Stuart O'Grady - Man of Lego

[Martin318is]

Joking thread title asside, is anyone else worried about what later life is going to be like for Stuart?

Another set of breaks

O'grady has always been one of my favourite riders, not least because he is Australian and we are only about a year apart. He's respected as clearly one of the hardest men in the peloton but he HAS to be because he can't seem to fall over these days without breaking at least 3 bones.

He has had so many breaks to ribs etc that I am starting to think that he will be at a family BBQ one day about 30 years from now and his entire torso will collapse and he'll fold up in a heap! It worries me quite a bit how much guys like him are ruining their bodies during their careers.

Get well soon Stu! Looking forward to seeing you flying at TDU.

 

[Christian]

There is a pretty good feature about it on velonews.com:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6...timistic-despite-huge-crash-while-skiing.aspx

They even did a nice enumeration of his past misshaps:

O’Grady has suffered over twenty fractures during a long and successful pro career, coming back to full fitness each time. The incidents included a crash on a descent in the 2007 Tour de France, where he suffered eight fractured ribs, as well as fractures to his right shoulder blade, right collar bone and three vertebrae. He also punctured his right lung.

He then broke a collarbone and rib and suffered another punctured lung when he fell during the 2009 Milan-Sanremo. As a result of these accidents and subsequent recoveries, he is regarded as one of the toughest riders in the bunch. There’s little doubt that the latest crash is but a hiccup in his preparation.

He really seems to be without fear. Many riders (most recently Boonen for example) have trouble reintigrating in the peloton after a bad crash and to take the same risks as before, but what does O'Grady do - aim for Paris Roubaix

 

[Parrulo]

isn't il falco still the champion of broken bones? or was he just the champion of broken collar bones?

 

[Mambo95]

He'll be fine. National Hunt jockeys break bones as often as a priest breaks bread. And they seem OK in older age.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

No worries mate on Stu's future after cycling. One thing I like about him is his ability to calmly dissect a bunch sprint, especially one involving some controversial riding. Does he ever get mad, I mean frothing mad? Every time I've seen him mad he still comes across pretty calm. He should join the broadcast booth someday.

 

[NickBVK]

Why doesn't he wear his National Champion pipes

 

[Dewulf]

Hmm, yeah Stu is as tough as they come, but i wonder what the hell he was doing to break ribs on the slopes?? Funny since sportspeople insurance usually states no sport except training and competing...course this was a 'training' camp, lol. Skiing huh

 

[Archibald]

i think his biggest concern should be that blackout incident he had on the motoGP ride...
that may have some deeper consequences in later life rather than a few extra calcium deposits over fractures

 

[Angliru]

There is a pretty good feature about it on velonews.com:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6...timistic-despite-huge-crash-while-skiing.aspx

They even did a nice enumeration of his past misshaps:



He really seems to be without fear. Many riders (most recently Boonen for example) have trouble reintigrating in the peloton after a bad crash and to take the same risks as before, but what does O'Grady do - aim for Paris Roubaix

Strange that some riders can be classified as "hard men" partially due to their coming back from injuries sustained in numerous crashes while others are given the tag of having a lack of bike handling skills to explain their many crashes (Juan Mauricio Soler and Igor Anton). Then there is a certain rider that I will not name who recently had a flurry of crashes over a 2 year span which were attributed to distraction and his time away from the sport.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

isn't il falco still the champion of broken bones? or was he just the champion of broken collar bones?

savoldelli?? that guy never crashed

 

[valentius borealis]

savoldelli?? that guy never crashed

maybe when he was riding back down a climb after a MTF

 

[Parrulo]

savoldelli?? that guy never crashed

i think he broke his collar bone a bunch of times. but i can be wrong

 

[forty four]

endurance athletes and especially pro cyclists often have mineral depleted brittle bones from years of no weight bearing activity. this is particularly true with the upper body. im sure genetics play a role as well. but yes ogrady is a tough ******* didnt he ride the tour with a fractured vertabrae or was that mcewen maybe both of them tough mics.

 

[brianf7]

He'll be fine. National Hunt jockeys break bones as often as a priest breaks bread. And they seem OK in older age.

Any one know how many titanium screws he has in him now. are they lighter than the original bone mass..

What happens when he goes through an airport scanner???

 

[brianf7]

Why doesn't he wear his National Champion pipes

never noticed any one seen the green and gold on his kit he did win it a few years ago.

 

[NickBVK]

never noticed any one seen the green and gold on his kit he did win it a few years ago.

He had them on his Cofidis kit but never seen them at CSC/Saxo Bank.

Personally love seeing the Aussie pipes pop up when you see Robbie or Lloyd. A guy like Stuey who sits on the front all day when his man is challenging for the overall at the Tour is great exposure!

Hoping a more prominent Aussie wins next year to see the Jersey, no disrespect.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

endurance athletes and especially pro cyclists often have mineral depleted brittle bones from years of no weight bearing activity. this is particularly true with the upper body. im sure genetics play a role as well. but yes ogrady is a tough ******* didnt he ride the tour with a fractured vertabrae or was that mcewen maybe both of them tough mics.

Sastre rode this year's Tour with a herniated disc in his spine too, that's pretty hardcore. Then you have the great many who've raced to the end of the stage even though they broke themselves to a million pieces in the first few kilometres - latest examples including Kurt-Asle Arvesen and Robert Gesink in 2009, and Amets Txurruka - twice - in 2010.

 

[Christian]

Sastre rode this year's Tour with a herniated disc in his spine too, that's pretty hardcore. Then you have the great many who've raced to the end of the stage even though they broke themselves to a million pieces in the first few kilometres - latest examples including Kurt-Asle Arvesen and Robert Gesink in 2009, and Amets Txurruka - twice - in 2010.

Fränk Schleck finished 5th and won a stage in the Tour de France 2009 with a dodgy knee. There was also a story about Adam Hansen last year breaking something early on and still being ordered to the front of the train ... don't remember which race though

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Fränk Schleck finished 5th and won a stage in the Tour de France 2009 with a dodgy knee. There was also a story about Adam Hansen last year breaking something early on and still being ordered to the front of the train ... don't remember which race though

There is no situation that will get you out of sprint train duty at HTC. Broken your skull? Wearing the yellow jersey? Been in the break for 200km the day before? Stop being selfish and lead Cav out!

 

[Dewulf]

There is no situation that will get you out of sprint train duty at HTC. Broken your skull? Wearing the yellow jersey? Been in the break for 200km the day before? Stop being selfish and lead Cav out!

lol so true