Dutch climber forced to abandon Tour de France on Stage 13 after suffering a broken wrist
On Friday 11 September, Trek-Segafredo co-leader Bauke Mollema was involved in a crash and sustained a complex fracture to his left wrist. He was transported by helicopter to a nearby hospital in Clermont-Ferrand. Scans at the hospital confirmed that Mollema had fractured both the left-hand radius and ulnar, as well as the scaphoid. Firstly, the hospital medical team reduced the fracture of the radius which was causing pressure on the median nerve and resulting in a lot of pain for Mollema. He is now OK and pain free.
CT scans at the hospital confirmed the need of surgery for the wrist. Mollema underwent surgery the same night which went very well. Both the surgeon and Trek-Segafredo physician Gaetano Daniele were very happy with the results.
Mollema stayed in hospital overnight and will travel home today (12 September) to continue his recovery. The predicted recovery time is six weeks. Mollema is not expected to race again in 2020.
Mollema also sustained some minor injuries to the face, and required five stitches below the lip.
