Richie Porte suffered a devastating crash on stage 9 of the Tour de France which forced the Australian out of the race.
The Day After: Richie Porte on his Tour de France Crash
Richie Porte remains in hospital in Chambery where he is recovering from a fractured clavicle and pelvis sustained in a crash on stage 9 of the Tour de France. Porte spoke briefly on the crash and his condition.
Richie, it is less than 24 hours after your crash and you are still here in hospital in Chambery. Simply, how do you feel?
“Obviously, I’ve felt much better than what I do right now. I’m in a fair bit of pain and it’s a big disappointment, to be honest. I think I was in great form and the team were really strong around me too, so it’s disappointing but I think after seeing the crash I’m lucky that I have come away with the injuries I have.”
You saw the crash on television. Do you recall how it happened?
“I remember I came into a corner and it wasn’t like we were going too fast or anything like that, but I just remember I locked the back wheel up and that was it really. Next thing I was heading for the grass verge on the corner. I stayed conscious the whole time. I remember the whole thing but I must say thank you to the medical staff on the race and the hospital. They have been absolutely fantastic.”
You have fractured your clavicle and pelvis. What does this mean for the next days and weeks?
“I don’t think I’ll be back on my bike for a good while now. I think the team is good with that. They just say to recover, there is no rush to come back. Hopefully, I’ll pull the BMC Racing Team jersey on by the end of the year.”
You have a lot of support on social media from fans all over the world. Something that helps a little in your recovery?
“I think that’s the thing with social media. You see the good and the bad. It’s overwhelmingly good. People are so supportive and really do care so I can’t say thank you enough to all of those people. It means the world to me so thank you very much.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gK1VG8UtXM
Porte went down on the descent of the hors categorie Mont du Chat when he slipped off the road into grass and crashed into the side of the mountain at a high speed.
After receiving immediate attention on the side of the road, Porte was taken to hospital for observation where he underwent X-rays.
BMC Racing Team Chief Medical Officer Dr. Max Testa explained the nature of Porte’s injuries.
“Richie Porte was transferred to the Centre Hopitalier Metropole Savoie in Chambery where he was evaluated by Dr. Zerr. He underwent X-rays to determine the extent of his injuries. His condition was stable from the beginning, he was responsive and he remembered everything that happened before and after the crash,” Dr. Testa explained.
“X-rays confirmed a non-displaced right clavicle fracture and a non-displaced right acetabulum fracture. Richie also suffered extensive superficial abrasions involving the right side of his body. At this stage, the injuries will not require surgery. The plan is to re-evaluate Richie tomorrow morning and confirm that he is stable enough to be transferred home.”
Dr. Testa confirmed that Porte will require a minimum of four weeks off the bike.
“Normally, a fractured clavicle and pelvis would require four to six weeks’ recovery, providing there are no complications. If everything goes to plan, Richie could be back on the bike at the beginning of August and slowly build his fitness up from there. Based on Richie’s recovery, we will re-evaluate his program for the rest of the season in consultation with BMC Racing Team management.”
BMC Racing Team will continue to provide updates on Porte’s condition. We ask that you respect his recovery period at this time.
