Out of competition for sixteen months following his crash at the 2023 Tour of Flanders, Taco van der Hoorn makes his comeback with Intermarché-Wanty this Thursday, August 15th, at the Jef Scherens Memorial in Leuven.
On April 2, 2023, Taco van der Hoorn was involved in a crash at the start of the Tour of Flanders and forced to abandon the race with symptoms of concussion. This marked the beginning of a long rehabilitation period for the Dutchman, who had to recover from such trauma for the second time in his career.
Closely monitored by the WorldTeam’s medical staff and advised by international experts, Taco gradually resumed sporting activities and cycling outings until he was able to complete a month of intensive training this summer in Andorra.
The breakaway specialist, stage winner at the 2021 Giro d’Italia, will pin on a number for the first time this season this Thursday in Leuven at the Jef Scherens Memorial, after participating in the Heusden kermesse race two days earlier.
He joins a selection composed of Dries De Pooter, the trainee Halvor Dolven, Gerben Kuypers, Madis Mihkels, Laurenz Rex and Mike Teunissen, for a nearly 200-kilometer Flemish classic through the hills of Leuven and Overijse.
Taco van der Hoorn:
“I’m so happy to be back with the team and to be able to race again. It’s been a long and difficult road to recovery, but the last few months have gone very well. I’ve been able to do some intensive training to prepare for my return at the end of the season. I want to thank my team, the medical staff and everyone who has accompanied and supported me through their messages. This Tuesday in Heusden, everything went well. I still have some weaknesses, especially in my explosiveness and accelerations. But I rode hard and attacked a lot. I had a lot of fun, it was a good preparation for the Jef Scherens memorial in Leuven this Thursday.”
