3 months after Giro d'Italia crash, Alpecin rider returns home - "The hardest and toughest time I had to experience in my life"

Away from the headlines, the mass crash on stage 6 of the Giro d'Italia into Napoli has continued to make a big difference in the World Tour peloton. On that day many of the race's important riders went down on a slick and wet descent in a day that was predicted to end in a sprint, turning it into chaos. Alpecin-Deceuninck's Juri Hollmann was seriously injured from the fall and only now, three months later, did he manage to return home.

"Today, exactly 3 months after my crash at this year’s Giro d’Italia, I was finally able to leave the clinic and go back home," Hollmann announced in an Instagram post. "All that, after crashing in Italy, being transported to Herentals, then spending 5 weeks in the hospital in Antwerp and now the last 7 weeks in a stationary rehab clinic in Berlin".

The 25-year old was racing the Corsa Rosa in support of Kaden Groves - who won that stage - when he fell alongside a few other dozen riders. He fractured his arm and hip in the fall, and the latter is what caused the biggest problems. "It’s been definitely the hardest and toughest time I had to experience in my life, but the support of my family, friends and the team helped me to get through it".

"I faced so many challenges throughout, experienced so many emotions, fears and doubts, but I kept believing and giving everything, everyday to get back on my feet. So I am super happy and proud how far I already came and finally being able to go back home to my family today. It’s still gonna be a long and hard way, but I keep on working every single day and meanwhile try to be patient. Easier said then done, but time heals wounds…"

His season was over in the crash that took place in early May and with his contract ending this year with the Belgian team, it becomes a difficult situation. But the German rider hopes to return to the peloton in 2026, and above all is appreciative for the support he's had whilst having to overcome his injuries. "Again a big thank you to my Family, for being there, supporting me all the time, every day. To my friends and all the people who texted me, visited me and cheered me up. To the team, for flying me immediately to Belgium to provide me the best possible treatment and doctors and support me as good as they could throughout".

"And also to all the doctors, who did an excellent job fixing me back together and helping my to get back on track. What I learned out of this is how much health, family and friends is really worth. So stay healthy every one and have a good time with your loved ones".