This week, now the season is well and truly underway, early season injuries are beginning to heal and riders are returning to the peloton just in time for the Grand Tours and their warm-up races. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

Former Tour de France podium finisher, Andreas Kl?den, is hoping that he can return to full fitness in time for July following his recent shoulder operation.   "Since last Thursday I have been able to ride on the road again," he said on www.andreas-kloden.com.

"The last few weeks were full of training on the roller and physical therapy. I still have some pain, but I can ride for three to four hours a day.?

He continued to add that he was still unsure about his return to racing.  ?Exactly when that will be depends on the further healing process, but right now I am optimistic that, at the latest, I will be able to present myself in good form at the Tour," he said.

Winner of this season?s Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, Simon Gerrans, will return to racing in the Tour de Lorraine in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>
France on May 18.  The AG2r rider fell, breaking his collar bone shortly after returning to
Europe in February.   Gerrans has undergone two operations, the first to heal the break and the second due to an infection in the wound.   He is currently in
Australia training.

Former Paris-Roubaix winner, Magnus B?ckstedt , has started his build-up to a return to the peloton.   Following a crash in the season opener, Trofeo Mallorca, Backstedt suffered a split in the tendon behind his left knee.   The tall Swede continued to battle on and rode Tirreno Adriatico and Milano-San Remo before succumbing to the injury.  

Having rested for six weeks, Maggie is back on his indoor trainer, building up to his return in the Dauphin? Lib?r? which starts on June 4.   He hopes to join his Liquigas team on the start line for the 2006 Tour de France.

Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu of the French Credit Agricole team is hoping to return to racing in May at the Tour de Picardie from May 12-14.  Kirsipuu suffered foot injuries following a crash in Tirreno-Adriatico.   The 36 year old sprinter is beginning to increase the intensity of his training to prepare him for a race schedule which besides the Tour de Picardie includes the Tour de Vend?e on May 25, the GP de Plumelec on May 27 and the Boucles de l'Aulne on May 28. His first ProTour race will be the Tour de Luxembourg May 31-June 4.

Another Credit Agricole rider, Saul Raisin, will be this week flown home to the
US to continue his recuperation following his recent crash which led to him being in a coma for several days.   Speaking on the riders? website, saulraisin.com, his parents said that, "Saul is strong enough to move home and we have started the ball rolling."

"Saul is improving every day. He is sitting, walking with help, eating, and whispering. All the people here in
France have