Philippe Gilbert’s key lieutenant injures elbow and hip in training crash
Race favourite Philippe Gilbert’s hopes took a bit of a knock today as Björn Leukemans, one of his key Belgian lieutenants crashed while the team was out on a training ride. The Vacansoleil rider tangled with OmegaPharma-Lotto’s Jan Bakelants as the two of them negotiated a roundabout; already suffering from jet-lag, Leukemans received a blow to his right hip and elbow, which may affect his performance in Sunday’s race.
“My right elbow and hip have been grazed,” Leukemans told Sporza. “I fear most for my hip, it’s a pretty deep wound, but for now it’s too early to say anything; I’ll have to wait until Wednesday.”
The Belgian immediately returned to the team’s hotel, where he rode on the rollers “so as not to get stiff”, and received treatment on his hip.
Leukemans will be making a planned trip to the road race circuit in Geelong on Wednesday. “Then we will know immediately if it is good or not good,” he concluded.
National coach Carlo Bomans was not present when the crash happened, but is optimistic about the extent of Leukemans’ injuries.
“I’m not sure what happened,” he said to Sporza, “but apparently it’s not too bad.”
Nevertheless, the crash has affected the team, with one of its key members potentially below capacity. In what is expected to be a very tough race, Leukemans is due to be Gilbert’s lead out at the end of the 260km race.
“Nobody is happy,” said Bomans, “but it’ll be all right. [The atmosphere around the team] is quiet and good for us, everything is going according to plan.”
If all does go to Bomans’ plan, Philippe Gilbert will become the first Belgian to take the rainbow jersey since Gilbert’s friend Tom Boonen outsprinted the pack to win in the Spanish capital, Madrid in 2005.