Route du Sud (st. 2)

Young Spaniard won't be operated from his vertebra injury following yesterday's crash after fractures were ruled out at checks practised in Toulouse

The injuries of Ángel Madrazo -the Spaniard crash yesterday in the opening stage of the Route du Sud- are eventually less important than feared a day before. The young Movistar Team rider was moved last night from the Albi Hospital -where he was diagnosed a small fracture in the second cervical vertebra- to the Clinique de l’Union in Tolouse, where we underwent deeper checks this morning. Ultimately, the specialists at the French center ruled out any fractures -the big blow in his ribs was a strong cervical contracture-, what makes the expected operation unnecesary as Madrazo -wearing a surgical collar that will hold him still for some days- was able to leave the hospital and return to Movistar Team’s hotel in the Route du Sud, together with the squad’s doctor.

“Acknowledging that I had nothing broken made me much come calm, to be honest,” explained the Spaniard after leaving the Clinique. “I’m wearing a collar for some days, but the recovery phase must be really shorter now and I won’t be operated. I have much pain in my muscles, several wounds in my arms and, most notably, nine stitches in the jawbone, but I’m fine. Just like in the other crashes I had in the last two years, I will have this as just another memory in my career so I get stronger and value even better that first victory I’m always fighting for. The support by my parents, my girlfiend María and all people around me must help me to recover faster. We will see how the recovering periods evolve, because it’s a delicate injury that might make you get dizzy, and as I will be missing the Spanish Championships, I hope to stay up before the Tour de Pologne as expected and give my best there as I always do.”