Having crashed out of his debut Tour de France with a broken leg, Darwin Atapuma is continuing his recovery process. He has now returned to his native Colombia and hopes to be back at the BMC team's December training camp.

BMC Racing Team's Darwin Atapuma headed home to Colombia this week to continue his rehabilitation and recovery from a broken leg suffered in a crash at the Tour de France last month. Atapuma and teammate Tejay van Garderen were two of several riders who crashed near the end of Stage 7 on July 11. Atapuma broke his left femur, knocking him out of his first Tour de France.

After undergoing surgery in France, he recovered at his Italian home before traveling to Park City, Utah, in the United States to begin physical therapy and rehabilitation under the team's supervision.

"He did very well here," BMC Racing Team Chief Medical Officer Dr. Max Testa said. "He is still walking with crutches, but has started riding a bike indoors. Hopefully, in three weeks he can start riding outside. He is actually ahead of schedule, so we are very happy."

Atapuma said he was thankful for the support he has received from both the team and the many fans who have wished him well.

"I am happy because I am feeling better day-by-day," he said. "I am aiming to be ready for the team's December’s training camp in Spain and after that to have the screws in my leg taken out in Germany."