The BMC Racing Team is reporting that Taylor Phinney appears to be healing up after his dramatic high-speed crash on yesterday’s third stage of the Giro d’Italia.
The young American hurt his ankle in a fall caused by a collision between Roberto Ferrari (Androni Giocattoli Venezuela) and world champion Mark Cavendish (Sky Procycling), and had to get three stitches last night.
Fortunately BMC Racing Team doctor Dario Spinelli has said that his wounds are lessening. “The area where his ankle was stitched up looks like it is healing normally and the swelling is going down," he stated.
Phinney has an important test tomorrow, with his and his team’s progress in the team time trial set to determine whether or not he can hold onto his Maglia Rosa of race leadership.
He has a nine second lead on Sky Procycling’s Geraint Thomas and a further four second advantage over Alex Rasmussen who, given Garmin Barracuda’s individual strength in the opening time trial plus the squad’s affinity for team time trials, could well prove the bigger threat.
Phinney used today’s rest day as a chance to recoup his energy. This was was very important following his crash and also the late night he had getting a medical checkup in a hospital in Verona.
"I woke up really late this morning, 11:30, which is definitely a good sign that I rested a fair amount," he said.
"I rode for about 15 minutes and definitely started to warm up. It's not the most comfortable sensation riding with a super swollen ankle, but I made some modifications to my shoes. We'll see what tomorrow brings."
Phinney’s crash was obviously less than desirable, but he was able to see a plus side to it, or rather the timing.
"With the way my foot was feeling, I don't think I would have been able to get up and continue if I had to ride for another 30 or 40 kilometers," he stated. In that light, while the fall was something he wishes he avoided, the fact that it happened so close to the finish line meant that he is able to continue defending his Maglia Rosa.
Tomorrow’s 32.2 kilometre TTT in Verona will determine how long he continues at the head of the general classification. He has said that his climbing ability isn't good enough to remain out front when the specialists start firing on the uphills, but he'll nevertheless fight on as long as possible.