Barry breaks rib in Eneco Tour crash

Team Sky Pro Cycling rider Michael Barry, of Toronto, was forced to pull out of the Eneco Tour before Stage 2 Thursday because of a broken rib. He crashed during Wednesday’s first stage 33 km from the finish in Rhenen. He got back on his bike and finished the stage one minute and 12 seconds behind winner Robbie McEwen, but went to hospital straight afterwards for X-rays on the injury. They confirmed a broken rib and, ahead of Thursday’s stage from St. Willebrord to Ardooie, Barry said “I was disappointed that I was unable to start this morning but the pain and injury are too severe to keep going.
“My fitness is quite good at the moment and I was very keen to race but as I also fractured a rib during the Tour de France it makes more sense to let my body heal properly rather than push through the pain and risk further injury,” he said on Team Sky’s website.

 Barry will now focus on being ready for the ProTour races in Quebec and Montreal on September 10 and 12 respectively where he’ll be riding in front of his home fans.

 “I will need a few weeks to recover fully and hopefully I will be able to maintain some fitness for the ProTour races in Canada,” he said.