UCI Track Cycling World Championships: Steven Burke admits he is not 100 per cent fit after collarbone fracture
By Matt Westby
Last Updated: 18/02/15 1:34pm
Steven Burke has admitted he will not be 100 per cent fit at next week's UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Paris as he continues to recover from a broken collarbone.
The 26-year-old pursuiter sustained the injury in a crash during a training ride in Mallorca five weeks ago and had to undergo surgery.
He made it into Britain's squad for the World Championships after following a tailored recovery programme that included a bespoke diet and extra focus on standing starts, but he concedes he will still not be at his best.
"The recovery went as well as it could have done," said Burke, who won team pursuit gold at the London Olympic Games. "The surgery went great. The bone is now dead straight. I got that done a couple of days after the accident and recovered quite well from it.
'Best of a bad situation'
"I am never going to be 100 per cent at the World Championships, because I lost out on a bit of endurance work, but we have made the best of a bad situation. It was a bit unfortunate but we have got to press on and move on from it and do the best you can."
Britain’s men's team pursuit squad have a score to settle in Paris, having qualified only eighth fastest last year and subsequently missed out on the medal finals.
Burke was not selected 12 months ago but is once again a central part of the British quartet and Shane Sutton, British Cycling’s technical director, admitted his selection was never in doubt.
"The decision to include him was taken five seconds after he hit the deck," he said. "Even if Steven wasn't going to be 100 per cent fit, he was going to be included in this team.
'Hunger is back'
"He has had a couple of lean years since London and didn't make the team last year, but at the time of the crash, I would say his numbers were better than most within the squad. That's indicative of the fact his desire is back and his hunger is back, and we couldn’t not take him to Paris, whether he rides or not.
"We wanted to show our faith in him and show reward for hard work he has put in."
Should Britain qualify for the medal finals, they would have to race three times in two days, but Sutton said it was likely Burke would only figure once.
He added: "I definitely see there is a round in him, but I’m not sure what round it will be."
The World Championships takes place from Wednesday, February 18, to Sunday, February 22. Men's team pursuit qualifying takes place on Wednesday, with the medal finals following on Thursday.
