ProTeam Taco van der Hoorn and Lars Craps make comeback after lengthy knee injury

He was originally supposed to ride the Giro d'Italia, but prepatellar friction syndrome- a common knee injury among cyclists- forced Taco van der Hoorn to the sidelines at the start of the season. Today, he returns and will line up at Rund um Köln. “I’m looking forward to being back in the racing bubble. Staying at the hotel with the other riders and staff, laughing together at the dinner table, travelling together on the team bus… I missed that. I feel some of that excitement again, like an 18-year-old riding his first races. It does something to me. That’s a good sign, that I still feel that even in my tenth season as a pro.”

The problem first appeared before the season had even started. “That was a difficult period because, at first, we didn’t really know what was going on. That uncertainty eats away at you. I eventually had surgery in February and then you can finally start looking ahead. You know it’s going to take three months before you’re back, but at least there’s perspective. That gave me something to hold on to. A few years ago, when I was sidelined for a long time with a concussion, it was much more uncertain when exactly I would be able to return.”

The comeback process happened very gradually. With physiotherapy, short 15-minute rides on a city bike, step by step. “Only in the last four or five weeks was I really able to train properly. Of course that was difficult. My main goals were the spring classics leading up to Roubaix and then the Giro d’Italia. All of that disappeared, and that’s disappointing. I did follow the big races, but I also tried to distance myself from them a little. I didn’t want to be confronted with it all the time. At the same time, it was good to have time for the people close to me.”

But now the moment has finally arrived and Taco van der Hoorn is once again at the start of a race. “I’ve come back from far behind before. Back then, I won my second race after returning. That probably won’t happen this time, because the build-up has been much shorter. But I’m looking forward to racing again, being valuable for the team and helping the guys.”

Thesis completed

Lars Craps, who was sidelined with the same issue, has already completed his first race back. He rode Circuit de Wallonie last week and things went well. Craps also knew exactly what he was dealing with when he started feeling knee pain again this winter. He had already gone through the same injury last season, although in the other knee. “It’s frustrating, of course, the moment you feel that same pain again,” he says. “I had really set my sights on the spring campaign and had a very good winter behind me. But at the same time, that experience also allowed me to react much faster than last year.”

Craps also had to spend four weeks on the sidelines, although he used that time productively. “I’m in the final phase of my studies. Over the past few months, I finished and submitted my thesis, so my rehabilitation period was immediately well filled. It was also nice to focus on something other than cycling for a change.”

“Once I got back on the bike, the team immediately came up with a plan. They immediately proposed a number of races and I instantly felt motivated again. Circuit de Wallonie was my first race back and it immediately felt familiar. When I had to return last season, I was still new to the team. We were halfway through the season and I barely knew anyone. This time, it felt much less awkward. I immediately picked up my old routines again. Of course, I was a little nervous at the start because you don’t know where you stand compared to the others, but above all I was very happy to be back. Next up are the Boucles de la Mayenne and the Critérium du Dauphiné, so there’s plenty to look forward to.”

Picture: PhotoNews