USAC Cycling National ChampionshipThe 2012 men’s and women’s USA Cycling time trial champions were injured in separate accidents Friday and will be unable to defend their titles when the Volkswagen USA Cycling Professional Championships come to Chattanooga next weekend.
David Zabriskie, a five-time U.S. time trial champion, crashed during warm-ups in San Jose, Calif., before the time trial stage at the Amgen Tour of California. Zabriskie dropped out of that race and was diagnosed with a broken clavicle.
Zabriskie’s team manager at Team Garmin-Sharp, Jonathan Vaughters, told Cyclingnews.com that the rider would have surgery Tuesday and would not be able to compete in Saturday’s time trial at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga.
Also Friday in the women’s time trial at the Tour of California, 2012 U.S. women’s time trial champion Amber Neben crashed hard during a fast, twisty descent in gusting winds.
Neben told Cyclingnews.com that she has a broken hip and ribs as well as major contusions to her shoulder.