Gesink aiming for the Vuelta

Only one week after breaking his wrist in the Tour de France's fifth stage Robert Gesink (Rabobank) is back on the bike, planning a training camp and looking forward to the next Grand Tour.

The 23-year-old will go to St. Moritz for three weeks of altitude training, beginning on Monday. The training will fit in with his preparations for the Vuelta a Espana. The Dutchman's first races back are expected to be the Tour du Limousin (August 18-21) and the GP Ouest France – Plouay (August 23).

Gesink went for his first bike ride on Wednesday after receiving a new cast on his broken wrist. “I cycled for a few hours with my girlfriend,” he said on the team's website, rabosport.nl. “It was nice to be back on the bike and to see that things are going well.”

Gesink was coping well with the disappointment of crashing out of the Tour. “Of course it was shit, but it is not the end of the world.” Being able to look forward to the Vuelta made a difference, he noted.

He couldn't avoid watching the Tour now, despite his best efforts. He went to Brussels for two days with his parents, his girlfriend and her parents. “The TV was on in every store we went into. You just couldn't miss the Tour. But I'm handling it pretty well.”

Meanwhile, he has been in daily contact to a few teammates at the Tour, and said “My sports heart is still in France.”

Gesink joined the Rabobank Continental team in 2006, and the ProTour team in 2007. Last season he finished seventh overall in the Vuelta.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1