jda
28-07-2006, 02:16 PM
News from here http://www.2006rotoruamtb.com/english/feature.php
Fabien Barel will not be able to defend his World Elite Men Downhill title in NZ.
He sent out this message last night:
"Two weeks after I became Champion of France, I went to Finland to just have fun on the bike before concentrating 100% on the world championships in Rotorua,
Unfortunately I had a bit too much fun! One of these fantastic trails really tests your limits. Enjoying it and having this great feeling of flying over the obstacles made me make a small mistake. I clipped a rock with my foot and went over the handlebars - a small mistake with devastating consequences! I have broken the scaphoid in my right foot. It's a little bone but it supports the weight of the body and takes a while to heal. Effectively 2 months without putting weight on it then another month of rehabilitation. What this means is my season is over.
Obviously I am devastated especially after coming back from an injury to my arm. But everything arrives for a reason in life even if some time it is hard to understand.
I will beback on the bike as soon as possible. With a flame in my heart - and my head!
Why?
Just because I love it..."
The 2006 Worlds wishes Fabien a swift recovery. We will miss him in August. When he visited back in March to scope out the Worlds courses on Mount Ngongotaha at the Oceania Mountain Bike & Trials Championships he was a fantastic ambassador for France, mountain biking and his Kona-Les Get team.
He was fastest on the day back then riding what he described as almost the "perfect run".
Straight after winning his second rainblow jersey in a row at last year's World Championships in Livigno, Italy, Fabien told New Zealand Mountain Biker magazine he was "looking forward to defending my title and going for 3 in a row in Rotorua in 2006".
Sadly it is not to be...
Fabien Barel will not be able to defend his World Elite Men Downhill title in NZ.
He sent out this message last night:
"Two weeks after I became Champion of France, I went to Finland to just have fun on the bike before concentrating 100% on the world championships in Rotorua,
Unfortunately I had a bit too much fun! One of these fantastic trails really tests your limits. Enjoying it and having this great feeling of flying over the obstacles made me make a small mistake. I clipped a rock with my foot and went over the handlebars - a small mistake with devastating consequences! I have broken the scaphoid in my right foot. It's a little bone but it supports the weight of the body and takes a while to heal. Effectively 2 months without putting weight on it then another month of rehabilitation. What this means is my season is over.
Obviously I am devastated especially after coming back from an injury to my arm. But everything arrives for a reason in life even if some time it is hard to understand.
I will beback on the bike as soon as possible. With a flame in my heart - and my head!
Why?
Just because I love it..."
The 2006 Worlds wishes Fabien a swift recovery. We will miss him in August. When he visited back in March to scope out the Worlds courses on Mount Ngongotaha at the Oceania Mountain Bike & Trials Championships he was a fantastic ambassador for France, mountain biking and his Kona-Les Get team.
He was fastest on the day back then riding what he described as almost the "perfect run".
Straight after winning his second rainblow jersey in a row at last year's World Championships in Livigno, Italy, Fabien told New Zealand Mountain Biker magazine he was "looking forward to defending my title and going for 3 in a row in Rotorua in 2006".
Sadly it is not to be...