An error of judgment in the measure and size of the Froome's bike, as the Briton has implied in several interviews? Is it still possible when attention to every detail is obsessive? Could there be a correlation between not feeling comfortable on the bike and breaking a femur?
Let's try to delve deeper into the topic with the help of Dr. Loris Perticarini, orthopedic and traumatologist in Brescia, who among others operated on Formolo and more recently Marco Frigo, in addition to having treated Colbrelli's knee. And then with the opinion of Alexander Mariano, a biomechanic who on more than one occasion has helped several pros get back in the saddle.
Dr. Perticarini, how much does a broken femur affect a pro's career?
La fracture of the femur it's a broad discussionThe leg starts right from the femur, but in the event of a breakage, various factors must be considered. Scars for example and muscle damage, aspects that lead to alterations in the expression of force on the pedalsThe femur heals, but everything around it may have suffered damage. The femur is articulated to the pelvis, and therefore to the spine: a truly broad and complex topic.
What does it mean?
The femur is not surrounded by vacuumWhen a femur fracture occurs, the surrounding tissues tear, become cut, and, when healed, leave scars. It's important to carefully assess whether the contusion has spread to the pelvis or spine, with varying degrees of alteration. For example, the spine may reduce its natural lordosis, resulting in impaired mobility. What happens to the femur inevitably has repercussions on the rest.
If you break a femur, is shortening of the lower limb expected?
Definitely not. We need to understand where the fracture is located and how it's formed. Clearly, the surgery, or fracture reduction, must be done properly. There must be no dismetries.
Can the fracture lead to problems with pedaling and changes in riding position?
Yup, biomechanical imbalances may occur, especially at the knee and hip level. The support points of the ischial tuberosities do not change once in the saddle, rather it affects the mobility of the spine.
Have you followed the Froome case?
I think that these guys, capable of delivering exceptional performances, they can feel the 2 millimeter difference by instinct, I'll just say this.
The old Pinarello
In an interview given to Cyclingnews, Froome had said that he had brought an old Pinarello from his Team Sky days to an expert and that having compared the position then with the current oneThe result was to find a difference in saddle height of a few centimetersAnd having transferred the measurements from back then to today's bike, he declared that he felt much more comfortable.
«Let's start from the assumption – he argues Alexander Mariano – which seems very strange to me that a rider of the caliber of Froome he does not notice a fitting that does not allow him to be efficient. It cannot be ruled out that a fitting has been set for him pain-relieving position on the bike and that this has not been updated in the periods following the injury. That said, talking about centimeters seems like an enormity to meI find it hard to accept such a consideration."
In Froome's case, is a biomechanical misjudgment possible?
The mistake can be there, but what I find unacceptable is such a big difference, moreover 3 centimeters of extension are visible to the naked eyeWe are talking about centimeters, considering that there are athletes who feel the millimeters of the seat pad.
What happens when you're too long on the bike?
There's always something to do three evaluations. If thethe handlebar stem is too long, if he frame is long, or if the saddle has inadequate forward/backward movementIn principle, a long bike, with the saddle in place, helps to relieve pressure on the back, but it is true that each case is different and deserves a specific evaluation. When you are too long on the bike, you can experience some discomfort. knee and hip joint problems, especially when the frame size is the wrong one. When you're too short, your back suffers the most.
Does an injury like the one suffered by Froome require a change in position on the bike?
Generally syes, sometimes it is a temporary fitting to then return to the position previously used. In other cases the change is radical and it continues for the rest of his career. In cases like Froome's, it's necessary to analyze what was involved, whether just the lower limb or other parts. But regardless, I struggle to imagine a high-level professional rider who doesn't notice such a significant difference.
