Two broken vertebrae for Van Hummel

Kenny van Hummel (Skil Shimano) has broken two vertebrae after crashing in the third stage of the Niedersachsen Rundfahrt last Friday. Van Hummel has also a rib fracture and a pneumothorax. The first year professional is in a corset and must rest for three weeks.

Team doctor Peter Janssen expects that Van Hummel can resume his training after six weeks and will be back in competition about two weeks later. "A good thing is that the fractures are stable, so they can heal fast," said Janssen.

Van Hummel, who finished seventh in the first stage of the Niedersachsen Rundfahrt, has to put his ambitions on hold for while. "I don't like that at all, but I can't change it," he said. "I hope to be back on my bike very quickly to prepare myself for the second half of the season."