Joe Breeden Withdraws from Maribor World Cup Due to Broken Collarbone

Aug 11, 2021
by Alicia Leggett  

Joe Breeden announced on Instagram today that he will miss the third DH World Cup in Maribor this weekend because of a broken collarbone he sustained at the British National DH Championships just over three weeks ago.

His post included x-ray photos showing a displaced break and a repair with a plate and six screws.



bigquotesSo gutted to pull out of the World Cup this week, especially Maribor - love that venue! It wasn’t an easy decision, but I think it is the right one looking at the bigger picture. 2.5 weeks post surgery and I’m feeling good, but still a lot of work to be done. Big thanks to the whole @ur_team for all the support—Joe Breeden

Joe seemed to be on a tear before he crashed. He seeded second in British Nationals and was just a tenth of a second back at the split, but pushed it too far, crashed, and couldn't finish the race. He went into surgery four days later on July 23.

Recovery seems to be going well, but he'll be missed this weekend on the race track at Maribor.

He appears to be healing quite well and is already back to training, so we expect to see a full recovery before too long.

We wish Joe all the best and hope to see him back on his bike soon.

Posted In:
Racing and Events Injuries Joe Breeden


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47 Comments

  • 23 1
 Having had two broken collar bones repaired with surgery, I know it feels damn near normal after only a short time. But the doctor was really clear that upper body stuff shouldn't be started for a while as it puts stress on the bone and can delay full healing.
  • 34 0
 Im literally one week out from surgery on a broken collarbone, and the fact that he is already lifting weights practically sitting on that bone seems like a very bad idea.
  • 3 0
 @AlexArtz1:
Front loaded squats seem like a better idea, but it's still supported through your shoulders I guess. Leg press? It's just riding bikes lad!
  • 6 1
 Same experience here....doc was a MTBer too I got the "you'll feel good but trust me....6-8 weeks without any stress"
  • 11 1
 I also don't get why the fuck he lifts weights while recovering
  • 1 0
 Can't
  • 1 1
 Can't see the end of the bars. My guess is someone is holding it. I have broken mine and there was zero chance of doing a squat.
  • 2 10
flag Bstat918 (Aug 11, 2021 at 15:49) (Below Threshold)
 I’ve broken both of mine and got them plated. Was on the bike at 4 weeks both times and they both healed properly. The mtb community is just soft and needs to take notes from Moto guys.
  • 2 0
 @Bstat918: I went to Whistler at week 4 after a surgery. Had a minor crash and landed on my shoulder. Didn't have any issues, but it freaked me the f*ck out and I stayed off it for a while longer.

So yeah, you can probably get away with it, but it's not a good idea for longevity. And if anything goes wrong, you're in deep shit.
  • 1 0
 @jayacheess: Well yeah not crashing is top priority, but other than that you can get away with riding on it early and it won’t mess it up. It’s all about riding smooth and smart after an injury.
  • 2 0
 @Bstat918: lol - the same guys that re-injure theirs constantly, remember Shane Watts?
  • 1 0
 @RadBartTaylor: no, help us out here. What happened to Watts?
  • 1 0
 @Bstat918: like shoulders that dislocated from tripping over a crack in the sidewalk.
  • 6 0
 6 weeks out from a distal break in my clavicle, 4 pieces and a couple broken ribs just for kicks. Doc put in a J-hook which will have to come out in another 6 weeks or so. The J-hook limits my range of motion so it really hurts to put my arm over my head. Been biking since 1985 with only 5 years off (when son was born) and this is my first clavicle break, no fun sleeping on only one side! Hope he gets well, and I do too!
  • 1 0
 The distal break is a tough one. I had the same in March with a grade 3 shoulder separation. It was 6 weeks minimum before I could even get my arm above my shoulder but now I'm back up to speed on the bike. No crashed yet though. The doc is also a biker and has warned me the distal break takes a while for the bone to heal due to low blood flow out at then end there, a hard crash could mean reinjury.
  • 1 0
 I displaced my right clavicle almost 12 weeks ago. Did a light ride last week and it's still iffy! Can barely string a few press-ups together. Still only sleeping on my left side. First bone I've actually damaged in all sport I've participated it and it's a real annoying one!
  • 5 0
 Pretty sure if his team had any sort of competent medical staff they'd tell him to hold off the weights. Problem is we saw Pidcock riding 6 days after surgery and now some athletes with a plate and screws are going to think they're good to go after just that long at least. The whole sport needs some sort of unified medical standard to follow like MLB or NBA. It's amateur hour in the world of MTB's.
  • 5 0
 Doing squats that soon after surgery ( the betadyne stains are still on his skin!) is a real good way to pop a screw or even bend that plate. No bueno......
  • 3 0
 Such a talented rider and it is truly difficult to make these kind of calls in an early career racing. It’s a hard sport, and it’s even harder on the body. Get strong for the next one Joe!
  • 2 0
 2.5 weeks post surgery .. that's around when my plate screws pulled out slightly. Wouldn't risk pushing it too far. It healed fine though, even if with a wee bump and the plate looking a little funky.
  • 3 0
 I've broken both my collars bones now and they've never repaired them with surgery. God damn!
  • 3 4
 It's the better option, by far.
  • 1 0
 @jayacheess: so says everybody who's gone under the knife but I've never even been given the option ...and my last break was savage! Oh well. 6 weeks later and I'm back to full speed
  • 3 0
 @Bkbroila: with big breaks like this, surgery is the most reasonable option....mine looked sim, I was technically given option, but highly suggested that I get surgery vs a shoulder with very limited range of motion and crooked the rest of my life. No way your are up and running after 6 weeks with a break like this....
  • 3 0
 @Bkbroila: I've had 3 breaks. The third one was without surgery, and it was like 12 weeks before I felt 100% again. 6 weeks certainly isn't bad.
  • 3 0
 After the experience of breaking mine, my mind is blown that it's so common to just let it heal by itself. I guess they aren't usually as crushed up as mine was (I learned the word "tenting" used in this context), but the thought of just letting the broken ends wiggle around in there makes me a little nauseous. Literally, I have to stop typing now.

Edit, after a few breaths: that coloring sure brings back memories.
  • 1 0
 After I did mine I was advised there was a 20% chance it would never heal. I figured that meant that even if it did heal, it wouldn't do so properly. The decision to have surgery was put entirely on me, but it was the easiest decision I've ever made. I ended up having more complications from the removal of the plate than its installation...
  • 2 1
 @Bkbroila: Lee from leelikesbikes didnt get surgery. Thought it was fine. Years later found his bone was in two pieces the entire time.

The comedian Hannah Gatsby had a single digit golf handicap until she was hit by a car and broke her clavicle. It never healed.

If you break your collar bone you have two options: 1. Pin it. 2. Pin it.
  • 1 0
 @RadBartTaylor: I seem to have had good luck with the recovery considering the circumstances... I slowly
and cautiously started riding moto and mtb after 6 weeks.
  • 1 0
 @mab411: Yeah, my last break was a gooder. Broke the clavicle in two spots mid shaft. The piece that broke now lies slightly diagonal to the bone and the skin has tenting on either side of the broken piece. All and all it was a bad break that should have been plated.
  • 1 0
 @iamamodel: Yeah, I pushed to have mine pinned to no avail. The ER doctor, my family doctor and the orthopedic surgeon all said it will heal fine... And I mean, they're kind of correct as I am back at it but there's definite "tenting." Not aesthetically nice to look at it that's for sure.
  • 2 1
 The drive that makes us athletes is also the drive that makes us go back to training way too early. It takes several episodes of making stupid decisions before we learn to listen to advice and/of your body. I'd say age 30.
  • 3 0
 Has anyone here not broken their collarbone yet?
  • 1 0
 Its a very common mountain biking injury, combine forward momentum and landing on your shoulder its usually the give point. Its also probably the preferred injury out of separated shoulder, rotator cuff, ac joint, etc.
  • 1 0
 @Ausatz: anyone that hasn't is avoiding falling for your jinx trap
  • 2 0
 Looks identical to how I broke mine. Snap!
  • 2 0
 Straight in to my fantasy team
  • 2 0
 I'm no bone carpenter, but it seems those screws are just a bit too long.
  • 1 0
 @JoeBreeden: you're at crossroads: play wise or play tough. Both have benefits and risks. Wish you the best
  • 2 0
 Bad break for Joe.
  • 1 0
 I loved the surgery! and a cool scar too
  • 1 0
 ouchie
  • 1 0
 Gwin is out too
  • 1 0
 Gwin and dakotah out too
  • 1 0
 What happen?
  • 1 0
 @Dogl0rd: did his back in
  • 1 0
 @Dogl0rd: Gwin has back problems and Daktoah tested positive for covid.





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