Lance Armstrong fractured a vertebrae in his neck area when he collided with a car while training last week, as reported on BIKEmagic. It was discovered in an MRI taken at a private clinic in Monaco revealed yesterday.



While the injury is a setback in his preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games, Armstrong said he still intends to compete in Sydney.



Armstrong, the two-time defending Tour de France champion, fractured the transverse process of the C7 vertebrae in the head-on collision with the vehicle on a rural road outside of Nice, France, on August 29. X-rays taken directly following the accident and again on Saturday proved negative, but Armstrong still complained of pain around the neck area.



The fracture was revealed following several MRIs and a CT-Scan at the Centre d’Imagerie Medicale De Monaco by Dr. J-M Cucchi.



Armstrong added that he is able to train, “on a limited basis but that it is very painful.



“It also makes me nervous when you are out on the open road and it is difficult to turn my neck either way to look at traffic and be aware of what’s around,” said Armstrong.



Armstrong is scheduled to compete in two road cycling events in Sydney – the road race on September 27 and the individual time trial, in which he has been tabbed as one of the favorites, on September 30.



The injury will force Armstrong out of two races this weekend – Saturday’s Paris-Brussels and Sunday’s Grand Prix Fourmies. However, Armstrong said he intends to compete in the GP des Nations, a time trial event, on September 16 to gauge his fitness. Following that event, Armstrong said he will make his decision on whether or not he will participate in the Olympics.