave RSNT because of Bruyneel/Armstrong investigation.
Whoo hoo! Go, lawyers, go! Well done, Lady A, for bringing us the breaking news within half an hour of it being published!
ReplyDelete*jumps up and down with excitement*
Oh, hold on: *gets a hold of self* Mmmm, yet another change of team, this will not help the stability and confidence issues... and I doubt anyone will be able to buy all of the Leopards, so they might lose part of the gang...
... but oh boy, who cares! *bounces around again*
Coug
The headline popped up on my phone in the middle of a hike--I think my fellow hikers thought I had finally gone completely 'round the bend.
DeleteFor Andy, this must be a big pill to swallow. He had been preparing for this the entire season and now it all falls apart.
ReplyDeleteBut you're right Coug, the parcours didn't exactly suit him. And now with all the news on Bruyneel and co., there probably will be lots of (negative) attention towards the team during the Tour. Meanwhile, Andy will be quietly recovering and getting back to training, out of the spotlights. After all the bad press he's received this year, getting some rest might be nice.
I agree with you, BE, this could stay a weak spot on his body even when the fracture itself is healed. I really hope not, and if so, I hope it'll be managable!
And I really hope this won't mean the Tour will be boring. That Wiggins and Evans will be looking at each other during the mountains and then it comes down to who is fastest in the TTs. At least, Andy (most likely) would have spiced up the mountain stages!
Inge
As you say, Inge, a bitter pill to swallow (at least, that's the traditional expression, but a big pill would be just as awkward!).
ReplyDeletePerhaps there is a point at which you say "that's it! Forget this season, let's concentrate on being the best we can for next year." and if so, I think Andy has probably reached that point.
I don't think the Tour will be boring - unless we get nothing but "Armstong/doping" all the way through - and I do hope that the Shack are allowed to compete: it's always odd when a major team has to drop out. But, if there is going to be nothing but bad press, it might be better if they did?
Hopefully, if the worst happens and Shack are out, we might get some "new" faces coming to the fore. At the very least, it won't be as dull as that un-challenged Giro when one person (Contador) was so far ahead that some of us stopped watching it altogether. No, I think the Tour is going to be anything but boring.
Coug
(Who should not be wasting time in the middle of the day on the computer, oops)