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news
Alessandro Ballan (copyright Simon MacMichael).jpgTeam BMC's Alessandro Ballan seriously injured in training ride crash descending Coll de Rates
Team BMC rider Alessandro Ballan suffered serious injuries yesterday in a training ride crash while descending the Coll de Rates on the penultimate day of the team's pre-Christmas training camp in Spain.
In statement published on the BMC website the Italian rider suffered fractures to his leg and rib, a punctured lung and most seriously of all an injury to his spleen.
The 2008 World Road Race Champion was coming down the Coll de Rates climb near Parcent toward the end of a four-hour training ride when he crashed at high speed. According to his team, after being taken to a local hospital by BMC Racing Team Dr. Dario Spinelli, Ballan was diagnosed with a mid-shaft, displaced fracture of his left femur, a fracture of his ninth rib and some abdominal trauma. "The broken rib actually made a small puncture in his lung," Dr. Testa said. "The first priority is the spleen injury – that is considered a medical emergency." Ballan was undergoing surgery to remove his spleen Thursday night and a decision on when and where his broken leg can be operated on will come at a later time, Dr. Testa said.
After visiting Ballan in hospital BMC Racing Team Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said:
"Of course his loss means a lot since Alessandro is one of our key riders for the classics," Lelangue said. "But most important right now is that he can recover and just get back to his normal process. We'll wait for all the medical information before even beginning to think about what could be his plan for coming back."
Given the extent of injuries it is highly unlikely that Ballan will be back in action before next summer a blow not only for the rider but also for his team. The Italian was BMC's most consistent rider in the 2012 Spring Classics finishing 3rd at Paris Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders - a race he won in 2007 and in the top 10 at Milan San Remo.
road.cc's founder and first editor, nowadays to be found riding a spreadsheet. Tony's journey in cycling media started in 1997 as production editor and then deputy editor of Total Bike, acting editor of Total Mountain Bike and then seven years as editor of Cycling Plus. He launched his first cycling website - the Cycling Plus Forum at the turn of the century. In 2006 he left C+ to head up the launch team for Bike Radar which he edited until 2008, when he co-launched the multi-award winning road.cc - finally handing on the reins in 2021 to Jack Sexty. His favourite ride is his ‘commute’ - which he does most days inc weekends and he’s been cycle-commuting since 1994. His favourite bikes are titanium and have disc brakes, though he'd like to own a carbon bike one day.
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Latest update
Ballan successfully had double femur fracture surgery. Did not lose a kidney and is conscious
An update I saw lastnight, Its looking like he's going to lose a Kidney aswell and is still in a medically induced coma....
NOT GOOD
here's to a speedy recovery.
Get well soon.
Wishing you a speedy recovery
bad luck
hope hes good as soon as possible, decending is so risky. easy to forget where the limits are
Your spleen protects you from infection.
Mind was damaged but not ruptured in accident, have great scar were they checked the status of the spleen and was ready to remove it, but left it in.
Next couple of years, had colds that developed in pneumonia as my spleen recovered. Now perfectly health and no more problems with pneumonia
What does the spleen do anyway? They were always whipping them out on ER. Isn't that taking being a weight weenie too far?
No, seriously, sounds rubbish, get better soon.
Oh man what a way to spend christmas hope he gets better soon.
Sincere best wishes for a Speedy Recovery to " Al " , as i call him , when we met so often last year .
Always had a cheeky grin and treats ALL Tifosi as if they are part of the family .
When i first heard of the accident , i was under the impression that a vehicle was involved ? Guess " shit Happens " even to the best ?
What a disappointing way to spend the festive season , bed ridden and in pain ? Losing the Spleen must have some impact on his future health and thus his career .
Can remember riding with him , last April at Arco , after he had crossed the finish line , i didn't know that he was awaiting the result , for him it was , " just another race ", asked him how he went and got a shrug! He was the Winner !
Where was the airbag?
hope you recover soon alesandro, poor guy
Best wishes for a full recovery.
Get well soon, Alessandro.
Losing a spleen is nasty; he'll likely need a full set of vaccinations, and his team doctors will want him off the bike and onto antibiotics at the first sign of trouble - even for a cough or tickly sore throat. (At least, that's what I'd advise - sadly there's no such thing as a titanium spleen)...
Know the road very well, coming off is easily done especially if it is wet, its fast and narrow with a big drop on one side and sharp rocks on the other and the odd hairpin bend.
Ouch, really not good.
Off to the in-law's apartment in Javea next summer and am planning on riding that one. Caution noted...
Awful set of injuries - going to be a stressful Christmas for Alessandro, his family and the team.
Best wishes to him and his team.
Terrible news.
Hope he has a smooth recovery.
Get well soon Alessandro.