After his neck injury, Tiesj Benoot (Jumbo-Visma) is step by step making his way back to next season. At the moment he is still in Tuscany for a holiday with friends, but the bike is never far away: “In the beginning I had neck pain after an hour of cycling, I can only ride a little longer since this week.”
Two months ago, a heavy fall in training in Italy meant that Tiesj Benoot had to end his season earlier than planned. He was left with a broken cervical vertebra from a collision by an inattentive driver.
Now Benoot can once again be found in Italy, for a holiday that is all about cycling. Not yet with the road bike, because that is still too difficult. For the occasion, the Gentenaar has to exchange his road copy for the mountain bike.
A career switch to mountain biking is not immediately obvious: “If I want to break my neck again, maybe I should”, jokes Benoot. “I definitely still feel the difference between the racing bike and the mountain bike”.
This week it is the first time during my rehabilitation that I have not been to the physiotherapist for a few days.
“It is also going a lot better on the mountain bike than a few weeks ago. Step by step I am racing more since I got rid of my hard brace, so I was able to cycle again for five hours on Monday.”
Strengthening the neck in particular is the priority for the Jumbo-Visma rider. “In the beginning I already had neck pain after an hour of cycling, I can only ride a little longer since this week. It is the first time during my rehabilitation that I have not been to the physiotherapist for a few days.”
“One of my friends is in better shape than me”
What exactly is Benoot doing in Italy? “I’m here on vacation with some friends and we’re following the route of the Tuscany Trail (a big bikepacking event, ed). That’s a 500-kilometer route that we’ve split into 5 rides.”
Just like at the real event, Benoot and his friends also take all their luggage with them on the bike. “We do sleep in B&Bs or hotels, but we are not dependent on a support vehicle or other people.”
Benoot’s traveling companions include his cousin, a friend, and also Jari Verstraeten, who became vice world champion time trial Gran Fondo in September.
“Jari is in better shape than I am at the moment”, Benoot confides to us. “The two others drive an e-bike. That means that the afternoon stop is obligatory long to recharge those e-bikes.”
Relaxation linked to cycling
Relaxation is also in order during his trip to Tuscany. It’s mainly about vacation, so eating pasta, drinking some Birra Moretti and swimming after the rides are also part of Benoot’s time commitment this week. Benoot has not yet been able to enjoy his favorite wine, a Brunello di Moltancino.
“If you have a normal preparation, you are now resting and you will start again in mid-November. Because I dropped out with that injury, it was now possible to do this,” he explains.
A cycling holiday in Tuscany is therefore ideal for Benoot to pick up cycling again with longer rides, coupled with some well-deserved relaxation. “Next week I will go out with the family and from then on I will really start working towards next season.”
