Daryl Impey happy with progress after crash, wants results in Veneto and upcoming races
Daryl Impey (Barloworld) at GP Carnago, his first race back since his crash. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
South Africa's Daryl Impey (Barloworld) is back from his horrific crash and ready for his first win since the Tour of Turkey. His quest begins today in northern Italy at the Giro del Veneto.
"My condition has really improved since my first race back in Carnago," Impey told Cyclingnews. "Veneto and the other races left over will allow me to get my teeth into the races and do something."
The 81st Giro del Veneto starts and ends in Padova, 199.6 kilometres. It covers the Castelnuovo climb three times prior to the smaller, Valico climb at 15.6 kilometres to race. Italy's Francesco Ginanni (Diquigiovanni) won the race last year.
Impey, 24, returned to racing earlier this month after recovering from a crash in the Tour of Turkey. He won one stages and the overall classification despite breaking two vertebrae in the crash, caused by Theo Bos, in the final kilometre of the last stage.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) suspended Dutchman Bos in July for one month, August 15 to September 14.
"The pains and aches have passed," said Impey. "I did what the doctor said and now my back and all the rest is 100 percent. When I go on training rides of five or six hours there are no problems."
Impey's first race back was Carnago, four months after his crash. He has also raced in one-day races Camaiore, Melinda and Bernocchi. After today's Giro del Veneto, he will race Romagna, Nürnberger Altstadt, Prato, Worlds, Cimurri, Beghelli and Piemonte.
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He will work for his teammates, but have his own opportunities depending on how the race develops. "It is difficult to say what can happen, in Italy's one-day races a break can go in the first five kilometres and then everyone behind will stop after 100 kilometres. Sometimes you're lucky and sometimes you are not."
The World Championships, September 27, is still in doubt for Impey. South Africa can send a six-man team, but it refuses to send riders over for only one day of racing. Europe-based riders John-Lee Augustyn and Impey may end up racing, but Robert Hunter said he will skip it.
