Aussie Robbie McEwen ends season, rehabilitating injured leg ahead of 2010
Robbie McEwen (Katusha) may miss the Tour de France after a recent crash (Image credit: Tom De Meyer)
Australia's Robbie McEwen decided to put an end to his 2009 season and concentrate on a better 2010 season with Team Katusha. He is still recovering from a serious leg injury suffered at the Tour of Belgium.
"No more racing for me this year," he wrote on Twitter. He said that he is "concentrating on full rehab" and hopes to back at 100 percent for the Tour Down Under in January.
McEwen, 37, hit a street sign with his left knee in Tour of Belgium stage two May 28. The crash fractured his shinbone near the knee and sliced through ligaments. He had two screws removed from his knee last week, and he said he "feels free without the screws".
He hoped to defend his 2008 win in the Vattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg, Germany, August 16, but felt unprepared. He planned to return at the Eneco Tour at the end of August, but he continued to have knee pain.
In addition to the Tour Down Under, McEwen highlighted other 2010 goals. He wants to ride the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, and the World Championships in Geelong, Australia.
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