Becker out with broken collarbone

Friday the 13th turned out to be unlucky for Charlotte Becker of Equipe Nürnberger. The 25 year-old broke her collarbone, and now is unsure whether she will be able to ride the German national time trial championships, which she won in 2006 and finished second in last year.

Her crash in the second stage of the Iuretta-Emakumeen Bira happened shortly before the finish line. "Suddenly a rider shot in front of me on the rain-wet street and slid out on a curve. That was totally unnecessary under those conditions," she said. "I had no chance to react. I'm always careful in the rain in order to avoid crashes. But that all happened so fast."

Becker had planned to ride both the time trial and the road race at the end of June in Bochum, Germany. "The time trial is always a highlight for me, and this year the road race is not far from my parents' house in Bochum. It is really too bad, but I haven't yet given up hope that it may work out," Becker noted.

The broken left collarbone was diagnosed in a Spanish hospital. She has since returned to Germany and will undergo further examinations in Berlin on Monday.

(Editorial assistance and research provided by Susan Westemeyer)

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