Crash sidelines Fränk Schleck

A bad crash during training this week meant a trip to the hospital and now a break from racing for Team Saxo Bank’s Fränk Schleck.

The rider from Luxembourg skidded and crashed on a downhill curve. Seven stitches on the chin and a heavy contusion on his left wrist was the immediate damage.

“I had to have further examinations yesterday to be sure that nothing was broken. My chin is stitched up and my wrist has a big swelling, but I guess I should consider myself lucky that nothing is broken. This doesn’t come at a convenient time, since I’m in really good shape after Paris-Nice and I hope to get back into racing as soon as possible,” said Schleck who is now set to race next at the Criterium International at the end of March.

“We need Fränk to be back racing as soon as possible and since nothing is broken we had the possibility to send him to do the cobblestone races in Belgium next week, but since these races are demanding on the whole body, it’s better to wait and then have him come back 100 percent fit in the race in France, where we should have a good possibility to make some results with him and Jens Voigt,” said team sports director Kim Andersen.

FILED UNDER: Road