Voigt may need cheekbone operation
Jens Voigt of Germany and team Saxo Bank lies on the road during stage 16 of the 2009 Tour de France from Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice on July 21 (Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)
Tour de France crash victim Jens Voigt has been told he will have to wait for a decision on whether he faces surgery on his smashed cheekbone, his Saxo Bank team announced today.
The 37-year-old was temporarily knocked unconscious after a
high speed crash during the race's 16th stage from Martigny in
After being revived at the scene the German veteran was
flown by helicopter to hospital in
Doctors said they would wait for a few days before deciding whether to operate on his cheekbone.
Voigt was knocked out and left bloodied after a heavy fall early on the descent from the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard.
Voigt, a team-mate of yellow jersey contender Andy Schleck, has had poor luck on the Tour recently after a flat tyre cost him the chance to stay with a breakaway group on last Saturday's 14th stage.
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He suffered a back-wheel puncture at the 57km mark and despite receiving a new wheel from the neutral spares car, he lost his place in a 13-man escape which included eventual stage winner Sergei Ivanov of Katusha.
Voigt is the second rider Saxo Bank have lost inside a week.
Their 34-year-old Norwegian champion Kurt-Asle Arvesen crashed out in the 10th stage trying to avoid a spectator.
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User Comments
There are 4 comments on this post
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 comments
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gabriel959
Posted Wed 22 Jul, 7:43 pm BST Flag as inappropriate
You should mention what the doctors also said:
The helmet saved his life!
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cesalec
Posted Thu 23 Jul, 6:22 am BST Flag as inappropriate
I dont truly believe the helmet save his life. The helmet did of course help tons.
But the hit on the cheekbone was direct with the pavement, the helmet didnt help at that hit.
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salsarider79
Posted Thu 23 Jul, 10:56 am BST Flag as inappropriate
Get well soon....
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sofdy
Posted Thu 23 Jul, 6:28 pm BST Flag as inappropriate
I hope the guy makes a full recovery, and quickly. He always gives 100% for his team, and never grumbles about playing back up. You can always count on Jens for a good breakaway. Get well soon.
