8-9-07 // Online Exclusive: Barel Breaks His Foot

Only days after winning the Canadian Open DH at Crankworx in Whistler, pro downhill racer and two-time World Champion Fabien Barel fell and broke three of the metatarsal bones in his foot. Doctors say the injury will take eight weeks to heal, but unfortunately the World Championships are just five weeks away.

Barel has been racing for 12 years and not surprisingly is familiar with injuries. He broke his foot before in July of 2006, putting a sudden end to his season before that World Championships event. Similarly, Steve Peat also recently suffered a nasty foot injury when he dislocated his foot pre-riding the British National championship course in mid July.

Barel’s injury happened while enjoying a few days off riding the trails in Whistler. On his last day, just hours before leaving he ran into trouble on the trail. Barel was going full speed around a corner and was surprised to see two riders standing in the middle of the track. Barel’s only option was to go around them causing him to hit a rock, fall and break his foot.

Barel plans to try a three-week cast, recover for one-week of therapy and get back on the bike for the World Championships. He’s still 100 percent committed to race and going after his 3rd World Championship title.