Third straight Omloop Het Nieuwsblad now looks doubtful for World number two
Emma Johansson (Hitec Products-Mistral Home) has been hit by a car in training, she has reported via her Twitter page, and has sustained two broken collarbones. The Swedish champion was on the island of Gran Canaria on a pre-season training camp, with husband and team directeur sportif Martin Vestby, when she was struck head on by one car overtaking another.
“Got hit by a car on ydays training, two broken collarbone as result!” she wrote. “Could have been so much worse…”
Speaking to Swedish TV channel SV2 by telephone, Johansson explained how the accident had happened.
“All of a sudden a car pulled out from behind another on a hill and I tried to ride my bike between them and avoid a head-on collision that could have cost me my life,” she said.
Due to the nature of her injuries the Olympic silver medallist had both arms strapped and described herself as being “mummified” with bandages.
“My husband is holding the phone so that I can talk to you,” she explained.
Johansson, the number two ranked rider in the World in 2011 has been released fro hospital, but is unsure as to exactly how long her recovery will take, or even if her injuries will require surgery.
“I’m bruised and I think I need to rest for four to five weeks,” she said, “although Martin says it takes eight weeks.”
The Swedish champion has won the last two editions of the women’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but with serious injuries as these a third straight victory in the race – which will take place in Gent, Belgium, on February 25th – now looks extremely unlikely.
With many riders’ big target for the season being the London 2012 road race at the end of July though, Johansson is managing to look on the bright side of things.
“I must not let this get me down,” she said. “The Olympics is the big goal and I will be training, and may not be in races at the beginning. I just screamed at the crash, but it may have been a blessing in disguise.
“I hit the side of the car and the mirror and got a real whack,” she said of the collision. “It’s difficult to describe the feeling when you stare right into the headlights when you’re sitting on a bike with just a helmet on your head.”