Thomas Gloag (Visma-Lease a Bike) will make his long-awaited return to racing on the Czech Tour, nearly one yr after being hit by a driver of a automobile final August and breaking his kneecap.
It shall be 362 days because the proficient younger Brit has raced when he takes the beginning on Thursday, along with his final look being the Clasica San Sebastian on the finish of July in 2023. Surgery and a prolonged rehabilitation interval saved him out of competitors for a lot of his second full yr with Visma.
“I used to be using dwelling after a restoration coaching. Suddenly, I used to be hit by a automobile, and I broke my kneecap. What I bear in mind is my left leg after the collision and seeing that my kneecap didn’t look proper,” stated Gloag as he recalled the incident in a launch from the group.
“At the second, I really feel completely satisfied and wholesome once more. I’ve accomplished a superb coaching block. It appears like a victory that I can lastly return to racing. A race is, after all, very completely different from coaching.”
Gloag confirmed nice indicators in 2023 as a neo-pro with sixth total on the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and eleventh on the Tour de Romandie, earlier than struggling by means of a Grand Tour debut on the Giro d’Italia, the place he was referred to as up on extraordinarily quick discover.
He did make it by means of the 21 levels as group chief Primož Roglič took total victory. For now, although, Gloag is simply delighted to be again as a racer.
“I’m trying ahead to pinning a race quantity once more and returning to the peloton with my teammates,” he stated.
“I lastly really feel like a bike owner once more.”
Gloag makes up a part of a robust Visma-Lease a Bike seven-man squad on the Czech Tour, with youth and expertise all through. Fellow British expertise Matthew Brennan joins him after a profitable Giro Next Gen, whereas former Giro King of the Mountains Koen Bouwman brings a wealth of WorldTour expertise.
Bouwman will lead the GC cost alongside Johannes Staune-Mittet, the proficient Norwegian who took his first professional win on the Czech Tour in 2023. Brennan, Morten Aalling Nørtoft and Dario Igor Belletta shall be trying to acquire expertise stepping up from the event group.
Gloag gave excessive reward to the physiotherapists, Visma group employees and his girlfriend Lucinda for serving to him keep optimistic by means of the tough interval as he goals to simply settle again into “race rhythm” somewhat than put any strain on outcomes.
“It was actually not a straightforward time. However, with the assist of many individuals, I managed to get by means of it,” stated Gloag.
“I’m primarily targeted on gaining race rhythm. Results will not be the precedence, and I shouldn’t count on that from myself both.
“It is now time to present one thing again to all of the individuals who helped me. I’m immensely grateful to everybody and can always remember how nicely they handled me. There are too many individuals to say, however I wish to make them proud now.”
