In terms of racing, I also had some nice moments. Looking way back to February 2020, I was pleased with my start at Ruta del Sol. Through the summer, I was proud of how I persevered through the racing calendar’s instability mixed with pay cuts and not knowing what the future would bring. I anchored myself into my joy and love for purely riding and it was encouraging to realize I still loved riding as much as ever, even if we had no idea when we would race again.
When I returned to racing in August at Strade Bianca, I had no idea what my form was going to be like…. And to then uncork an inspired ride under extreme conditions and against the world’s best while out on a course that I found the most interesting since my debut a decade ago was really gratifying. Hearing how others, near and far, were inspired by this performance during an otherwise uncertain and tumultuous year added an extra layer of appreciation and value. It left me feeling that it was more than just pedaling or a result, but about truly performing and persevering.
While we didn’t have many race days, another highlight was helping my teammate Simon Yates win Tirreno Adriatico. Physically, I felt strong and it was gratifying being able to apply myself within that specific squad and having an impact on the result. I truly felt that day was a product of teamwork and everyone coming together.
Healing Up
And then my 2020 season ended with two vertebra fractures during the October edition of the Giro d’Italia. Initially, this injury appeared to be healing pretty quickly and didn’t seem like it would impact my off-season much. But as we see time and time again with injuries, it is the peripheral and collateral damage that leaves the most impact. The fractures were healing well, but the instability in my back from these fractures caused some older injuries to rear their ugly head. I quickly realized the recovery was going to be a much more arduous process than I hoped. It was a long few months of working with the physical therapist, but eventually, I began to improve. By the time I was back on the bike for pre-season training, I was just a little behind my normal schedule.
At this point, the back is still a work in progress and it’s something that I have to continue to work with and through, but I am grateful to be back to some solid training ahead of the 2021 races. I just am focused on being vigilant with core work, stability, and physical therapy to keep my body working. I think this most likely the reality of many pro athletes once they hit the ripe age of 37!