Tour of Guangxi win "means everything to me" for Milan Vader, year and a half after life-threatening crash

Milan Vader suffered a crash at the 2022 Itzulia Basque Country where he suffered several fractures, including vertebrae. Out of competition for six months, this year he wanted to make a comeback and he has done so, taking his very first road pro win at the Tour of Guangxi.

Not only that but on the queen stage itself. Vader attacked in the final kilometer in impressive fashion, dropping everyone from his wheel directly, and jumping onto the race lead - where he is now the biggest favourite. “This is a victory from the heart," he said following his effort. "After everything that has happened, especially after my fall in the Tour of the Basque Country last year, winning is an incredibly special feeling. It means everything to me.”

This gives continuation to the extremely successful season of Jumbo-Visma, and the mountain biker turned road rider has is now on par for a career changing result at 27 years of age. "I am speechless. Olav [Kooij] win yesterday was a bit unexpected, but this one might be even more so. We aimed for a place in the top 10 with Milan, as he was not completely fit at the start," team DS Marteen Wynants said of his rider. 

“It is very nice to see him win here, even if you look at his hard fall last season and the entire rehabilitation process. Milan was given a free role today and we agreed that he would follow the favorites and he did that in a fantastic way. We will do everything we can to guide Milan to final victory.”