Salt Lake City, Utah – U.S national road champion Greg Daniel successfully underwent surgery Thursday morning to repair his broken right collarbone.
The Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team rider crashed Wednesday as Stage 3 reached the lower slopes of Mt. Nebo, about 55 kilometers from the finish line. Daniel had been sitting 31st overall and among a group of nearly 70 riders who were 2:23 off the lead.
Thursday's two-hour surgery at the University of Utah Health Science Center in Salt Lake City went smoothly, Daniel said.
"I am feeling great," the 21-year-old resident of Denver said. "My collarbone definitely feels better now. Last night, I could feel the bones moving a little bit. Now it feels very stable."
When Daniel broke his left collarbone five years ago, he said he was back on his bike on a stationary trainer two days after surgery. This time, he said, he hopes to enjoy an equally smooth recovery.
"The doctor said I will probably be in a sling for three weeks," Daniel said. "I am thinking that I will take tomorrow off and then ride the trainer with the sling on and kind of ease into it. My big goal right now is that I would love to do the Tour of Alberta. It would be a dream come true if I can come back and do that race as a farewell to this team for all it has done for me."
(Header photo of Greg Daniel (second from left) posing with emergency room physician Dr. Edward Swanson Wednesday night, along with two members of the race's medical staff.) (By Davey Wilson.)
