Sam Hill Injury update 2015

We saw in Lourdes that Sam Hill was nursing a shoulder injury and after speaking to Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal team manager Nigel Page it was clear Sam wasn’t going to be racing in order to heal up for Fort William. Mike Jones has been training with Sam in the off season and it showed with his first World Cup podium in 3rd spot after a great weekend on the bike in France. Also new signing Elliot Heap had a blinder taking 11th place in his first World Cup race.Here’s the update and press release from the CRC team

Press Release

We’re sorry to bring you the news that Team Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal rider Sam Hill’s recent shoulder injury has turned out to be worse than he first expected, and after flying straight home from the Lourdes World Cup and having an MRI scan back in Perth, Australia, he’s had to undergo surgery.

Everyone at Chain Reaction Cycles wish him all the best for a speedy recovery, and while he’s getting back to 100%, Mike, Joe and Elliott will continue as they started the season – motivated to take Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal to the top of the World Cup podium!

Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal Team Manager Nigel Page said:

“Sam is a tough cookie and doesn’t complain too much or show that he is in a lot of pain, but I figured it must have been pretty bad if he didn’t try and race in Lourdes. It turns out he has torn a ligament off the bone in his shoulder and torn another one so he is going to have to have surgery to repair his shoulder.”

“This has come as a huge disappointment to Sam, his family and everyone on the Chain Reaction Cycles PayPal team as Sam was super motivated after last season where towards the end of the year he was back to his winning ways with first places at two out of the last three World Cup rounds and close to winning the World Champs in Norway if he hadn’t crashed in the final rock section.”

“This past winter Sam had been training harder than ever and was in the best shape of his career ready to try and reach his goals this season, his fitness showed in the first EWS race in Rotorua where he placed ninth overall and won the final stage there.”

“So, Sam’s first goal to win the World Cup overall this season has come to an end before it even started, this sport can be very unfair sometimes, but he is having surgery today and will be working towards his second goal of the season which is the World Championships in Vallnord at the beginning of September.”

“I am personally going to miss having Sam at the races for the first part of the year as it is great having him around and he is so motivational for us all on the team and fun to hang out with. I know Sam feels like he has let himself and all of us down, but he hasn’t and we all know he will be back stronger and faster than ever as soon as possible. Get well soon bud.”

“While Sam is recovering the rest of the team will continue with the great early season success we have had with words of advice and encouragement from Sam back in Australia. Mike Jones is currently in third place in the World Cup standings and now established as one of the very fastest racers in the world and will be challenging for the overall world cup title which was
Sam’s goal and Joe Smith and Junior rider Elliott Heap will be trying to push up the rankings at the next races.

Sam said about his injury:

“The weekend before the first World Cup I was getting in a few DH runs at my local track just getting settled in on my new race bike. I washed the front end out on a loose corner and slammed my shoulder and arm into the ground.

“I was hoping to still race in France but was unable to and since returning home I have found out the damage is worse than I thought. I’m getting surgery and then will be doing all I can to be back 100% fit and healthy at the races again hopefully sooner than later.”