Mikkel Bjerg sustains multiple fractures after Tour Down Under kangaroo incident
Mikkel Bjerg sustained fractures to his shoulder and hand, as confirmed by UAE Team Emirates-XRG to Danish publication DR Sporten.
The 27-year-old was a part of the crash which occurred with just under 100km to go on stage 5 of the Tour Down Under when a kangaroo entered the road.
Bjerg was one of a number of UAE Team Emirates-XRG riders to come down in that crash, including race leader Jay Vine. The Australian escaped relatively unharmed from the crash and he was able to remount and complete the stage to secure overall victory at the Tour Down Under.
Bjerg's race was ended by the crash, however, as he suffered a fractured acromioclavicular joint, which is the joint of your shoulderblade and collarbone, as well as a fractured hand.
In the team's update provided to DR Sporten, the Emirati squad stated 'Mikkel collided with a kangaroo that ran onto the road. He withdrew from the race and was examined by doctors. He has a fracture of the acromioclavicular joint and a fracture of the hand.’
Bjerg's early-season schedule has now been affected, and he is set to miss the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, while his participation at the UAE Tour, which begins on February 16, also appears unlikely.
The Dane will hope to recover in time to play a key part in Tadej Pogačar's Spring Classics team again. Bjerg has also able to achieve strong results of his own on cobbles, including fourth place on the 2024 Tour of Flanders.
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