Ryder Hesjedal’s participation in this year’s Tour de France looks to remain on track, with the Canadian fortunately not suffering any fractures in the bad crash he had during today’s third stage of the Tour de Suisse.
Hesjedal suffered a heavy blow to his neck and head in the fall, which occurred approximately fifty kilometres from the end of the stage. He was taken to hospital and his injuries were diagnosed there.
“Hesjedal suffered multiple, severe contusions and abrasions to the right wrist, hip and knee and left shoulder, elbow and knee,” said his Garmin-Sharp team in an update. “Preliminary CTs show no fractures and no neurological pathologies.”
Having had to pull out of his defence of his 2012 Giro d’Italia title due to illness, Hesjedal had been hoping to use the Tour de Suisse to hit peak form for the Tour de France. He had been performing very well in the race, with ninth in the opening time trial and fourth yesterday placing him second overall prior to today’s third leg.
He was just three seconds behind the race leader Cameron Meyer (Orica GreenEdge) and with the Australian losing contact with the front runners today, could potentially have taken over race leadership had his accident not occurred.
His team said that he would be closely observed in the days ahead. “Hesjedal's health is the team's priority - depending on how his recovery progresses team medical staff as of now hopes he may be able to train in a few days time, although this will depend on his recovery.”
At this point in time, there are no indications that he might have to miss the Tour de France.