For Xandres Vervloesem, the start of his pro cycling career has been challenging due to a series of crashes and injuries. The 21-year-old Lotto Soudal WorldTeam rider suffered a small tear in his vertebra and a hip injury, causing him to spend time off the bike and go through a long recovery process. However, Vervloesem is optimistic about his return to racing at the upcoming Vuelta a Castilla y León in Spain.
In an honest interview, Vervloesem opened up about his recovery journey, saying, “When I resumed training, I really had to wait and see how much pain I would experience each time. It often happened that my hip and groin got irritated when I trained for a long time.”
The young rider faced setbacks in his comeback attempts, with the pain and continuous recovery process making it difficult for him to compete. Vervloesem expressed his frustration, saying, “I don’t feel guilty towards myself, but I do towards my teammates. I would like to be of added value to the team again. Not being able to meet the expectations of the team gives me a gnawing feeling of guilt.”
Aside from dealing with physical injuries, Vervloesem also faced mental worries during his recovery. However, he prefers to handle them on his own, considering it as “part of the job” as a professional cyclist. He emphasized the importance of getting back up after falling, stating, “Falling down and getting up again is part of my job as a professional cyclist.”
Vervloesem’s recovery process was aided by a surgery to remove his wisdom teeth, enabling him to start training earlier than expected. He participated in training camps in the Vosges and Alps to prepare himself for the upcoming races in Spain, where he felt ready to race again. He expressed his excitement, stating, “I’ve found the good feeling again and I don’t have any more trouble with my injuries. That way, I’ve had a nice build-up and due to the signals my body gives me, I feel ready to race again!“
Despite the challenges he has faced, Vervloesem is determined to show his potential once more. He is eager to make a comeback and prove himself on the racing scene.
