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Back on the rollers: Maxim Van Gils and his progress in rehab
A month has passed since Maxim Van Gils' serious crash at the Clásica Jaén. Since then, the Belgian has made steady progress. He is currently in Austria for rehab.
Spring is also slowly approaching in Thalgau. The sun is shining in the Salzburg region and temperatures are hovering in the double digits. The conditions are perfect for a few kilometres of training. Some of the athletes currently staying at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre are making the most of them.
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Video: Maxim Van Gils back on the bike
Maxim Van Gils is not yet one of them. He has been at the APC for a few days to push ahead with his rehab. The pelvic fracture and shoulder fracture are healing well, as the latest pictures show. "I still have pain in my wrist, but I don't think anything is broken. So, it was just the shoulder and the pelvis, but I think it’s enough," says Maxim during a break in his programme.
Maxim Van Gils during a further examination
© Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
First goal achieved: walking without assistance
"I actually feel quite good. At least not too bad. The time went quite fast in the last four weeks." But the first few days in particular were sometimes agonising. Maxim was initially reliant on a wheelchair and later had to use crutches for a long time. He was able to take them off a few days ago. "That was the first goal when I arrived here. If you use them for too long, it's bad for your back."
Leave the crutches behind: That was the first goal when I arrived here.
So he got on the treadmill. "Somehow they managed to get the weight off my feet. It felt like I was walking on the moon. It was just about getting a bit of movement in the leg. Then we tried it on mats to make it softer," Maxim describes the process. "It got a little better every day. However, I walk differently in the morning than in the afternoon. But it's getting a little better every day. I still don't walk like I did before. But I'm not a marathon runner either. Even if it's not perfect, I can still get on my bike."
Back on the bike - at least indoors
That was the next goal. And that too has now been achieved. Maxim has already completed his first sessions on the roller. And only four weeks after a pelvic fracture. This is possible because the 26-year-old was very lucky in his misfortune. A similar injury can sometimes mean three to four months without cycling training. But Maxim's pelvis fractured in the most favourable way possible.
Maxim Van Gils is working on his comeback on the rollers.
© Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
Four weeks without cycling is still a long time for Maxim. "Perhaps even one of the longest periods in my life when I wasn't able to pedal. But at least for many years. I broke my collarbone once when I was 16 or 17. But even after that, I was back on the bike after a week."
After 30 minutes, everything was fine. The second time, I was even able to get out of the saddle a bit.
So the first time was somehow special, even though Maxim says: "It's boring on the rollers." But the moment makes all the difference. "I was a little worried about injuring my hip. Because it was really painful in the first few weeks. Especially when I moved my leg, sneezed or coughed. But it was fine, the right leg started to feel the connection again. After 30 minutes everything was fine. The second time, I was even able to get out of the saddle a bit."
Weights, stretching and massages - and the hope of a comeback in June
In addition to returning to the bike, Maxim's programme at the APC includes massages in particular. "There's still a lot of tension in the muscles that need to be released first in order to get the body moving properly again." The focus is on the gluteal muscles. And activating the legs. There is also stretching and initial sessions in the gym with light weights. "We have to be careful because the shoulder is still broken."
Maxim Van Gils can now also train with weights again.
© Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
The desired progress is there. But Maxim will have to wait a while longer for the next big step that he is longing to take. Back on the road, out with the other cyclists. When that will be depends on how his recovery progresses. In the meantime, the rough plan for his comeback is set: "I think I'll be back in June."
