Major setback for Unibet Rose Rockets as Rory Townsend out for extended period
Unibet Rose Rockets didn’t have much luck during the Opening Weekend. The French team with Dutch roots saw several riders crash, including Rory Townsend. The Irish champion crashed in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, and it didn’t come without consequences.
About an hour and a half into the race, Townsend went down during the Flemish classic and was unable to continue. "Over the handlebars and into recovery mode," he begins his post on Instagram. "Yesterday, my race in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne ended after about 60 kilometers. I flew over the handlebars and landed straight on my knee."
The medical verdict is tough for the Cyclassics Hamburg winner. "Unfortunately, scans at the hospital showed that I broke my shinbone. This is not the news I wanted to share, and it means I will be out for a while. It’s very frustrating, but the focus is now on recovery. I will come back stronger."
View this post on Instagram
"Thanks to everyone who helped me on the spot, and a special shoutout to my personal nurse Marcel Kittel, who even pulled off my shorts after the crash," Townsend says with a wink. "I'll be back."
Since this year, Townsend has been racing for Unibet Rose Rockets. He made his debut for the team at the end of January in the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana and was immediately important as a lead-out for his winning teammate Dylan Groenewegen.
