Zabriskie medical update: Heading home to recover
Author: Woody11 May
With 55 km to go, Dave Zabriskie got tangled up in a crash with Alberto Contador. Contador was able to continue, but Dave was taken to the hospital for treatment. Christian Vande Velde stopped to make sure Dave was alright before continuing.
” ‘Za Dave’ as he is affectionately known by, hurt himself today and was unable to continue. I was racing with him in mind during the final,” said Christian. “That’s the only regret I have today. Is the fact that DZ won’t be putting a smile on my face during this race as he does so easily.”
Official Medical Update
Dave sustained a compression fracture to the anterior aspect of his 1st lumbar vertebrae. He has no neurological damage and isn’t expected to have any in the future.
Dave will be heading home in the next few days, where he will continue to recover. At this time its a bit early to discuss his return-to-action date.
Thanks to our fans for their support and well wishes. We will keep you posted.
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51 Responses for "Zabriskie medical update: Heading home to recover"
Speedy recovery Dave! You’ll be missed in the Giro but hope to see you back in the peloton soon.
Thank God it wasn’t anything more serious. Get better soon, DZ. You and the moustache will be missed.
Oh man, what a bummer. Take care and listen to your doctors man. Will miss ya, but know you will return. Giddyup-n-go
Rest up DZ - the saddle will be ready when you are..keep working on the stache while you recover!
Hope u best wishes in your recovery!!
Oh crap! So sorry to hear this - get well soon Dave, you’re the man!
I was saddened to hear that DZ took a bad fall today. It is good news to hear that a full recovery is expected. Get well Dave, our thoughts are with you.
Get well soon! We will miss your presence in the Giro.
Oh Dave, I wish you a speedy recovery so you’ll be back on your bike soon. I always think of you when I won the FELT Cruiser from you at Chipotle in CA. Heal Strong!
I hope you have a fast recovery. I hated to see you on the side of the road. You and the tash will be missed so hurry up and come back.
We love ya.
Terrible news, but take it easy and recovery well! Best wishes!!
Get well soon, DZ.
I hope you heal fast. Keep positive vibes and come back to kick booty!
Saw my text and was speechless. Will keep up with your recovery. Get well and we’ll see you soon.
Hey Dave, Get well soon. I look forward to seeing your personality back in the action on and off the bike….
Get well soon DZ! You’ll be missed but we look forward to your speedy recovery and your return to racing!!
tough stage for SC.
did NOT like seeing Z go down, but i really did not like hearing about the L1. best wishes for a speedy recovery.
CVV: i can only dream what it was like to wear the rose. must have been difficult sleeping knowing you got to wear it the next day. great to see a (relatively) local boy leading the giro!
Get well soon DZ, our thoughts are with you.
“He has no neurological damage and isn’t expected to have any in the future.”
Are you sure? Maybe you should scan again.
Sorry to see you go down DZ. Get some rest and feel better.
Get well quick, DZeeeeeee! You’ll be missed in the Giro peleton. Especially in the ITT’s. Listen to your docs and don’t push it too hard. Take care!
Get well soon DZ! Take the back slow and easy. I jacked mine two years ago and did to much to soon and I pay for it every morning. Listen to the Docs.
We can’t wait to see you back in action DZ. Feel better soon.
cowboy up,get well dave!
Get well soon Dave! I look forward to seeing you back in the saddle.
Get well soon Dave!
Dave, I’m very sorry to hear of your crash out. keep that smile on and get better soon.
I’m gonna buy you some football pads for the tour.
Oh man. We’ll miss you Dave, but look forward to your speedy return! Get well soon!
Damn! Dave always brings a smile to my face too… Hope he’s better soon!
Big bummer. So sorry, DZ. Glad to hear you’re gonna be okay. Upside is you’ll be there when the new addition to your family arrives!
Geez Dave good to hear you are not dead
with no real footage of the crash on the broadcast, we could
only speculate.
You didn’t look so well and scared my wife and I both.
I clipped a tree once in an out of control skid in a turn once and was real messed up for a while with tweaked ribs and stuff.
Get well and I wish you a healthy recovery and congrats on the kid on the way!
Get well soon Dave Z!
Get better soon Dave! I’ll miss watching you out there. Hope you have a speedy and full recovery.
DZ how can my fantasy giro team succeed now that you’re out… aaaahhh!
seriously though… good luck with the recovery, all that matters is being healthy for the tour!
Mr. Z
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. You are a great inspiration to me and many other Cat 4 amateur racers.
Looking forward to you breaking the speed records again soon.
Firstly, much sympathy. Second, don’t get too scared - you can get a 100% recovery from this. I know, I’ve done it twice (but only once in a road bike crash)!
The bad bits are
(1) They’ll probably make you keep absolutely still for a month. Quite apart from the fitness you’ll lose, it’s incredibly boring…
(2) After they allow you to start moving, you’ll probably have to wear a compression brace for at least another month. You wouldn’t believe how uncomfortable this is.
I did get on a full suspension mountain bike while stillin the brace - strictly against medical orders, but I needed to know I could still cycle - but it wasn’t a very pleasant experience. Your back is extremely tender until it is fully healed, and you can’t really breathe in the brace.
However, like I say, I’ve done it twice, and I have no pain and no movement or fitness deficit. With luck, you’ll race again this year; you’ll definitely be racing next.
Saw it yesterdayevening on the TV at the local take-away Thai and couldn’t stop the F-word pop out.
Get well soon! You’re breath of fresh air in the peleton and you’ll be a great miss.
Dave - so sorry to see you go down and end up with this fracture. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
DZ - Here’s to a speedy and complete recovery. The team will miss you and your all-out effort for the rest of the Giro!
Get well soon Za Dave (much more macho than DA-Z)!
Dave Z.
I am so sorry that crash happened, that really sucks. You will recover and be back racing soon. I will keep you in my speedy recovery prayers. By the way Thanks for autographing those pictures at the TDG down in the corner of the track, when you and Christian rode down there to watch rock racing guys. The pictures are great also. Thanks a bunch. And keep up your silly since of humor, it’s great.
Heal up fast so we can see you on the road soon.
Lisa Millslagle
Z -
Quickest recovery! Thinking of ya’ and hope to see you on the road again soon.
Dave,
Get better soon. Maybe some time off will give you some time to rethink that ridiculous fur under your nose. If it hurts too much to laugh I understand a simple smile is all that is needed.
We’ll miss you, and Captain America must ride again!
get better soon. we’re thinking of you
Even the awesome power ’stache couldn’t save the day, DZ? Get well soon!!! I’ll miss you in the Giro.
Best of luck DZ. I saw the aftermath of your crash on Versus. I cringed just watching you try to bravely continue on your bike. Heal up quickly. Looking forward to seeing you back with the argyle crew. Best of luck in your recovery.
Hope you make as quick a recovery as you are in a time trial. Great to have seen you at the Tour De Georgia with the fantastic Team Time Trial there.
This is being the sucking, big time. Hope you recover soon. I saw a casting call the other day for a western remake. I think you should see if your friends in SoCal and get you in ;).
Nothing can keep the Z-man down! Hope to see you back racing soon. Xx
Dave
I saw the coverage of your crash on Versus. Hope you recover soon. I am a big cycling fan and just returned from the Tour De Georgia. I ordered your Yield to Life tshirt. I ride my bike everyday and deal with traffic Speedy Recovery! Hope to see you racing again soon.
Hi DZ,
You and I are twins! I suffered a compression fracture on my L1 Vertabrae on April 12, 2008 at a competition.
I’m a pair figure skater and I fell from about 8′ high out of an over-head back press landing on the ice in a sitting position.
Here is a picture of the lift:
http://www.adultpairskating.com/page1/page2/page2.html
My vertabrae shattered into little pieces, but like you, I was lucky that it was on the opposite side of the spinal column.
I’m in a brace for 6 weeks, then off to 6 weeks of PT, which I’m really looking forward to, because it is so hard to go from intense training to being bed ridden.
Oh, by the way, I hope you are enjoying the Percoset! If by chance they have you on Vicodan, as to switch to Percoset (it’s a little stronger and works better!)
Wishing you a really strong recovery, and if you want to compare notes, don’t hesitate to give me a shout:
acooper19426@earthlink.net
Best wishes,
Andrea
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