Mixed prognoses for Rabobank’s weekend casualties
The break to Rabobank rider Pieter Weening’s collarbone that he suffered in stage 5 of the Vuelta a Burgos is worse than originally thought. The nature and extent of the injury mean that the 29-year-old Dutchman will be unable to ride the Vuelta a España. It was hoped that it would be possible to pin the broken bone in surgery, which would allow him to ride his bike within a few days, but the break is at point that makes this impossible.
“My break is in too difficult a place to screw a plate and have any benefit from it,” said Weening on the Dutch team’s website, “I’m resigned to stop, but should be able to return for the races in October if the team needs me.”
Missing the Vuelta is a blow to Weening’s season, especially after he was so disappointed to miss out on selection for the Tour de France. He had finished 24th in the Giro d’Italia and fifth in the Star Elektrotoer, and was angry to be overlooked when Bram Tankink was selected instead of him to replace the injured Laurens Ten Dam. He rode the Österreich-Rundfahrt in July instead, where he finished tenth.
Bauke Mollema, who broke his collarbone in the final stage of the Tour of Poland, is more fortunate and will be able to return to racing relatively soon. “I must do nothing right now; then some adapted training; maybe in a few weeks I’ll be back to just cycling.”