The Victorian could be sidelined for two months after suffering concussion, a broken cheekbone and an arm fracture in a Friday training crash. Docker was training at Bright, Victoria when he went off the road, apparently to avoid a car.
It is understood the incident was an accident. "Mitch has a minor fracture on his hand and his cheekbone, but neither require treatment," team doctor Peter Barnes said in a statement posted on the team's Facebook page. "He had a major concussion and for that reason he still needs to be under observation and further examination.
"I spoke to him this morning and he's already feeling significantly better."Robbie McEwen, a member of their team at the Santos Tour, posted a message of support on Twitter before the start of Saturday's fifth stage at Willunga. "Doing it today for Mitch Docker and wishing him a speedy recovery," McEwen said.
GreenEDGE has had an unlucky run of crashes over the last few weeks. A pe-Christmas accident during a training camp forced New Zealander Julian Dean out of their Tour lineup. Jack Bobridge crashed and hurt his hand earlier this month in the time trial at the Australian road championships, also making him a late scratching from the Tour.
Last Sunday, while riding to the start of the Down Under Classic race in Adelaide, Bobridge's replacement Luke Durbridge hit his head in a crash. Durbridge pulled out of the Classic, but was able to compete in the Tour.