Professional photographer CJ Farquharson has been injured in a motorbike accident on the Thüringen Rundfahrt's final stage. Farquharson, a long-time contributor to Cyclingnews, roams the globe covering women's cycling on every continent for her website womenscycling.net, however her 2007 season has been cut short following the weekend's crash.
Farquharson was riding pillion on a motorcycle at the German event on Sunday at the time of the accident. "We were just slowing to stop at a point on a hill for some photos when we were hit from behind by another race motorbike," she explained.
The photographer sustained an open compound fracture to both bones in her lower left leg, while the pilot of the motorbike she was riding on suffered a broken ankle. Farquharson was airlifted to hospital and underwent surgery to stabilise the leg with eternal fixtures, which will be replaced in a week with further surgery, when its expected she will have internal pins inserted indefinitely.
"I could be in hospital here in Germany for up to four weeks," said Farquharson. "It depends on how quickly things settle and when the plates are inserted. The medical staff has been excellent and it has huge experience in this type of injury. I have even done some work with the physiotherapist today [Monday].
"I guess my season is over and that's a huge disappointment; I love my job," she added. "I'll be working hard to get back on start and finish lines as soon as possible."
Farquharson thanked all her well wishers, and those that visited her after the race on Monday. "I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and wishes, it means a great deal to me", said Farquharson.
Farquharson's accident topped off a bad month for Cyclingnews' contributing photographers, after Mark Gunter went from motorbike pillion to the boot of a team car in an instant at China's Tour of Qinghai Lake. The Cooma, Australia based photographer was covering the 2.HC event at the time of the accident.
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"I was making my way through the convoy of cars when one of the cars pulled out quickly to do a wheel change," Gunter told the Cooma-Monaro Express. "It was pouring rain, the bike went straight into the back of the car. I just remember being in the back of the car and looking back and seeing [the motorbike driver] rolling down the road."
Despite his penetration of the vehicle's rear window, Gunter walked away with minor scratches and bruising and continued shooting the following day.
