Boonen gutted to pull out of World Championships

Boonen in happier times earlier in the Vuelta ©Graham Watson

Sep 13th, 11. Tom Boonen will not participate in the upcoming UCI Road World Championships in Copenhagen after further tests led to his arm being put in a cast.

Today the former World Champion from Quick-Step underwent additional checkups on the injury caused by his crash in the Vuelta Espana.

In addition to the fracture already identified during last week's tests, doctors found a further fissure to his left hand's scaphoid which was impossible to detect up until now.

The Belgian will have to wear a cast for the next two weeks, after which his injury will be further evaluated. If the injury heals according to normal protocol, he will have to wear a cast for a further two weeks.

"I'm really upset," said Boonen. "I really wanted to participate in this World title. The route was perfect for me and the preparation programme I was working on would have taken me to the championship event in top form.

"Unfortunately, rather than diminishing, the pain in my hand is increasing day by day and I simply cannot race in this condition.

"I relinquish my place on the squad to an athlete who can be of use to our national team. I wish the Belgian team a championship rich in success in Copenhagen.

"As for me, I need to recover the function in my left hand 100% and then lay out a program for the 2012 season with my team, hoping to have a luckier season than the one I'm having now."