Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) jumped back on (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) has vowed to bounce back bigger and better after breaking his collarbone at the Giro d'Italia this week. While O'Grady was critical of others riding, he said the setback was just another challenge he will conquer.
"It's just bad luck and there's nothing you can do about it," he said. "Some guys just make stupid mistakes and ride like idiots and when they go down they take you with them and you can't do anything about it.
"I keep coming back from these things – it's like a little challenge," added O'Grady. "Everything happens for a reason because each time I come back bigger and better."
O'Grady said he would re-align his focus on the Tour de France following the injury. The Australian's 2007 season ended prematurely at last year's Tour, with an accident leaving the Paris-Roubaix winner with multiple rib fractures, a punctured lung and broken right shoulder.
"It's frustrating because my form was great and I was feeling good," said O'Grady. "I was looking forward to riding it [Giro] but will now go back to the original plan of [Tours of] Luxembourg and Switzerland then the team training camp before the Tour [de France]."
The 34 year-old described his broken collarbone as a good break. He expects to return to training later this week with the aim of racing again in a few weeks time.
"I've busted them all a few times [collar bones] and this one is a good break if you can call it that," said O'Grady. "I got to the finish on pure adrenalin and then it kicked in but I should be back training in a few days."
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The South Australian's compatriot, team-mate and fellow Olympic Games hopeful Brad McGee also broke his collarbone on the same stage but in a separate incident. O'Grady, who has contested the last four Olympic Games, won't know what August's Beijing Olympics will hold for him until June, when Cycling Australia nominates cyclists to the Australian Olympic Committee who will select the cycling team for Beijing.
