Slipstream-Chipotle’s Magnus Bäckstedt has gotten back on his indoor trainer after suffering a broken collarbone at the Tour of Qatar. Meanwhile, BMC rider Steve Bovay had surgery Wednesday to repair damage from the same injury at the same race.

Bäckstedt crashed on stage 5 of the Tour of Qatar, and flew home to the United Kingdom for surgery immediately thereafter. After having his collarbone bolted back together, Bäckstedt got back on the trainer Monday.

Bäckstedt: With visions of cobbles dancing in his head

Photo: Megan Bäckstedt

"It’s a setback, but only that,” he said. “Not a disaster. When your life is spent at the head of the race coming into sprints like the one in Qatar, these things happen. You can’t race scared, if you have fear, then you may as well pack up and go home.”

"As far as my collarbone is concerned, I am comfortable enough to be able to start on the turbo and believe me, I'll be fit for Roubaix” he said.

Over in Switzerland, Bovay reported that his February 6 surgery went well. He broke his collarbone at Qatar’s stage 3. Although he said he expected to get on the trainer next week, it would be at least two weeks before he could get out on the road again.

Bovay’s racing season is expected to resume at the March 29 Criterium International.

Bovay has surgery

Photo: BMC

“Then I will go back to America to do Redlands and then hopefully be ready to perform at the Tour of Romandie,” Bovay said on the BMC Web site. “Romandie is my main goal for the first part of the season. It is basically my home race, and the terrain really suits me, so I am definitely focusing on it.”