HINCAPIE BREAKS ARM IN CALIFORNIA

George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) is expected to miss at least part of the Spring classics campaign after he broke his arm during Saturday?s sixth stage of the Tour of California to Santa Clarita.

According to a Discovery Channel team announcement, Hincapie went to hospital for an x-ray after completing the 105-mile stage and was diagnosed with a fracture of the radius bone in his left arm. He will not take part in Sunday?s final stage and his exact recovery time is unknown at this time.

The crash occurred after five kilometres of the stage when Tony Cruz touched wheels with Ivan Basso as they attempted to follow an early attack. Incredibly Hincapie worked hard throughout the stage to chase down the nine-rider move. His arm was swollen after the finish and he was clearly in pain as he talked to race doctors. Tony Cruz also crashed and suffered cuts and bruising but is expected to ride in Sunday?s final stage.

Hincapie is the current US national champion and won two stage of the 2006 Tour of California, and finished fourth overall. His 2006 classics season was also partly wrecked after he crashed out of Paris-Roubaix when his steerer column broke on a cobbled section of the race.