Alex's left handed blog

And I’m back in Australia! I went from being told that I would be racing in Europe until July to being back in Australia a few days later. As you all probably know, I broke my wrist in a crash in Olympia's Tour, which forced me out of the race and ended my European season.

A few days before we head up to Amsterdam for Olympia's Tour, Glenn O’Shea broke his hand and his season came to a halt once again. This was kind of a problem for the team, as we wouldn’t have enough riders to race the second half of the European season. Glenn’s misfortune sort of helped me out a bit and gave me the opportunity to stay for the rest of the season and take his place on the start line.

I was so excited about staying in Italy for an extra month and a half until 2 kilometres into the first road stage of Olympia's Tour. I went flying over the handlebars at 55km/hr and landed on my wrist bringing down another 30 guys including 4 teammates.  All I remember from the crash was a guy swerving in front of me and slamming his brakes on. Then watching my front wheel go straight into the guys rear skewer and lock up as I went flying over the bars.

Later that day after I sat in the hospital for 3 hours, I called my parents to tell them what they already knew from a Twitter update! At dinner all of us boys were sitting around waiting for Mal to get back to the hospital after finishing the stage with a fractured elbow. A true hard man. Heppy also came down in the crash and he said when he got up there were so many Bianchi’s on the ground he was like “Oh SH*T, which one is mine John (mechanic)??” Well, we all found it pretty funny at the time but yeh, you probably had to be there in the crash to find it funny.

The next day, Mal and I (pictured with our matching casts - me on the left) were on a flight back to Italy to pack the rest of our stuff up and get on a plane back to Oz. Arrividerci l’Italia!!! As we walked around together in Milan airport in our team gear and our matching blue casts, everyone seemed to find it soooooooo funny. Both of us wanted to slap the next person that came up to us and said in broken English “ooooh both broken! uno a sinistra ed uno a destra (one left and one right!)”

The flight back wasn’t the most comfortable or shortest flight I have ever been on but I was glad to be home in Sydney. Although I would have loved to have still been in Europe racing, it was good to see my friends and family for the first time in 2 months.

I have just finished my first week at home, off the bike! I am bored out of my miiiiiiiiiiind!!! I cannot wait till I get this stupid cast off and get back on the road. I have about 4 weeks now till I get the cast off so that means 4 weeks of ergoooo. THRILLED!

Anyways, I'm off to go get another check up on this wrist of mine, so I’ll speak to you all again soon.

Ciaaooo =]

(Note: Alex deserves extra credit for typing this one handed all by himself - it only took him 90 minutes!)