There was a time when medical experts wondered whether Dane Michael Valgren would ever ride again. In 2022, the EF Education–EasyPost had a brutal crash at the Route d’Occitanie which resulted in several brutal injuries.
It’s the Giro right, it means a lot,” the Dane told reporters after the line. “A few years back, I was not sure if I had a contract. He broke his pelvis, dislocated his hip, as well as rupturingACL and MCL and rupturing his meniscus. The past few years has seen lots of rehab and physiotherapy for the 32-year-old, and finally he is showing signs of his former self.
So far this spring he’s had a top-ten Dwars door Vlaanderen, and on Wednesday, just missed out on a stage win at the Giro d’Italia.
“The team really helped me through this in a really good way and I’m happy to start to pay things back,” he said. “I’m just grateful I can still be a cyclist so thanks to everybody.”
Cofidis rider Benjamin Thomas outsprinted Valgren and the other breakaway companions to win Stage 5, which also included Andrea Pietrobon (Team Polti Kometa), and Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ). Wednesday’s stage was 178 km, from Genova to Lucca.
Valgren has lived in Lucca, and knows some of the roads well.
“I think knowing the Montemagno climbs was a good one to know, but the rest was pretty straightforward, to be honest. You know, nowadays you have the map on the computer and we know everything with the video view and everything. So it doesn’t really come as a shock for anybody,” he admitted.
One of those interviews that goes beyond the sport. @MichaelValgren: “I’m just grateful I can still be a cyclist”. #GirodItalia @EFprocycling pic.twitter.com/6GilO0gsVE
— Dan Deakins (@DanDeakins) May 8, 2024
He came close to winning, and says he was trying to channel his fellow countryman, and Tour de France stage winner.
“I had to go a really long sprint and hopefully, I could do a Magnus Cort Nielsen sprint you know, but yeah, I have to learn a bit more,” Valgren said. “But in the end we worked well together and we knew it would be difficult, but we made it. Chapeau to the other guys for working well together.”
𝗕𝗶𝗴 numbers in the breakaway from Valgren ⚡️
The EF Education-EasyPost rider narrowly missed out on victory in the final sprint, taking second place on Stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia 💪
📸 Getty Images
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🇮🇹 #Giro
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