Milan Vader: "I'm super happy to be able to 'walk away' after this crash"

Jumbo-Visma are having Milan Vader steadily improving since his crash at Itzulia Basque Country, as the 26-year old has shared on social media a message detailing his current progression.

The Dutchman has shared a lengthy message on Instagram, where he has shown his satisfaction with how his recovery process is going. Vader crashed during the fifth stage of the Itzulia Basque Country, having overcooked a corner and tumbled down a ravine. The accident left him with a broken vertebrae, collarbone and shoulder blade, and had him in critical condition for several hours before being stabilized.

“The last three weeks have been very uncertain for me and the people around me. This was the main reason we kept the news small, it allowed my family to focus on what really matters. The situation is improving every day now. I have now received the news, here in the Erasmus hospital in Rotterdam, that I can leave the hospital tomorrow [Saturday, the 30th] and work on my rehabilitation at home. I want to thank you all for your massive support. It really gave me strength to overcome this. I would also like to thank the race doctor of the Tour of the Basque Country, his quick actions saved my life," he added.

Vader was brought in on a three-year deal with Jumbo-Visma this season, after showing a lot of potential in his already successful mountain biking career. He was riding in support of Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard in the Basque race, and he detailed his insight onto crash that has put him on the spotlight for an unwanted reason: “I don't remember anything from the day I fell until I woke up two weeks after the fall. So I've only been awake since a good week. I actually had to learn everything from scratch. Being able to walk back was also an assignment. I'm super happy to be able to 'walk away' after this crash," he concluded.