(PHOTO CREDIT) Gov. Bill Ritter heads off to work from a free breakfast at Civic Center Park for Bike to Work Day in this June 2007 Denver Post file photo. (THE DENVER POST | RJ SANGOSTI)

Gov. Bill Ritter will be held overnight and monitored at Denver Health Medical Center after suffering rib injuries in a bicycle accident early today, his spokesman said.

Ritter fractured five or six ribs in a bike crash early this morning, said spokesman Evan Dreyer.

“He is stable. He’s resting and doing OK,” Dreyer said at a 4 p.m. briefing to update the media on Ritter’s status.

“It’s a good thing he was wearing his helmet, because he did hit his head,” Dreyer said.

He said the governor “is still the governor,” but Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien has picked up some of his duties, including a Read Across America event this afternoon and a speech tomorrow about economic development.

Dreyer said Ritter is in good spirits.

His wife, Jeannie, was with him at the hospital this morning.

Ritter was in a group of five riders around 6 a.m. when he collided with one of the other cyclists near 23rd Avenue and High Street.

Dreyer said Ritter’s front tire made contact with the tire of a bicyclist in front of him.

The other cyclist received an injured wrist and was not taken to the hospital.

Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong heard about the governor’s accident and talked about it via Twitter:

“I hear my good friend and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter had a bike crash and broke some ribs. Gov, be careful!! Get well soon.”Ritter rides two or three mornings a week with friends and last summer completed the ‘Triple Bypass’ race that covers 120 miles and three mountain passes between Evergreen and Avon.

Read the full Denver Post article here.