Rabobank's Stamsnijder breaks ankle

Tom Stamsnijder of Team Rabobank has gotten his preparations for the 2009 season off to a bad start. During a three-day training camp in the Eifel region of Germany, he broke a bone in his ankle while exercising.

Team doctor Dion van Bommel said on the team's website, rabosport.nl, that it was "an unfortunate situation. He stumbled and then it happened. A small bone in his right ankle was broken and he tore ligaments, too. After three days of rest he will have a plaster cast put on."

Stamsnijder, who rode for Team Gerolsteiner this year, will not be allowed back on the bike until after the holidays. Van Bommel said that the young Dutchman would probably still be able to ride his first scheduled race of the season, the Tour of Qatar, February 1-6. (SW)