McGee: Tour start a long shot

The likelihood of Bradley McGee starting this year's Tour de France is a long shot, the Team CSC rider believes. The injured McGee told fans on Team-CSC.com he would be ready if the team called on him, but that he's realistic about his chances.

"It's not out-of-the-question, but realistically a long shot," said the Australian. "Look at the list of amazing riders CSC can choose from. One thing for sure is that if called for I will be ready to deliver all that I have."

McGee started this month's Giro d'Italia with Team CSC but had to abandon the race during its first week with a broken collarbone. McGee was caught in a mass pileup on stage 3, the same accident which claimed team-mate Stuart O'Grady, who also suffered a broken collarbone.

"The injury is going well - as good as can be expected," he said. "I get a lot of weird sensations through the bone - too many screws I think! But my home trainer sessions have been great."

"I'm getting in two sessions a day," he added. "One to two hours a piece, plus some extra rehab work on the shoulder. I do my second session in view of the [Giro on] television. Pushing out my efforts seems much more pain free when watching the stages."

McGee joined Team CSC at the start of 2008 after leaving French squad Française des Jeux. The 32 year-old left Française des Jeux when the pair came to a mutual agreement to part ways, after McGee struggled with lower back pain, which prevented him from season-long competition for a number of years.