From the sidelines, Patrick Schnetzer (Austria) watched his replacement, alongside RV Dornbirnteammate Stefan Feuerstein, take second place.
Schnetzer must have thought “not again”, when he was seriously injured in a bike accident three weeks ago – for the second time this year. After successfully returning from injury as recently as May, the 28-year-old once again finds himself out of competition for a long period of time.
It was while taking a curve on gravel that Schnetzer, from RV Dornbirn in Austria, came off his mountain bike. The result: a double broken and displaced collarbone, requiring an operation, screws and a plate.
"It remains to be seen how long I have to take a break," says Schnetzer. According to initial estimates, however, it’s expected to be at least two months before he can start training again, according to his team.
Only in January of this year, goalkeeper Schnetzer had dislocated his shoulder during an invitation tournament in Germany with a hard crash onto the floor after one of his spectacular flying performances. For almost four months, he had to give up playing in cycle-ball competitions. In May, Schnetzer began a successful comeback alongside his team partner Feuerstein, confidently winning the first round of the Austrian league. At the beginning of June, the reigning overall UCI World Cup winners finished second in the opening round of the 2022 UCI World Cup, before claiming their second joint international title at the UEC European Championships in Hungary.
A race to return
The latest injury setback is particularly frustrating for Schnetzer, coming immediately before the start of the main season. The multiple UCI World Champion could only watch the UCI World Cup tournament last weekend in Dorlisheim near Strasbourg (France) from the sidelines. And whether he will be ready to play again as the defending champion in any of the three remaining qualifying rounds before the UCI World Cup Final at the end of November in Sulgen (Germany) is an open question.
But anyone who knows Schnetzer recognises that both his ambition and determination are strong. He has his sights firmly set on the big highlight of the year, the UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships from 4 to 6 November in Ghent (Belgium). And has a strong team around him to help him make a timely return to competition.
Curiously, Schnetzer's former long-term competitor Simon König plays a doubly important role. "With Simon we have found a perfect substitute," said Patrick Schnetzer. König, UCI World Cup winner in 2005 and eight-time Austrian champion, jumps in again as a substitute, as he did with Schnetzer's first injury. Years after he ended his career in 2018, the 37-year-old returned to win the Austrian Cup in the spring alongside Stefan Feuerstein – and it was followed by a strong second place at the last UCI World Cup tournament in Dorlisheim[MJU1] . Qualification for not only the UCI World Cup final, but also for the UCI World Championships as Team Austria, seems to be guaranteed.
While König is playing an important role, so too is the physiotherapist who is once again trying to make Schnetzer’s return to fitness as quick as possible. If this succeeds as well as with the first injury, then the duo of Schnetzer/Feuerstein could once again be expected as medal candidates at the UCI World Championships.
Remaining rounds of UCI Cycle Ball World Cup 2022
Round 3 - 10.9.2022 in Berlin (GER)
Round 4 – 24.9.2022 in Hardt (GER)
Round 5 – 15.10.2022 in St. Gallen (SUI)
Round 6 - 29.10.2022 in Beringen (BEL)
Final – 26.11.2022 Sulgen (GER)