Multiple broken bones for Pfannberger

By Susan Westemeyer

Team Elk Haus' Christian Pfannberger was in a 10-man breakaway group in Tuesday's Rund um den Henninger Turm when his gears blocked up and caused him to crash out of the race. The diagnosis: a complicated break of the right collarbone and splintered bones in his right hand.

The rider for the Austrian Professional Continental team will have surgery Friday to repair the damage. "The broken collarbone will have to be fixed with screws and plates, so that it will heal faster and better," he said, adding, "I hope to be fit again for my season highlight, the Österreich Rundfahrt." But if not, then he's not too worried. "There are other good races on the calendar later in the season."

"I'm very sorry that I crashed because of a technical defect, because I was in a good position and thought I had a chance to win. That almost hurts more than the broken bones," he concluded.