Alex Dowsett’s hopes of cycling’s hour record hit by broken collarbone

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/14/alex-dowsett-hour-record-broken-collarbone

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Alex Dowsett’s hopes of attempting cycling’s hour record were dealt a serious blow when he suffered a fractured collarbone while training on roads at home.

His friend Mark Cavendish had tweeted a picture of the two out together in the Essex countryside on Tuesday but his team Movistar said on Wednesday that he had later suffered a crash.

“Pain in his right-hand shoulder forced Dowsett to be moved to a hospital nearby, where radiological examinations confirmed a fracture in his collarbone,” the team said. “The severity of Dowsett’s fracture will require surgery, which the Briton will likely undergo on Thursday.”

Dowsett meanwhile tweeted: “Thanks for all the kind messages guys, far from ideal timing but will bounce back asap.”

Movistar said that a media day scheduled for Tuesday 20 January at London’s Lee Valley VeloPark, venue of the event on 27 February, had been cancelled.

Dowsett’s attempt was due to be shown live on Eurosport. Sir Bradley Wiggins is also to attempt the record, for the longest distance covered in an hour, in London, probably in June.