Interruption: Lance’s Spanish Crash- Giro Possible? Tour Questionable
Lance Armstrong (look for him on the side of the road) broke his collar bone in the first stage of the Vuelta Castilla y Lyon. While the team director Johan Bruyneel insisted that it was a “clean break,” Lance’s reaction is what really puts into question the two events he has been waiting for: Il Giro D’Italia and Le Tour de France.
—The day after being released from the hospital, finally clear of cancer, Lance’s Nike representative went to welcome him home. After no answer at the door, being friends with Lance, the rep pressed the code for the garage door and found Armstrong, head still shaved and scar showing, out of the saddle and attacking.
Lance still hopes to heal in the seven weeks before the Giro beginning on May 9th. What puts the Tour and his career in question is the fact that Lance, to the New York Times, said, “I am very disappointed, very, especially for the Giro… Now the biggest problem is the pain. It hurts. We will see.”
Collarbone injuries, as seen in the case of Kim Kirchen, can take extra time to heal. While medical accomodations can be made, even Tyler Hamilton on steroids could only ride one stage with a broken hip - and he was much younger than the 37 year-old Lance.
Lance at Start of Race
Below: Lance thinking about how he is going to beat everyone again. Contador can climb but Lance beat Paolo Bettini up Mt. Ventoux in The 2000 Tour. Link to the Armstrong’s attack linked below.
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