It has not been an easy couple of weeks for two of the Southeast’s most prominent riders – BMC’s George Hincapie and John Murphy.

Athens, Georgia resident John Murphy crashed in the second stage of the Tour du Poitou-Charentes and according to the team’s press release he separated his shoulder in the accident. Upon further examination the ligament in his left shoulder is torn.

Murphy posted on his Twitter account yesterday, “Off to see Dr. Testa to get fixed up.”

This injury is expected to keep him off the bike for three weeks compromising his lead up for the upcoming US Pro road race championships. Here’s to hoping for the best.

Then to compound team BMC’s bad run of injuries, George Hincapie crashed in stage 3 of the Larry H Miller Tour of Utah cutting open his knee. The reining national road race champion was using the Tour of Utah and the following UCI races in Canada as build up for Greenville’s US Pro road race championships this September 19th. Instead he received 18 stitches in the knee and was told to take ten off the bike to recover.

However last Thursday Hincapie got back on his BMC for the first time for a short spin. This Monday or Tuesday the stitches will be removed and doctors will examine him Wednesday.

“The pain is gone, it’s just very sore,” said Hincapie. “I just need for the wound and soreness to go away before I can properly train and make a decision as to whether I can do the next races or not.”

Today Hincapie is in Canada with Lance Armstrong and many of cycling’s luminaries participating in a fundraiser event for the Grand River Hospital.