Algemeen Jenno Berckmoes returns in Dunkirk after heavy crash in Tour of Flanders

"Let’s hope that I’m finally truly off to a good start now," laughs Jenno Berckmoes. No, things haven’t gone well yet. After missing the bulk of the early season due to a bacterial infection, he suffered a serious crash in the Tour of Flanders shortly after returning. The report was severe: Berckmoes sustained a concussion and several deep abrasions and had to spend two days in the hospital. "It was tough," he reflects. "Only the day before yesterday could I finally remove the last of the bandages. That’s five weeks... But it was mainly the concussion that was the hardest part. That’s such an unpredictable thing, different for everyone. I remember nothing from the crash, just a brief haze from inside the ambulance. The fact that I didn’t break any bones is a miracle. The first two weeks after the crash were tough. I had to wear sunglasses to protect myself from the light, spend as much time as possible in a dark room, wasn’t allowed to use my phone… I also had a lot of headaches. But in the end, I came back quicker than expected. After about ten days, I was able to ride again. Twenty minutes, half an hour, mind you (laughs). I built it up slowly."

Berckmoes finished an impressive third overall in the 4 Jours de Dunkerque last year. "That won’t be happening this year," he says realistically. "But I’m really happy that I can race again. It’s hardly happened at all this year. I’m starting without expectations. If it goes well, all the better. I just really want it."

Picture: Brecht Steenhouwer