“I had to stay six weeks without doing anything, and it was hard to accept”
How did you experience this new fall?
This is not the first fall that I knew. Falling in the middle of Off-Season, it was not easy, especially when they saw that everyone started to train. I had to stay six weeks without doing anything, and it was hard to accept. Compared to my fall in Lombardy, at the time, it was good, it was during the holidays, I could go out in a wheelchair or with crutches. There, I had to stay inside because of the weather in Belgium. And then it was the second fall on the same shoulder in a few months. But today I am back and I feel good.
What role does religion play in your life?
I discovered religion last year, it is something that I share with Oumi, and we are proud of it. I think everyone must have their own relationship to faith. For me, it helps me to face the trials of life. It’s something beautiful. If is Islam? Yes, it’s Islam.
How was your recovery after six weeks of stopping?
I was able to get back on a bike for the first time on February 1. Before that, I was doing home trainer, but it’s not the same. The first month was difficult to do real exercises. In Spain, with my wife, I was able to resume more intense sessions. It was not easy, I only had a month of training in my legs, my body was not ready. But I have progressed in recent weeks, and this return to competition does not come too early. I am ready. I worked on endurance, intensities … I am not yet 100 %, but I am in good shape. Will it be enough to beat runners like Pogacar or Pidcock, who are in great shape? We will see Sunday and next week. I’m just happy to be back. These next few weeks will help me prepare my big goals: the round and the world championships.
“See Tadej and Mathieu at the front …”
What are the consequences of your falls at the shoulder?
We discovered an injury to a nerve after several weeks, which is not yet completely healed. There is a shoulder muscle that does not work at all at the moment. Fortunately, it is not an essential muscle for a cyclist. If I had been a basketball player, tennis player or volleyball player, my career would surely be over. Fortunately, I am a cyclist. tomorrow, we will have to use a lot of tape to stabilize the shoulder, especially with the paved sectors. It is not ideal, but my legs are running well, and that’s the most important.
What can you look at the performance of Pogacar and Van der Poel on the classics?
Of course I looked at the races, I’m a bicycle fan! These are magnificent events, with real duels between large champions. Seeing Tadej and Mathieu at the front was impressive. And frankly, it gave me motivation to train even stronger, in the hope of being able to compete with them one day.
Do you see you one day from races like Milan-Sanremo, the Tour des Flandres or Paris-Roubaix?
Yes, obviously I will one day participate in Milan-Sanremo and the Tour des Flanders. For Roubaix, we will see. It will depend on my motivation and my goals. The race is a week before the Ardennes, and that’s where I have my best chances of victory. So there is a good chance that I impasse on Roubaix to focus on the Tour des Flanders.
“I thought of stopping my career”
Have you considered stopping your career after this new fall?
Yes, I really thought about it. The injuries were serious. The ligaments of my shoulder were destroyed, the operation was heavy. And then, this problem in the nerve, which paralyzed part of the shoulder, was very difficult to accept. It was the second time in six months that I touched this shoulder. At one point, one wonders if she will one day find 100 % of her capacities. The message I published on Instagram was very personal, it was one of the few posts that I have written myself in recent years. I needed to show how difficult this period had been. But today, I’m fine. I am happy to be back. My wife, my friends, my family saw the evolution. I hope it will only go better now.
The last step potentially from the Tour de France could go through Montmartre, where you won last summer. Does that motivate you?
Honestly, I hope it will not be the case. I think we will already have enough stress in the first week in the north of France. Then there will be a lot of steps in the last week that will be hard enough. So, for me, we can keep the stage fairly flat on the Champs-Élysées and not necessarily take the climb of Montmartre yet because it will give even more stress and more tensions in the peloton. So, I hope that we will stay around the Arc de Triomphe and that we will not go out to Montmartre.
“Resume competition here, at home …”
On the Ardennes campaign that arrives, what is your state of form? What are your goals? Do you think that victory is possible on the three to come?
We’ll see. I think these are my favorite shopping in the spring. These are courses that I know very well. I have already been there since I was 17 years old. This is something that suits me, which I like. I tried to come here in better form possible. I had good training in the last two weeks with the team in Sierra Nevada. Before this internship, it was a little harder. I had a lot of difficulty doing exercises. But more and more, I started to find good legs, good sensations. I still hope to find some percentages in the next three races, which I will be 100% before Liège. It’s always hard to arrive 100 %. I also want to enjoy it because it’s been six or seven months since I had no competition. To resume tomorrow (Friday) here, at home, almost at home. Because we will spend a kilometer from my home, also a kilometer from my parents. So it’s going to be nice to resume. I will try to have fun and just enjoy being able to ride by bike again.
Beat Tadej Pogacar, does that seem possible to you?
If you don’t believe it, I think I will not be at the start. It is clear that I trained and I did not stay in the chair for months. I tried to find a good shape, to find good legs. You always have to race. Amstel and Liège are fairly long races. Liège, I have already won twice, so I know her very well. Amstel, it’s going to be the first time. I did recognition, so I know what to expect. If the legs are there, why not? I think we just have to find confidence a bit tomorrow and then we left.
