The Dutchman crashed onerous on the Tour of Flanders and hasn’t raced since after being hit by a heavy concussion. Seven months on, he is nonetheless within the rehabilitation course of and continues to be ready to get again to 100%.
Chatting with CyclingFlitsthe Intermarché-Circus-Wanty rider mentioned that “issues are going OK” however famous that he nonetheless has good and unhealthy intervals.
“Issues are going OK contemplating the circumstances, however the circumstances aren’t excellent for the time being,” he mentioned. “My head continues to be bothering me. I am making progress however it’s usually three steps ahead after which two again.”
“Good intervals alternate with unhealthy. That is typically very irritating. You’d prefer to trip once more and be a part of the peloton once more. However that does not work out.”
Van der Hoorn was one in all a number of Intermarché riders to crash out of the Tour of Flanders on a nightmare race day for the workforce that additionally noticed chief Biniam Girmay undergo a concussion.
However whereas the Eritrean star recovered comparatively rapidly and bought again to racing by the summer season, Van der Hoorn’s battle again to well being has been an extended and difficult one. He instructed CyclingFlits that the uncertainty in regards to the future solely provides to the frustration.
“And it is also that you’ve a headache day by day. After all, that is not enjoyable,” he added. “It additionally brought on my concussion to hassle me in on a regular basis life – that I needed to keep at house rather a lot and could not truly do a lot.”
“There was no studying a ebook, no going out with associates, no watching TV, no being with folks as a result of it was too busy. Then there is not a lot left, after all. After which the times are very lengthy.”
“Happily, every little thing goes nicely once more. Every day life is sort of manageable. I used to be additionally in a position to do some work on aero testing and materials improvement. I used to be additionally in a position to meet up with associates extra usually, which helped me get via it.”
Van der Hoorn is a rider who loves getting in a breakaway and happening the assault, having taken the most important win of his profession on stage 3 of the 2021 Giro d’Italia with a late solo transfer.
He is nonetheless a way away from with the ability to replicate the exertions of racing, nevertheless, he mentioned.
“The very last thing that’s nonetheless not going very nicely is exertion. My docs are assured that this can heal fully once more. That is as a result of every little thing else has additionally totally recovered, the elements I used to be affected by. However when the little bit of exertion is healed, the docs have a tough time telling me.”
“It might nonetheless be a couple of weeks, however simply as simply a couple of months. The uncertainty just isn’t essentially the most enjoyable to have. This harm simply would not permit itself to be predicted. That is difficult as a result of – not like a fracture or one thing – there isn’t a finish date.”
Van der Hoorn, who beforehand suffered a concussion in late 2017 that took him out of the majority of the 2018 season, mentioned that he is working with a rehab psychologist as a part of his efforts to get well and get again to racing.
He mentioned that he is assured he’ll have the ability to rapidly get again to his racing degree as soon as he is in a position to practice usually once more.
“As soon as my head is sweet and if I can practice for an hour with extra depth, then complaint-free coaching can also be shut,” he mentioned. “Then once more, I really feel that by coaching onerous, I will likely be again to my highest degree inside two months. I’ve each confidence in that.”
“That additionally went very nicely in 2018 and that has given me plenty of peace of thoughts since then – that after such an extended interval of inactivity, you may nonetheless be there totally once more. Earlier than 2018, I had hassle taking relaxation, even after the season. That I’d then lose all my coaching funding. However I am not afraid of that now.”
