McEwen, Boonen injured in falls - update

[JV911]

April 16, 2009 - 6:39AM

Australia's Robbie McEwen and Belgium's Tom Boonen may have suffered fractures after both fell during the closing stages of the Grand Prix de l'Escaut on Wednesday.

McEwen landed heavily on his right shoulder and seemed to be more seriously injured, according to Belgian TV station VRT.

The Australian complained of pain in his head, his neck, his chest and his legs and said he could have concussion, broken ribs and a punctured lung.

He was due to undergo medical examination later Wednesday.

"I'm in pain everywhere," the Katusha sprint specialist said, before accusing Belgium's Greg Van Avermaet of causing the accident.

"He was too tight to me, causing me to fall," McEwen said.

Van Avermaet, though, protested his innocence.

"I touched the back wheel of (Italy's Alessandro) Petacchi and I lost balance," he said.

Petacchi went on to win the race despite being involved in the collision that left over a dozen riders on the ground.

Boonen, runner-up to Britain's Mark Cavendish in last year's race, complained of an injury to his right foot.

"I can't put any weight on it," said the winner of Sunday's Paris-Roubaix race, as reported on the VRT website.

"It might be broken or it could be that I've hurt the tendons, I don't know."

The leader of the Quick Step team also received injuries to his arm and his right leg.

SMH

[Hebden]

Linky

[muggah]

Ouch - in the slo-mo you can see that Robbie hit the deck HARD! What a shame - he was looking good for the finish too.

[MichaelB]

Linky

Bugger, can't see youtube at work

[a_b]

OMGosh, poor robbie and boonen, hope they both recover well for the tour.

[grosry]

Saw the crash on the news - ouch
The Giro wouldn't be in doubt though would it...

[trailgumby]

I reckon that's down to the guy in the dark jersey on the right of Petacchi. Dark Jersey Guy has moved over on van Avemaert and left him with nowhere to go except over across Petacchi's back wheel, and the contact has unsettled him into McEwen's path.

Arrgh, that's gotta hurt.

[sogood]

According to various report, every rider complained about other riders in the accident. Never one's own fault.

But still, no further information on McEwen's injury. I sure hope he can escape anything major and be a force at this year's TdF.

With Pozzato taking 2nd at the Paris-Roubaix, this new Katusha team looked hot. Of course, no bias from my Ridley Damocles. There's a write up on Pozzato's P-R bike on CyclingNews and it would appear that he just rode his regular road bike in that race, a whole 1kg lighter than Boonen's special P-R build. It makes one wonder if it's all necessary?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2009/pr ... a_ridley09

[simmo_hills]

absoulte carnage.

wish them all the best for recoveries.

we'll just blame anyone but mcewen

[MichaelB]

Saw the vid on the news this morning. Yowsers !!!!

McEwen is apparently pretty brusied, but no broken bones thankfully, and no major skin missing.

TdF is OK according to phone discussion on news this morning.

[JV911]

update:

McEwen said on Australian TV that he had not broken anything and would be off the bike for only a few days.

He said his preparation for the Tour de France in July would not be compromised.

herald article

Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen also confirmed his participation in the Giro

ESPN

[sogood]

Good to hear that he is free of significant injuries. At least we now know McEwen knows how to fall but not so with O'Grady.

[RICHARDH]

Robbie seems to be a crash happy fellow doesnt he seems to crash several times a year. Well maybe several is a bit much, but its always intresting how its always someone elses fault

[Chuck]

Robbie has definitely been guilty of some reckless riding over the years (don't think O'Grady is a fan) but I don't think it was his fault this time. The guy in black does drift to his left a fair bit.

[RICHARDH]

Probably wasnt i havent watched the footage (try not to do that on work computer ) but it always brings a smile to my face when Robbie starts jumping on riders for making him crash. Bit like Pozzato getting shirty with Flecha for wheel sucking when he did it to Boonen for the entire Tour of Flanders. Thats what i like about guys like OGrady they dont bitch about it they just get on with it. Having said all that sprinting is slightly different because its the last 200m of a 200+ race everyones super tired oxygen supply to the brain is at a min. and people do stupid stuff, but Robbie does seem to be very critical of everyone else.

[Chuck]

but it always brings a smile to my face when Robbie starts jumping on riders for making him crash.

but Robbie does seem to be very critical of everyone else.

He does like to point the finger, people in glass houses and all that

[JV911]

He does like to point the finger

he likes to have a sook too!

there is a great pic of him in a recent BA mag following the incident with the spectator at the TDU, with his arm all bandaged, an oversize novelty icepack and looking like a kid who's just dropped his ice-cream. caption was "no body knows the troubles i've seen"

the way he was carrying on i thought he'd ridden into an SBS broadcast camera. that is until i saw the footage...

[ni78ck]

He does like to point the finger

he likes to have a sook too!

there is a great pic of him in a recent BA mag following the incident with the spectator at the TDU, with his arm all bandaged, an oversize novelty icepack and looking like a kid who's just dropped his ice-cream. caption was "no body knows the troubles i've seen"

the way he was carrying on i thought he'd ridden into an SBS broadcast camera. that is until i saw the footage...

you should of heard him on tele the day after thr tdu incident! you would have thought he was struck by a truck

[Chuck]

He does like to point the finger

he likes to have a sook too!

there is a great pic of him in a recent BA mag following the incident with the spectator at the TDU, with his arm all bandaged, an oversize novelty icepack and looking like a kid who's just dropped his ice-cream. caption was "no body knows the troubles i've seen"

the way he was carrying on i thought he'd ridden into an SBS broadcast camera. that is until i saw the footage...

you should of heard him on tele the day after thr tdu incident! you would have thought he was struck by a truck

Yeah HTFU Robbie and while we're at it, why don't you have a crack at Paris-Roubaix ya big wuss