 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pssst! The latest insider news: Alessandro Petacchi about his injury and his return to the races
15/08/2024
Dear Team MILRAM fans,
it has been three months now since I broke my knee-cab in the Giro d’Italia. I passed a hard time, in which I gave my best to be able to get back on the bike as soon as possible and to be starting again for Team MILRAM. Now the time has come, I have finally returned to the races.
After my operation in Pisa, I first of all spent some time at home with my wife Ann Chiara to relax and recover. I started the rehab as soon as possible in order to be able to practice again. I was mostly accompanied by our team manager, Gianluigi Stanga, and Mario Spinelly, the doctor who operated on me. They also took care that I wouldn’t exaggerate my ambitions and overstrain my injured knee. The rehabilitation was pretty exhausting, but it worked out well, so that I could start practicing again two months after the accident. One reason for this is probably that I was highly motivated, despite of everything. We are a young team, and everybody has his share in the process of establishing the team in the world of cycling. So of course I wanted to return as soon as possible and win again for Team MILRAM.
What I missed most all the time was the flash of adrenalin in the sprints. And of course my team colleagues. We kept contact all the time, but it makes a huge difference if you just talk on the phone or go through a race together. So it surely hurt not to be able to participate in the Tour de France, which I had been really looking forward to and where I also had figured out chances for myself. But I watched the races on TV as often as possible and held my fingers crossed for my team colleagues. And I have to say, they all did a really good job.
Since 6th July, I have been practicing again, and it is getting better all the time. It was an incredible feeling to be sitting on the bike again after such a long time, I had really missed that. First, I even felt better on the bike than on foot. But it took me longer than I had initially thought to be getting into an acceptable condition again. I actually wanted to be back for the Deutschland-Tour already, but my knee didn’t. So I listened to my doctor, who told me not to force anything, that would have been bad for my knee. But it was worth the while, the injury has healed up and I can finally start my attacks again.
With my return I am satisfied. I wanted to start slowly in order not to overstrain myself, and this has worked out well. In the GP Castelfidardo on 9th August I have made 100 kilometers and therefore reached my first goal. In the race Rund um die Hainleite on 12th August, I have done 150 kilometers and felt that I am in a good condition and on the right way. The Radnacht von Unna, where I got on rank three, was my first feeling of success, just like the Sparkassen-Giro in Bochum on 13th August, which I could finish as well. My plans for the next weeks are the Regio-Tour from 16th to 20th August and the Vuelta a Espana. These races I regard as my big test runs. My knee is nearly free from pain, and I want to approach my former condition in these races. My big goal for this season is Paris-Tours. There I want to be able to tie up to my former achievments and try to go for the victory. And I am sure that in 2007 there will be Petacchi victories for Team MILRAM again.
Keep your fingers crossed so that I will still be able to accomplish a lot for Team MILRAM this season.
Alessandro
|
|
|
|
