Just when things were beginning to look really good for Slipstream-Chipotle at the Giro d'Italia, David Zabriskie crashed on Sunday when his bicycle tangled with Alberto Contador's and he was rushed away by ambulance.
An update by Slipstream's directeur sportif Jonathan Vaughters reported that the cyclist from Salt Lake City injured his back in the crash but was able to move his legs. They'll know more when the X-rays come back.
(According to latest Slipstream report: Zabriskie “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.”)
The accident happened along some railroad tracks about 40 miles from the finish, according to CyclingNews. Slipstream, who was defending the pink leader's jersey worn by Christian Vande Velde, and Contador's Astana team were at the head of the peloton chasing down an early breakaway. Contador was able to stay in the race.
New leader
Stopping briefly to check on Zabriskie, Vande Velde raced back to the head of the peloton to finish the 128-mile stage from Cefalù to Agrigento on the island of Sicily.
The peloton caught the breakaway near Agrigento and was preparing for a mass sprint when Joaquim Rodriguez of Caisse d'Epargne attacked with a kilometer to go. He couldn't sustain it, however, and was passed by a group of five.
Italian Riccardo Riccò of Saunier Duval-Scott won the sprint, and Franco Pellizotti of Liquigas captured the pink jersey as he gained one second over Vande Velde, who is now in second place overall.
See VeloNews and CyclingNews for results on the GC and sprint finish; Vaughters might have more Zabriskie updates at the Slipstream website.
A favorite
The crash by Zabriskie is a real shame. This year's Giro d'Italia seemed to favor a time trial specialist like Zabriskie with its opening team time trial and three other time trials. In fact, Zabriskie sat in second place overall with the same time at Vande Velde after the Stage 1 TTT, which Slipstream won.
Zabriskie is one of only four US cyclists ever to wear the Tour de France's yellow jersey, and it appeared this might be the year he added the pink jersey to his collection.
Riding for Team CSC in 2005, Zabriskie won the opening prologue, beating former teammate Lance Armstrong by 2 seconds. He held the yellow jersey until the conclusion of Stage 4, when he crashed 2 kilometers from the finish in the team time trial.
Oy Gevalt
Slipstream is Zabriskie's fourth team as a pro; he rode for 7-Up, US Postal, CSC previously.
Ironically, 29-year-old Zabriskie has a “word of the week” at his David Zabriskie website. The current word (actually two words) is a Yiddish expression:
Oy Gevalt — an expression of surprise or disbelief. Sometimes accompanied by slight annoyance. Ex. “Oy Gevalt! That car almost hit me!”
Or Oy Gevalt, another racing accident! Let's hope Zabriskie gets better soon and is back in the peloton.
(More on Zabriskie at Bicycling, Feb. 25, 2008 interview by Joe Lindsey: “Is Slipstream's Dave Zabriskie getting better, or are we all just finally starting to understand one of the Pro Tour's most misunderstood talents?”)
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