Cycling: The report that Dean had not hoped for

Julian Dean has had a setback in his recovery from a broken arm in a crash in June's Giro d'Italia, making it touch and go whether he can reach top form for the world road championship.

Dean was told this week to delay starting training on the road for another one or two weeks because one of the five breaks in his elbow joint has not healed.

"The big break hasn't healed just yet. It's the one most at risk when I go back on the road because the vibration from the handlebars goes directly up through the arm bones.

"But the [specialist] said the healing has been very good. With the sort of injury and operation I had, they would expect me in a normal job to be out of work for six months."

The cast was removed days ago after six weeks. Dean has been riding a stationary trainer and doing gym work to try to retain leg power, and now adds physio for his injury.

"They're pretty full days and there's a lot more work than just getting up and going out on the bike."

The crash was a bitter blow as Dean was riding into the sort of form which could have seen him become his Credit Agricole team's designated sprinter in the Tour de France, which begins tomorrow.

It's his second successive season disrupted by a major crash. The Waihi cyclist broke both elbows last year, but recovered to race outstandingly in the Tour de France and finish 15th in the Olympic road race.

The setback leaves him little time if he's to be at peak for the world road race in Spain on September 24.

"It's going to be a bit touch and go. I had been hoping I would be back on the road this week. I'm going to be quite on the limit as to whether I will be able to make a full recovery in time for the world championships.

"I know certainly going into the Vuelta I'm not going to be on top of my game, but I'm hoping by the worlds I should be.

"Normally, if you have a crash and break a bone it's not too bad, but given how severe this accident and break and operation was, it's made the comeback process a long, drawn-out on,e and it could be I'm not really back until the end of the year or next season."

An operation in the off-season will be needed to remove some of the eight screws from his arm.

The only positive is that rehabilitation has meant he has been at home in Valencia, Spain, for the first weeks of the life of his and Carole's first child, son Tanner. Though that's been "awesome" his disappointment is clear and he says he won't watch much of the Tour.

It was in last year's Tour de France that he signalled his arrival as a top finisher, gaining respect and plaudits for his work leading out the team's sprinter, Norwegian Thor Hushvold.

His goal this year had been to earn the team's designated sprinter role, with Hushvold becoming the lead-out rider, a possibility as the Norwegian has lacked the edge of last season while Dean showed at the Giro he was coming into form.

"Last year was my first at the top of the world and ever since all I've thought about is riding the Tour again.

"It was nice to get the recognition last year, but it's not quite as fulfilling as being able to contest the finishes yourself, especially when I was doing such good leadouts, and you can't do that unless you are super strong and super fast.

"When I watched the videos after, I couldn't help but wonder what I would have been capable of had I been going [for the win] myself."

He has another season on his contract with his French team and, aged 30, should have a few more years as a top professional.

But there are uncertainties aplenty. Credit Agricole has 28 riders competing for nine team spots on the tour. You need to be healthy and on form.

"Cycling is my livelihood and my life for 10 years now, and when you get to my age and you are at the peak of your career and you lose another year at the Tour de France through injury, it's pretty devastating.

"I don't know how many times I'm going to have that opportunity again."

Dean is picking former team-mate Lance Armstrong to win his seventh straight Tour, so long as his luck and health hold.

"I haven't met anyone who trains as thoroughly and is dedicated and as competitive as he is. When you combine that with his physical prowess it makes a unique athlete."

THREE BEST RESULTS

* Tenth in world road race championship in 2003. "I rode the whole race on my own, and 10th is a pretty good result." The event was won by superstar sprinter Mario Cipolini around whom the Italian team were built. His team's sole task was to shepherd "Super Mario" to the head of the pack 200m from the finish. Dean, with no team-mates able to help, did remarkably well to finish three bike lengths back.

* Second behind former top Dutch sprinter Jeroen Blijevens in stage 21 of the 1999 Vuelta Espana (Tour of Spain), one of cycling's three "grand tours" along with the Tour de France and Giro d' Italia.

* Third, stage five of the 2002 Vuelta.