Injury keeps Gerdemann sidelined

Linus Gerdemann will be sidelined for at least another month after breaking his left leg during the time trial at Tirreno-Adriatico, his High Road team reports.

The crash left the 2007 Tour de France stage winner and yellow jersey holder with fractures on his left upper and lower leg and damage to the cruciate ligaments of his left knee. The extended recovery time means Gerdemann will miss both the Tour and the Olympics.

“Linus has worked hard since the accident and has done everything he could to come back to racing as quickly as possible,” said team director Rolf Aldag. “However, this week he has been in Hamburg at the Berufsgenossenschaftlichen Unfallkrakenhaus for a checkup and unfortunately his knee has not sufficiently healed, and racing could cause further damage.”

Orthopaedic surgeon Helge Riepenhof said it was not possible for Gerdemann “to bring enough mechanical load on the injured knee to prepare for maximum performances like the Tour de France.”

As for Gerdemann, he said, “I’m sad not to do the Tour this year but I am working hard to make a successful comeback and aim to compete in the Tour of Germany.”

FILED UNDER: Road