"There is still enough interest. She should find a good team" - Shari Bossuyt's career may resume in June as her suspension period is coming to an end

What do have Shari Bossuyt and Toon Aerts in common? A doping two-year ban after a "contamination" of their samples in the 2022/23 period. The whole process is still shrouded in controversies as both riders were left in despair due to poor communication of official parties. In any case the latter of two was already cleared to race at the end of last year and has even won the cyclocross in Otegem week ago.

Bossuyt's suspension will only expire in June and in the meantime, Bossuyt's contract with Canyon//SRAM run out and she had to find a full-time job. Nevertheless the 24-year-old is still optimistic about her return and fully devoted to be back in her best shape for her first races.

"She's my love, but she amazes me every day," says Bossuyt's partner Gerben Thijssen at Sporza. "How she still has so much perseverance despite that shitty situation. She keeps fighting, goes to work every day with a good feeling. I get emotional just talking about it," he says with a lump in his throat.

Her last competition was the Track World Cup in Madison on April 22, that Bossuyt won along with Lotte Kopecky. "She has one big goal now: she wants to be back in June. I'm not going to put any pressure on her, but she is eager to return at a high level. Yesterday I trained here for 5.5 hours in the Spanish sun, but she also managed 4.5 hours in the Belgian cold. And after work she goes to train every day."

Bossuyt is currently without a team. Will that be okay? "At first it was said that she would be allowed to stay with Canyon/SRAM, but that fell through. That was a shame. Normally it will be fine. For now there is only one word, because nothing can be signed while she is suspended. I can at least guarantee that there is enough interest. She should normally end up in a good team," Thijssen concludes.