“The past couple of months I alternated between hope and doubts” - Taco van der Hoorn still recovering from concussion ten months after Ronde van Vlaanderen crash

After crashing hard at the Ronde van Vlaanderen last year, Taco van der Hoorn is still recovering from a severe concussion over ten months later, with the Dutchman still unable to fully return to proper training.

The Intermarché-Wanty rider is undergoing a long period of rehabilitation and has faced multiple setbacks due to the severity of the concussion, meaning that he will not be able to return to racing for some time.

Van der Hoorn was able to briefly join his teammates at a January training camp in Alicante, where he was able to train alone, participate in feedback sessions and was part of the team presentation.

In an interview with the team, Van der Hoorn said “I was very happy to join the team for the first time since my crash, to be united with staff and riders all together in their preparation towards season 2024, which unfortunately started without me because of the consequences of my concussion”.

On his recovery, Van der Hoorn explained the mental battle involved in the process, as he stated that “the past couple of months I alternated between hope and doubts, with sometimes fast progression but also weeks during which I suffered and was forced to rest”.

The Dutch rider is clearly trying to do everything that he can to return to competition, as he said that “now I’m able to do physical activities every day and short bike rides on a regular basis. I scrupulously follow the advice of the doctors to foster my recovery”.