"I missed it so much" - Michael Valgren opens up about emotional return to cycling after serious injuries

It's been 10 months since Michael Valgren was sidelined from competition, and today he makes a return at the Région Pays de Loire Tour. It has been a very long journey but the Dane admits good feelings ahead of racing, mostly psychologically.

“The numbers are good again. Of course training and races are actually something else, so my wattages don't mean I'm good in competition. Nevertheless, we came up with an excellent plan and executed it to perfection," Valgren said in a press release. "I no longer have pain when I ride and I no longer see a physiotherapist because that has become superfluous. I go to the gym to get stronger, but now I mainly focus on cycling."

Valgren crashed on the fourth stage of last year's Route d'Occitanie and suffered extensive injuries, as he displaced a hip and fractured his pelvis. Months after fears emerged that he may had been suffering from necrosis but in the meanwhile the medical staff were able to improve the situation. Valgren now races for the EF Education-EasyPost's development team, but as per UCI rules he can race with the Elite team in non-World Tour events, as is the case at the Région Pays de Loire Tour.

“I am simply looking forward to being back in the peloton. It will be fun this week and there is no pressure. I'm just going to start the race and get used to the speed again," he says. "It's also really cool to see my teammates again. I hope to be able to help them to another victory."

Continuing his pro career is at the time being a big achievement for the 31-year old, past winner of races such as the Amstel Gold Race and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. After many months of rehabilitation he finds himself in competitive form once again and will be helping the team to search stage wins and the overall classification with the likes of Marijn van den Berg, James Shaw and Ben HEALY.

“I just want to stop being a passenger and see where I stand. I have told sports director Matti Breschel not to treat me differently now that it is my first race. After all, it shouldn't feel like a four-day holiday in western France. This sport is great. Sometimes you suddenly realize that and that's one of the good things about my injury. I missed it so much. I can count myself lucky that I can perform a great sport and get paid for it. Such a reminder is always nice and it's only about the little things," he concluded.