Kevin McCambridge has been forced onto the sidelines for a period after his crash in Belgium on what was his debut ride with Trinity Racing. However, while racing is off the cards for now, he has already been able to resume some light training.
The 20-year-old suffered two broke wrists and a very nasty bang to the head, resulting in concussion. A wound on his face also required stitches.
The Irish U23 TT champion crashed hard and at speed during the TT stage 3 at Le Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux. He was one of the fastest out on the course at the time in the 14.2km test in Wodecq. While his team mate, and Australian U23 TT champion, Carter Turnbull crashed on the same corner, he was able to remount and continue.
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“I have no memory of it all,” McCambridge told stickybottle. “I remember getting up that morning and then the next memory I have is being in hospital after the crash. I went into a right hand bend on the skis during the TT but the road just keep turning and turning and I came off; hit a wall at about 30 miles per hour.
“My wrists and my head took the brunt of it. And when I saw the state of the bike after the crash I was thinking that I was lucky to only have the injuries that I do."
McCambridge said while it was frustrating to crash just as his season proper was beginning, he would now focus on his recovery and coming back strongly for the second half of the campaign.
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“The Tour de l’Avenir is a
race I want to target and I think I will be OK for that, I’ll have time to get
back and ready for that," he said of the French stage race which begins on
August 18th.
After returning home to Belfast following his crash in Belgium, McCambridge was hooked up with medical professionals specialising in concussion - the Irish Sports Institute assisting him in that regard, with Trinity Racing also very supportive, he said.
The broken bones in both wrists will heal in a matter of weeks and, as they have setting quite well already, U23 international rider McCambridge has been advised against having surgery.
In general, concussion is
much more unpredictable in terms of symptoms and how long they can persist.
However, the prognosis so far is hopeful for McCambridge, even if it will take
a while to return to racing.
“I was told I still need some recovery as I still had a head injury but I can continue (training) at very low intensity,” McCambridge said today, almost two weeks after his crash.
“I’m already feeling better. I’m doing a few 30 minute WattBike sessions, just keeping my legs going,” he said of having secured a WattBike on loan from Gym 2k to keep ticking over for now.
