Vande Velde out of Giro, confirms broken clavicle

Team Garmin Transitions’ Christian Vande Velde crashed today during stage 3 of the Giro d’Italia, suffering a broken right clavicle and forcing him to withdraw from the race. He will undergo surgery Wednesday in Antwerp and after that will work with the team’s medical staff on a recovery plan.

“The amount of support I’ve received is overwhelming, so I just want to thank everyone. You never want to leave a race like this, and it is frustrating that it has happened for the second year in a row here, especially coming off Tyler’s win yesterday. I really wanted to be here to be a part of everything that comes next – whether it be helping David get into pink or just being part of the team here.”

“I’ll be rooting for them at home, though, and I will do everything I can to be on the start line at the Tour de France,” said Vande Velde.

Vande Velde also crashed on Stage 3 of last year’s Giro d’Italia, sustaining five broken vertebrae, a broken pelvis and broken ribs. He came back to finish eighth in the Tour de France.

“Christian is incredibly strong and motivated. He has proven that over and over again,” said Matt White, sports director of Team Garmin-Transitions. “We will make sure he gets everything he needs to be able to heal, but he has already showed the world what he can come back from. The team will continue to race hard here at the Giro and we’ll be thinking of Christian.”

Christian Vande Velde - Giro d'Italia, stage 3

More photos from the Giro d’Italia:

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This entry was posted on Monday, May 10th, 2010 at 4:30 pm and is filed under Garmin Web Site, Press Releases, Slipstream, Transitions and tagged with , , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

  • http://twitter.com/krb104 Karen Beaudouin

    Best wishes Christian. Race hard Garmin.

  • Philippe Ballaire

    To Matt White Re; Christian Vande Velde.
    Matt, There is a better way to get Christians clavicle fixed. I hope you might look at what Dr Basamania or Dr Hackett from the Steadman Clinic in Vail CO are doing. Christians could be healed a lot faster with a less surgical trauma.

  • Reed

    Christian,
    Your friends in the NYC racing community support your efforts at getting back in the game. Tough luck. But, you’re tough as nails and will be back soon, as you have already proven. Those of us who have broken bones while racing know that recovery is only a matter of time.

  • Glenn

    Christian heal up quickly and well my friend. JV, can we put a no Giro clause in Christian’s contract?

  • h.r. hanes

    So sad! Heal fast, Christian! We’ll keep rooting for G-T, but it won’t be the same without you :^(

  • http://twitter.com/krb104 Karen Beaudouin

    Best wishes Christian. Race hard Garmin.

  • Eric

    What a bummer. I got up to see the coverage and heard something about a crash (my tv wasnt showing picture just sound), I went into the living room where my brother was watching it and thats when he told me that Christian was in the crash and he abandoned. What is it with VDV and bad luck at the Giro. I was really having high hopes for him like for a stage win or something. Hopefully Christian, you can recuperate in time to be at the start for the Tour, best of luck on your recovery.

  • Philippe Ballaire

    To Matt White Re; Christian Vande Velde.
    Matt, There is a better way to get Christians clavicle fixed. I hope you might look at what Dr Basamania or Dr Hackett from the Steadman Clinic in Vail CO are doing. Christians could be healed a lot faster with a less surgical trauma.

  • Reed

    Christian,
    Your friends in the NYC racing community support your efforts at getting back in the game. Tough luck. But, you're tough as nails and will be back soon, as you have already proven. Those of us who have broken bones while racing know that recovery is only a matter of time.

  • Glenn

    Christian heal up quickly and well my friend. JV, can we put a no Giro clause in Christian's contract?

  • h.r. hanes

    So sad! Heal fast, Christian! We'll keep rooting for G-T, but it won't be the same without you :^(

  • Eric

    What a bummer. I got up to see the coverage and heard something about a crash (my tv wasnt showing picture just sound), I went into the living room where my brother was watching it and thats when he told me that Christian was in the crash and he abandoned. What is it with VDV and bad luck at the Giro. I was really having high hopes for him like for a stage win or something. Hopefully Christian, you can recuperate in time to be at the start for the Tour, best of luck on your recovery.

  • High Plains Drifter

    Sucks! But I still think David’s in pink after Wednesday. I saw Julian go down as well — hope he’s cool.

  • Phil

    Christian! Felt bad when I heard you went down yesterday. All the best with your operation and I hope they patch you up asap. I think you proved last year what you’re capable of. Hope to see you on your bike soon again. Speedy recovery!

  • High Plains Drifter

    Sucks! But I still think David's in pink after Wednesday. I saw Julian go down as well — hope he's cool.

  • Tom

    Christian, here’s hoping that surgery makes the healing process go even faster. I think that my dad in Lemont used to tell me that! Your luck will change in July.

  • Phil

    Christian! Felt bad when I heard you went down yesterday. All the best with your operation and I hope they patch you up asap. I think you proved last year what you're capable of. Hope to see you on your bike soon again. Speedy recovery!

  • Chaser Fan

    One word: ((((((Christian))))))

  • Tom

    Christian, here's hoping that surgery makes the healing process go even faster. I think that my dad in Lemont used to tell me that! Your luck will change in July.

  • Anonymous

    Sorry Christian,
    We in the midwest are praying for a speedy, healthy recovery for you! go get them in July!

  • Chaser Fan

    One word: ((((((Christian))))))

  • STH

    Everybody is rooting for you: no matter what. You are a class act ( must be a Chicago thing ). We all know its definitely tough. Heal up and win the next one.

  • LMbike

    Sorry Christian,
    We in the midwest are praying for a speedy, healthy recovery for you! go get them in July!

  • STH

    Everybody is rooting for you: no matter what. You are a class act ( must be a Chicago thing ). We all know its definitely tough. Heal up and win the next one.

  • Anonymous

    Good Luck! I was the co-pilot for Al VandeVelde who carried John’s bike in the cargo compartment of a Convair 880 to ABQ and back.

    You have a great heritage.

  • robertrheintgen

    Good Luck! I was the co-pilot for Al VandeVelde who carried John's bike in the cargo compartment of a Convair 880 to ABQ and back.

    You have a great heritage.