11/11/2023

"The doctors can hardly tell me when the bit of effort has healed. It could be a few more weeks, but it could also be a few months" - The path to recovery is very difficult for Taco van der Hoorn

Taco van der Hoorn has suffered similar injury in the past however that makes it only a little less difficult to handle the consequences of his last crash. The Intermarché-Circus-Wanty rider finished his season in early April and is still yet to recover fully from a concussion.

"But also that you have a headache every day. Of course that's not fun. It also caused my concussion to bother me in everyday life. That I had to stay at home a lot and couldn't actually do much," van der Hoorn shared in an extensive interview with Wielerflits. "No reading a book, no going out with friends, no watching TV, no being with people because it was too busy. Then there isn't much left, of course."

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Van der Hoorn crashed during the Tour of Flanders where he hoped to perform. Having ridden to fourth place at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne back in February the 29-year old was definitely a card to play in the spring. Things didn't turn out the best way for him. In Flanders he sustained the injury that ended his season right there, and he hasn't yet been able to resume training properly as he he is bothered by headaches and the lack of his abilities.

"My doctors are confident that this will heal completely. That's because everything else has also completely recovered, the factors that were bothering me," he adds. "But the doctors can hardly tell me when the bit of effort has healed. It could be a few more weeks, but it could also be a few months. That's what makes it… That uncertainty is not the best fun to have. This injury just cannot be predicted."

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Holding a contract until the end of 2024 for the time being with the Belgian team, van der Hoorn continues to have time to recover however it is not unlimited. "Ultimately, I have faith that things will turn out well. I hope to be able to join the training camps again this winter."

"It would be great to be able to rebuild with the boys, I really miss that fun of going out together for a six-hour ride through the mountains. And then I hope to really call myself a rider again sometime in the coming months.”