Pro Cyclists’ Secret Training Routines After a Broken Collarbone

You know what’s beautiful? Watching pros take a hard hit, break something, then get back on the bike, maybe even win something, like nothing ever happened.

It’s almost like they have an invisible force field, except it’s all grit and insane determination.

So, you’ve broken your collarbone, huh? You’ve joined the ranks of the wounded, the ones who know exactly what it’s like to lie in a hospital bed, imagining your next ride.

But, here’s the thing: while you’re Googling “how to heal quickly,” pros like Pidcock are already getting back in the saddle.

It’s crazy. But it’s not magic—it’s a method. And here’s how they do it.

1. The First Few Days: Rest, Ice, and Maybe a Little Hope

Look, if you’re pro or not, the first few days are the same. You’ve got a collarbone shaped like a slingshot now.

It doesn’t matter if you’re hitting the Tour de France or the local grocery store—you need to rest.

Forget the bike. There’s no shame in sitting on the couch with a bag of frozen peas on your shoulder, praying for divine intervention or that your bones magically reconnect.

For pros, this is critical. Rest doesn’t mean binge-watching Netflix for days. It means giving your body a chance to start the healing process, letting the bone do its thing while you chill.

2. Getting Back on the Trainer: Slowly, But Surely

The pros don’t waste time. Sure, they’re not out there doing sprints or hammering out 100-mile rides, but the bike trainer is their best friend.

Now, this is where it gets tricky. The collarbone might be broken, but that doesn’t mean the legs forget how to turn the pedals.

It’s a delicate balance. Too hard, and you risk not healing. Too soft, and you lose what little fitness you have.

So, they start light. Very light. Think 10-15 minute sessions, just spinning those legs and trying not to scream at the pain of your shoulder being jostled.

The pros know this is just to slow the loss of fitness. It’s not about winning a stage, it’s about holding on to what they had before that damn crash.

3. The Pain Management Tango: No Painkillers, Just Determination

Pain management is one of those areas that separate the amateurs from the pros.

You know you’ll feel it. And the temptation to numb the pain with something stronger than ibuprofen is always there.

But a real pro doesn’t pop pills before a ride. They understand that pain is part of the recovery game. Pain tells you what’s happening inside, so they work with it—not against it.

Some pros have an unholy tolerance for discomfort. They know it’s temporary, they know the body is an ugly mess of brokenness sometimes, and they know that if they take it slow, they’ll get back to riding hard.

4. The Trainer Might Be Indoors, But the Mind Has to Be Outdoors

You think pros are just staring at their power meters, counting every second of a stationary ride? Hell no.

They’re daydreaming. They’re visualizing that day when they can ride again, feeling the wind in their face, hearing the sound of tires rolling on the road.

The mind is as important as the body. If the mind’s not in it, you might as well be throwing in the towel.

So, you find new ways to trick your brain into staying sharp. Zwift sessions, virtual races, indoor intervals—whatever keeps you mentally invested. After all, it’s not just the body that needs to heal, it’s that competitive drive too.

5. Working Around the Injury: Single Arm Lifting and Low Impact Exercises

When you’re working around a broken collarbone, you get creative. You start using the other arm. It’s like playing a broken symphony, except you only get to play one instrument.

Pro cyclists, as strange as it sounds, often engage in single-arm lifting.

They work their good arm with weights, ensuring the rest of the body doesn’t atrophy. A little dumbbell press, a few bicep curls, and boom, your body doesn’t forget its strength—even if one arm is in a sling. It’s about adaptation.

You also see them doing low-impact exercises: cycling with a reclined position, swimming with a pull buoy (so no arms are involved), or just going for long walks to keep their cardio in check.

The key is never pushing too hard too soon. Stay in the game, even if you can’t play the game the way you used to.

6. The Mental Fortitude: No, You Won’t Be Pidcock Immediately

So, you break your collarbone, and you want to be back in the race in two weeks? Good luck with that.

Not even Tom Pidcock could pull that off in his early years (although he’s got some sort of superpower, doesn’t he?).

You have to be patient. For the pros, the recovery is not about rushing to get back. It’s about letting the body heal in phases.

Sure, they might do an early test by riding indoors or going on the trainer, but they’re constantly listening to their bodies. A real pro knows that rushing could set you back further than you want to go.

They’ll trust the process, which, by the way, is often a long one.

7. 2-4 Weeks Later: Slowly, But Oh So Steady

At this point, you’re still not sprinting up hills, but the pro cyclists are out there, getting back into the rhythm. They’ve built a routine around their recovery, slowly increasing intensity as they feel more confident. They’ve got their personal doctors, physiotherapists, and support systems to keep them on track.

And let’s be honest: it’s all about tapering in. Maybe they’ll begin some light intervals, test their lactate threshold, or just go for long, low-effort rides to get back the feel of the road. Their goal? Not to win, but to survive the recovery process.

Summary Table: Pro Cyclists’ Recovery Routine After a Broken Collarbone

Stage	Focus	Key Activities
Days 1-3	Rest and Initial Healing	Ice, rest, minimal movement
Week 1	Low-intensity indoor training	Short trainer sessions, focus on legs, core stability
Week 2-3	Mental preparation and light exercise	Single-arm lifting, light cardio, bike trainer rides
Week 4+	Strength and form rebuilding	Moderate trainer intervals, low-impact cross-training
Week 5+	Return to full intensity (gradual)	Longer rides, moderate sprints, and outdoor rides

Conclusion:

The pros have it down. It’s not some heroic, headstrong rush to get back in the game. It’s about resilience, patience, and strategy.

They aren’t miracle workers—they just know their bodies, their limits, and how to get back to full power without destroying what they’ve built.

So, you’re broken? Fine. Maybe you’ll never be the same, but who wants to be normal anyway? Just keep pedaling. And if you can’t, well, sit back, drink some whiskey, and wait. The bike will still be there when you’re ready.