"I’m still not 100%, but overall it’s a massive step in the right direction" - Jay Vine taking time in recovery as he gets back on the road after two months

After two months in a neck brace after being caught up in that horrific Itzulia Basque Country crash, Jay Vine is back on his bike in Andorra although he stresses, a return to racing is still a long way off.

"Time for an update. It’s been a long 8 weeks full of various scans, physio therapy, rehabilitation sessions, indoor trainer rides and (everything else in between) but my recovery has been coming along nicely," the UAE Team Emirates rider, who suffered a fractured vertebrae in the crash that also left the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel in hospital.

"The team have been been working hard to optimise and insure I make a full recovery, and I’m stoked to say the doctors gave me the approval to remove the neck brace a few days ago, and they even gave the a-okay to ride my bike outside! (granted yes, I’m only allowed to ride uphill, but it’s better than nothing!)," the 28-year-old Australian continues. "Luckily here in Andorra there are more than a few reasonably long climbs, so I’ll ride up then have Bre drive me back down the mountain, and repeat."

Despite these positive signs, Vine has no idea when or where he'll be able to get back in the peloton in a competitive capacity. "I’m still not 100% and I know it will take a while to get used to all the new sensations, but overall it’s a massive step in the right direction, and I’m starting to feel more like myself again," Vine explains. "No we don’t know when or what my races will be, first priority is getting some kind of base training done and make sure there’s no flare ups, and we’ll assess and go from there. Not to fear we are taking our time and making sure all the temps and pressures are in the green before we start the engine properly."