"I strongly expect that I will be chasing stages in Grand Tours" - Lennard Kämna optimistic ahead of imminent return after 10 months out following training horror crash

A stage winner at all three of the sports Grand Tours, Lennard Kämna has consistently proven himself as one of the peloton's leading stage hunters over the course of his career. In early 2024 though, the German's career came to a potentially career-threatening halt when he was hit by a car in training.

Kämna was preparing for the 2024 Giro d'Italia up at altitude where several team riders and staff were present. A car turned in the direction of the then-BORA - hansgrohe rider, who could not avoid an accident that could have had potentially even worse consequences. Now though, 10 months on from the incident, the German is finally nearing a return to the professional peloton. Kämna, who signed for Lidl-Trek during the off-season, doesn't have too long to wait for his return to racing either, with a start at the upcoming Volta a Catalunya (March 24-30) pencilled in. 

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"That's still a good two months away. All in all, I'm approaching my comeback at a good pace. I'm very happy about that. I'm doing very well. I'm on the right track and have a very good feeling at the moment," Kämna previews in conversation with 'SID'. "I'm slowly getting closer to the professional level again and I'm very happy with that. I had a lot of time to spare, but I've now made up a good part of that."

Despite all the difficulty and struggles of the last year though, the German never truly believed his professional career could be over. "The idea of ​​quitting never really occurred to me, but it was definitely looked at very closely. You have to be fair enough to allow it," explains the 28-year-old. "It took me a bit of time, both physically and mentally, to tell myself that I really wanted to return to professional cycling one hundred percent - with all its ups, downs and risks."

"I think that I generally have a good feeling for racing and I don't think that's completely gone. In training, I have the feeling that I can get back to my old level. I'm going into the season optimistically and with a really good gut feeling," continues Kämna, who has a Tour de France return in his mind. "One goal is definitely the Tour de France. Of course, I have to be in the right shape. A lot of things have to go right for me to have a chance... I strongly expect that I will be chasing stages in Grand Tours or aiming for a good result in the overall classification in one-week tours. It remains to be seen how the return to racing will be."

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