ProTeam Lars Craps returns to the peloton after knee troubles
February 21. That was the last time Lars Craps started a race. On February 22, he was unable to start stage six of the UAE Tour due to knee pain. The diagnosis: prepatellar friction syndrome, commonly referred to as “cyclist’s knee.” “Three weeks before the surgery, I couldn’t ride. Then I wasn’t allowed to bend it for another four weeks. All in all, I was basically unable to do anything for eight weeks. I was in the pool every day, but that was it. In terms of fitness and mobility, I’m coming from a very low point.”
But this weekend, it’s finally happening: racing again. Lars Craps will start both the Belgian Time Trial Championships in Brasschaat and the Belgian Road Championships in Binche. “The best possible scenario,” he says. “I could’ve trained for two more weeks, but since I’ll soon be going on altitude training camp, I would’ve had to wait another month to race again. I’d rather race now, even with a little less fitness, because I’m more eager than ever.”
“Nothing is mandatory, everything is allowed,” Craps says realistically. “I think I’m at about 85 percent right now, but I’m incredibly grateful to be racing again. Lotto is still a new team for me. I didn’t get to prove myself in my first season here. After Mallorca and UAE, it suddenly came to a halt. Missing the Ardennes classics—the races I train for every day—really hurt. Plus, I haven’t had the chance to bond with the other riders or the staff yet. I’m really looking forward to that now.”
After the Belgian Championships, Craps has an altitude training camp on his schedule. If all goes well after that—“I’m truly fully recovered”—he’ll be heading to the Tour de Wallonie, the Tour of Poland, and the Vuelta.
Picture: Brecht Steenhouwer
