Cervélo TestTeam rider Lizzie Armitstead had an unlucky start to her first season with her new team, crashing out of stage one of the Ladies Tour of Qatar. Despite being unable to finish the stage though, the young Briton was not seriously hurt and is expected to recover quickly, according to Cervélo TestTeam Chief Medical Officer Andreas Goesele.
“Lizzie crashed two days ago and suffered contusions on her body,” Goesele told VeloNation. “She is fine now and will travel back home with the team tonight to Europe. She was treated by the Cervélo TestTeam medical team. She will return to regular training next week, and then we will see how she develops from there.”
21-year-old Armitstead is one of the most exciting young talents in women’s cycling. In 2009, her first full European season riding for the Lotto-Belisol team, she won the young riders’ jersey in the Giro d’Italia Femminile (Giro Donne) and finished the race in 15th overall. She is also a member of the Great Britain track team, having won numerous World Cup events and is a World champion as a member of the victorious pursuit team.
Armitstead is one of three British members of the Cervélo TestTeam, along with Olympic Silver medallist Emma Pooley and super-domestique Sharon Laws.