Steff Cras returns to the scene of horror crash at Itzulia Basque Country: "I can erase the negative things that happened there"
Cycling
Next week, the peloton heads to the Basque Country for one
of the most demanding and unpredictable stage races on the calendar: Itzulia
Basque Country. Last year’s edition was marked by a high-profile crash that
sent shockwaves through the sport, taking out three of the sport's biggest
stars, Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and Primoz Roglic, as well as
29-year-old Steff Cras of TotalEnergies.
Cras was among the worst affected. The Belgian suffered a
perforated lung, a broken rib, and eight fractured transverse processes in his
back, injuries that left him sidelined for months and cast doubt over his
future in the sport.
Now, a year later, Cras is preparing to return to the very
race that nearly ended his career. Speaking to Sporza, he revealed what
this comeback means to him.
“The intention is for me to return to this race so that I
can erase the negative things that happened there,” he said. “I'm going there
with a sense of revenge to get that good feeling back, especially for the
future when we go to the Basque Country again in the Tour of Spain. I want to
turn the tide next week for the rest of my career.”
Remarkably, Cras says he no longer feels the physical or
psychological impact of the crash. His return to racing has been steady, and
mentally, he remains resilient.
“It's not that I'm more afraid to take a descent on the bike
or to position myself. I'm very happy that this didn't drag on.”
At TotalEnergies, changes in team strategy have also
affected his approach. This year, the team has adopted a policy of announcing
rider selections at the last minute, a move Cras believes is intended to keep
riders alert and prepared.
“I think it's a new approach from the team to keep all the
riders sharp. For example, for Paris-Nice I only knew a week in advance that I
had to go there. That's annoying to be able to prepare myself properly.”
Looking ahead to next week’s race, Cras is under no
illusions about the challenge. The Basque Country offers a different course
every year, with punishing terrain and chaotic finales.
“Every year in the Basque Country we are presented with a
different course. The key to this race lies mainly in the final stage. Crazy
things usually happen there.”
He knows that decisive moments can come late and intends to
seize any opportunity that presents itself.
“It will be important to be really great on the last day and
to try something else. Often it is those days when you risk everything or
nothing that you can still climb a lot of places or possibly have a chance of
winning a stage.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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