Gómez wants to return for Vuelta a España

Ángel Gómez is recuperating well from the injuries he sustained in a crash in the third stage of the Tour de France, but still isn't sure about his recovery process. "It's too early to say if I can return to cycling [this year], but if I can I will make sure that this is not the end of my season."

Gómez isn't giving up and hopes to return to racing as soon as possible. "I will do anything possible to return for the Vuelta a España," he said of the Spanish national Tour which starts on August 30. Gómez was hopeful he would recover quicker than from his last crash in the Ronde van Vlaanderen. "Even though it appears bad, I think it may only take half the time to recover than compared to the Flanders crash," he said.

Despite the accident being his second heavy crash of the season, Gómez hasn't lost his humour. "I have a great advantage towards the end of the season, and that is that I will be fresh. Usually in August I have done 70 days of racing. This year, it won't be more than 45."

The Spaniard from Saunier Duval-Scott is helped during his recovery by personal friend and doctor José Ángel Martínez Agüeros. "He has already treated me on other occasions. Last time in April, after my crash in Flanders. He examined the X-rays to see where the fracture was located, then examined me directly to help localise exactly the affected areas and to rule out other peripheral injuries."

For the moment Gómez exercises in the swimming pool in Cabezón. "I was advised to do exercises in the water, as the pain will be less when floating. It allows me to move all my muscles and avoid getting numb [muscles]."