Tour of Spain champion Chris Horner left hospital in jubilant mood on Wednesday following a training crash with a car last week. The American Lampre rider was taken to hospital last Friday after being involved in a crash while riding around Lake Como in northern Italy.
The 42-year-old, the oldest ever Grand Tour winner when claiming victory at the Vuelta last September, suffered a punctured lung and four broken ribs in the accident.
But he has now left the Lecco hospital and gone back to his home in Como.
“I’m happy I can come back home, it was a bad experience, but I also think I was lucky: the crash could have had worse consequences,” said Horner in a statement released by Lampre.
“I still feel pains when I move, I know I must be patient, I hope I can soon pedal on the rollers.”
Horner also suffered cuts to his head and bruises to his elbow in the accident.
With a best Tour de France finish of ninth in 2010, Horner finally delivered on his Grand Tour potential by winning last year’s Vuelta a Espana just before turning 42.
His other notable results included an overall victory at the Tour of the Basque Country in 2010 and the Tour of California in 2011.
He was also a reasonably successful rider in the Spring Classics with top 10 finishes at all three Ardennes Classics in 2010.