Ruben Plaza’s (Movistar) recovery from a crash sustained in March has been on track. The Spaniard, who is in his 11th year as a professional cyclist, broke his right tibia and fibula during the closing kilometers of stage 2 in the Vuelta a Murcia. After successful surgery, the 31 year old was told that he wouldn’t be allowed to put any weight on his leg for 8 weeks.
He is now in the final stages of recovery and has already returned to the saddle. Plaza told VeloFutur, “I started training on the rollers and made sure I was very careful, but I have already done three or four training sessions on the road, without any hassle.”
The injury will keep the multiple Spanish national champion from competing in what was his main goal of the season, the Tour de France. If all goes well, he’ll be ready in time for his national tour, the Vuelta a Espana. “It can be a goal to work towards, but I do not obsess about it and what really matters is that the recovery goes according to plan and the foot is fine.”
Plaza’s only stage victory in his home tour dates back to 2005, when he won the individual time trial beating Roberto Heras and Carlos Sastre into 2nd and 3rd respectively. He went on to finish 5th in the General Classification.