The bad luck has continued for Movistar in the Tour Down Under. After losing Giovanni Visconti in the opening People's Choice Classic, the team has lost sprinter Jose Joaquin Rojas who has been diagnosed with a broken scaphoid after crashing in yesterday's sprint.
The Movistar Team has been unable to find its best luck so far in the 2014 Tour Down Under. After Giovanni Visconti's crash in the criterium leading up to the UCI WorldTour's opening event, José Joaquín Rojas was unable to take the start on stage two this morning.
The Spaniard fell just before the last kilometer on Tuesday, yet was able to complete stage one with no problems; however, pain suffered overnight in his right wrist concealed the worst news possible: a scaphoid fracture sidelined him from a race he has always shone in during his eight participations. Rojas will fly back to Spain on Thursday to be operated in Murcia by the Dr. Francisco Esparza, the traumatologist who has taken care of him in previous injuries.
With one of their main references out of contention, the team focused their efforts on last year's runner-up Javi Moreno, who will have his first real shot at the GC on Thursday with the crucial Corkscrew Road ascent, just 7k from the finish in Campbelltown. The Jaén-based rider took 9th in the uphill sprint behind Italian Diego Ulissi, with no time loss against ochre jersey holder Simon Gerrans. He is now 21 seconds ahead of the Spaniard after taking 2nd today. Rubén Plaza (20th) stays in the fight, too.
Imanol Erviti yet again proved the bad luck for the the Blues when he crashed near the finish, fortunately with no consequences.
Rodney SANTIAGO 36 years | today |
Andre ROOS 22 years | today |
Jorge CASTEL 36 years | today |
Mattias RECK 54 years | today |
Petr VACHEK 37 years | today |
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