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14 May 15
20:48
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Date Joined:
11 Jul 11
Contador suffered a shoulder injury in the crash near the line on stage 6. The team have come out with some inconsistent comments, and reading between the lines it's not looking good for him to continue in the race, imo.
For instance; "Contador was taken for X-Rays, according to a team spokesman. The examination showed now [sic] broken bones, but rather a separated shoulder. 'He isn’t in serious pain and that’s already a good thing. He couldn’t put on the jersey on the podium because he was wearing an ice pack,' said Feltrin."
Now, if an X-Ray showed a separated shoulder than it would've shown that some ligaments which connect the collarbone to the shoulder blade have been torn. Since it's no longer anchored, the collarbone can move out of position and push against the skin near the top of the shoulder causing a deformity. The more significant the deformity the more serious the injury, regardless though the symptoms will be tenderness of the shoulder and collarbone, swelling, and bruising, and even though it will be strapped to restrict movement, it will also restrict his range of movement and cause discomfort.
"An official medical bulletin from the Giro d’Italia states: 'Clinical examination revealed a slight instability of the left shoulder joint, as compared to the right one. The rider experienced slight pain.'"
The fact that there is some instability means that some of those ligaments have been torn, from my understanding.
"21:00 CET: Alberto Contador has spoken, and confirmed that he dislocated his shoulder twice today. Once in the crash and then just before the podium presentation. “In principle, there was a dislocation [of the shoulder] from when I fell. I got up, my shoulder was dislocated, and acting on instinct I popped it back in. I was scared because I thought I had broken my collarbone, which I have never broken in my life, then when we were at the foot of the podium it [the shoulder] came out again."
Now, there is clear difference between a dislocated shoulder and a separated shoulder, and it's unclear if Stefano Feltrin knows the difference, he is an Italian lawyer so he should be precise with his words but English is not his first language and in addition it's only inferred that that is what he said in the report; nevertheless to my study the fact that Contador is going over the concern of the shoulder having popped out twice, suggests to me that it's more likely to be a dislocated shoulder, and not a separated shoulder as being inferred Feltrin has said, however to my understanding it is equally as bad as a separated shoulder, since the tissue and nerves around the shoulder can get damaged. It may even be worse, I think, since there is a larger factor.
This means that whilst he can withstand the pain, there is a danger of long-term damage to the area and career prospects concerns come into focus. That is the kind of factor which would cause a rider to abandon, since more races in the future, essentially an income, would be more important than once race, albeit in the leader's jersey.
In conclusion; I think he is toast, whether that's the first announcement out of the team tomorrow, or whether he abandons the race during what is the longest stage of the Giro at 264kms, he likely won't continue, either because of the pain or because of the risk another dislocation is likely to cause to his career.
Note: I'm not suggesting to go nuts in laying him, however I have laid off my bank and began a position on Aru, and moved on Porte for balance.
Cheers,
SP
For instance; "Contador was taken for X-Rays, according to a team spokesman. The examination showed now [sic] broken bones, but rather a separated shoulder. 'He isn’t in serious pain and that’s already a good thing. He couldn’t put on the jersey on the podium because he was wearing an ice pack,' said Feltrin."
Now, if an X-Ray showed a separated shoulder than it would've shown that some ligaments which connect the collarbone to the shoulder blade have been torn. Since it's no longer anchored, the collarbone can move out of position and push against the skin near the top of the shoulder causing a deformity. The more significant the deformity the more serious the injury, regardless though the symptoms will be tenderness of the shoulder and collarbone, swelling, and bruising, and even though it will be strapped to restrict movement, it will also restrict his range of movement and cause discomfort.
"An official medical bulletin from the Giro d’Italia states: 'Clinical examination revealed a slight instability of the left shoulder joint, as compared to the right one. The rider experienced slight pain.'"
The fact that there is some instability means that some of those ligaments have been torn, from my understanding.
"21:00 CET: Alberto Contador has spoken, and confirmed that he dislocated his shoulder twice today. Once in the crash and then just before the podium presentation. “In principle, there was a dislocation [of the shoulder] from when I fell. I got up, my shoulder was dislocated, and acting on instinct I popped it back in. I was scared because I thought I had broken my collarbone, which I have never broken in my life, then when we were at the foot of the podium it [the shoulder] came out again."
Now, there is clear difference between a dislocated shoulder and a separated shoulder, and it's unclear if Stefano Feltrin knows the difference, he is an Italian lawyer so he should be precise with his words but English is not his first language and in addition it's only inferred that that is what he said in the report; nevertheless to my study the fact that Contador is going over the concern of the shoulder having popped out twice, suggests to me that it's more likely to be a dislocated shoulder, and not a separated shoulder as being inferred Feltrin has said, however to my understanding it is equally as bad as a separated shoulder, since the tissue and nerves around the shoulder can get damaged. It may even be worse, I think, since there is a larger factor.
This means that whilst he can withstand the pain, there is a danger of long-term damage to the area and career prospects concerns come into focus. That is the kind of factor which would cause a rider to abandon, since more races in the future, essentially an income, would be more important than once race, albeit in the leader's jersey.
In conclusion; I think he is toast, whether that's the first announcement out of the team tomorrow, or whether he abandons the race during what is the longest stage of the Giro at 264kms, he likely won't continue, either because of the pain or because of the risk another dislocation is likely to cause to his career.
Note: I'm not suggesting to go nuts in laying him, however I have laid off my bank and began a position on Aru, and moved on Porte for balance.
Cheers,
SP
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Whilst the Giro/Tour double is the stated goal, it would make sense to abandon and refocus on just the Tour. As you say, the fact that tomorrow is the longest stage will be a factor. Wouldn't be nice to see the maglia rosa abandon but it's surely the only possible outcome if the shoulder is either dislocated or separated. It isn't like he's some domestique who can struggle through each stage just inside the time bonus in the hope of recovering enough to be some help in the third week. If he's not challenging for the win he might as well be recovering and preparing for the Tour. Especially given his legendary powers of recovery.
Is it his arm popping out of his socket or an AC injury? either way he might as well ride on unless he needs surgery.
It's popping out, he said that it came out when he crashed and his instincts were to pop it back in, and then just before the podium ceremony it popped out again. So what's happening is that it's dislocating, and if that continues there is a real risk of long-term tissue and nerve damage, which suggests to me that even if he continues he is risking his career by riding in a race where he has proved so much already, and moreover where he might even risk a start in the TdF, later, a much bigger and important race.
So, let's say he controls the pain and the shoulder is thoroughly strapped to prevent further dislocations -- it's going to be playing on his mind because his mobility with the shoulder will be restricted, he will be experiencing discomfort, and we know that Contador requires unimpeded movement in his shoulders by the style he employs on the bike when attacking. I mean, even if starts and the pain is manageable and the shoulder is strapped well -- is he really going to be capable of answering attacks from what would be an unnatural style for him in the seated position on the bike?
So, let's say he controls the pain and the shoulder is thoroughly strapped to prevent further dislocations -- it's going to be playing on his mind because his mobility with the shoulder will be restricted, he will be experiencing discomfort, and we know that Contador requires unimpeded movement in his shoulders by the style he employs on the bike when attacking. I mean, even if starts and the pain is manageable and the shoulder is strapped well -- is he really going to be capable of answering attacks from what would be an unnatural style for him in the seated position on the bike?
Reports now coming out that Contador is confirmed to start the stage...
"10:20:10 CEST
News from our reporter Barry Ryan, who is in Grosseto, is that Contador is riding with lower tyre pressures for today's stage. Lower pressures will help reduce the strain in his shoulder, but as the longest stage of the race it's going to be a tough day out for the Spaniard."
How about the strain on his shoulder this weekend when Porte and/or Aru attack on the steep gradients?
News from our reporter Barry Ryan, who is in Grosseto, is that Contador is riding with lower tyre pressures for today's stage. Lower pressures will help reduce the strain in his shoulder, but as the longest stage of the race it's going to be a tough day out for the Spaniard."
How about the strain on his shoulder this weekend when Porte and/or Aru attack on the steep gradients?
I didn't see him crash, I just saw him getting back on his bike. It didn't look serious at the time but it will be difficult for him if he has picked up any injury.
If you were going to mark Contador on his condition on the bike on such a long stage, you would have to give him an A. Was on the front when required, particularly the final climb where they were clipping along, could get out of the saddle without any visible pain throughout the stage, and finished the race in the leader's jersey. Only really showed a grimace approaching the tunnel, and it appeared somewhat staged perhaps. It's therefore surprising that his left arm hung so limply along his side on the podium -- as if he could hardly move it -- very weird!
I think it's safe to say that he has not got any ligaments, nerve, or tissue problems in the shoulder whatsoever. In fact, I'm starting to think this whole shoulder dislocation is Contador simply foxing, which is unfortunate since he is now field red for me.
I think it's safe to say that he has not got any ligaments, nerve, or tissue problems in the shoulder whatsoever. In fact, I'm starting to think this whole shoulder dislocation is Contador simply foxing, which is unfortunate since he is now field red for me.
Tomorrow's stage should tell us more I guess, there wasn't much in the way of proper climbing today, but if you didn't know about his shoulder and you'd watched today on mute you wouldn't have had a clue there was anything wrong with him. Unless you watched the podium presentation as well as you say SP.
Evidence exists for Contador being a very tough rider, specifically with him riding with a broken leg in stage 10 of last year's TdF just before abandoning, so with painkillers and strapping it may have been the case that he just got on with the job today, but then why would he be so self-conscious of the arm on the podium? It seems to me that such an inconsistency makes some suggestion of the possibility of a fabrication, in the least, making it appear much worse than it is. Will follow-up what he says today, but if it is him foxing than I think he'll follow the script and offer his 100% commitment to fighting in the race.
Nothing from Contador in the post-race press conference since he didn't show. Instead, speaking to reporters, he appears inconsistent:
"Bueno, I’m happy that I got through the day. I knew I was not feeling great and I suffered, even if things seem to be getting better. We raced for more than seven and a half hours and after four hours I was struggling with my hand. The only thing I want to do now is put some ice on my shoulder and recover from the long stage. Tomorrow the finish up to Campitello Matese will in theory be a difficult day for me, even if it should have been a good day for me. We’d hoped I’d be able to attack but now we’ll see how I feel, stay relaxed and go on the defensive. I hope to get better day after day."
"Bueno, I’m happy that I got through the day. I knew I was not feeling great and I suffered, even if things seem to be getting better. We raced for more than seven and a half hours and after four hours I was struggling with my hand. The only thing I want to do now is put some ice on my shoulder and recover from the long stage. Tomorrow the finish up to Campitello Matese will in theory be a difficult day for me, even if it should have been a good day for me. We’d hoped I’d be able to attack but now we’ll see how I feel, stay relaxed and go on the defensive. I hope to get better day after day."
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