Kristin Armstrong recovering from knee surgery

Kristin Armstrong (USA) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

By Mark Zalewski

The American road and time trial champion was training in the off season when she noticed a pain in her knee, which quickly progressed to the point where she could not even ride her bike. "I started out having pain at the end of December and it got to the point where I couldn't pedal my bike," she told Cyclingnews. "They went in four places and cleaned out the thickened tissue. They were only going to go in three places, but decided to do four just to make sure."

Armstrong was present at her team camp the other week in New Mexico, but was only able to coast along on her bike for the team pictures. However, she recently started back to riding out on the road, two weeks ahead of schedule. "I took a big step this weekend. I was doing indoor rides, but I was able to do a two hour ride on the road [this weekend]. They didn't expect it until six weeks after, and it was four!"

The surgery means she will not be able to race in the first World Cup of the season, the Geelong Tour or the beginning of the US season in March; an unfortunate outcome with the way the calendar is organized. "The women's calendar is interesting. There are a lot of races in March and nothing in April. I won't be able to race in March so we'll have to see when I will first race... probably in May."

Nonetheless, the major goals of the season remain unchanged, and the delayed start could even benefit her with the World Championships so late in the season. "I am going to stick to the schedule, since it's a long season with the World Championships. I am going to focus on the time trial at worlds again. The team expects me to be back and ready to go for Montreal, Liberty Classic and Nature Valley. I should be hungry by then!"