AG2R La Mondiale`s Romain Bardet and Team Sky`s Michal Kwiatkowski both came away from separate crashes at the Tour du Doubs and the Vuelta a España, respectively, on Sunday without serious injury. Both riders fancy their chances on the hilly world championship road-race course in Innsbruck, Austria, on September 30, but ideally need to stay upright and injury-free if they`re to challenge for the iconic rainbow jersey in three weeks` time. Bardet`s crash happened at the French one-day race, the Tour du Doubs, where he had attacked from a breakaway group on the descent of the Côte de Larmont with just over three kilometres to the finish in Pontarlier, in eastern France, close to the Swiss border.ADVERTISEMENT While the 27-year-old remounted to finish the race, won by Cofidis` Julien Simon, Bardet`s AG2R team reported that he was left with `superficial wounds and contusions on his chest caused by the relay housing for the radio located on his back`. Such injuries yet again question the wisdom of riders racing with solid radio units, with even their wiring seemingly a danger, as seems to have been the case with Bardet. The race was part of the Frenchman`s build-up to the Worlds road race at the end of September, but it`s hoped that the crash won`t have overly affected his chances. - Michal Kwiatkowski (@kwiato) September 9, 2018
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
|
