Movistar rider posted the photos on twitter after surgery following his crash at the Vuelta a España. Warning: graphic content
Mi pierna con una semana de diferencia 😱 La cosa pinta muy bien 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/XAEzSC79k9
— jose joaquin rojas (@jjrojillas) September 27, 2016
Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) has posted photos on twitter showing the scars left by surgery after his crash at the Vuelta a España.
The two photos, above, show his injury a week apart and it appears to be healing well.
The rider crashed into a roadside barrier on stage 20, from Benidorm to Alto de Aitana. As the below video shows, the crash happened at high speed on a descent.
Rojas barely had time to scrub off any speed as he slid out on the bend, before coming into contact with the upright of the barrier.
Crash from @jjrojillas. Unfortunately looks like his #LV2016 is over. pic.twitter.com/sR9Qo0RUX5
— CyclingHub (@CyclingHubTV) September 10, 2016
The impact split his leg open and exposed his shin bone, as shown by the photo he posted at the time.
Muchas gracias a tod@s por los mensajes de animo. Con la tibia rota pero volveremos con más fuerza 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/zgWY6CXUzx
— jose joaquin rojas (@jjrojillas) September 10, 2016
The present Spanish National Champion, Rojas was a key player in Nairo Quintana‘s overall win at this year’s Vuelta, until his untimely exit on the penultimate stage.
Contracted to stay with Movistar until at least the end of 2017, the 31-year-old will need this winter to recover from the horrendous injury before a return to racing next year.