Egan Bernal He returned to racing 345 days after his last race. A really important period of time, in fact it is a season. It's not easy to manage a break like that, especially after an injury and even more so when a super champion is involved. Everything is becoming more delicate: more attention, more media attention, more interest from teams, sponsors, fans...
Given that the Colombian withdrew in Denmark due to a fall (opening photo), but as a precaution, Paul Slongo Sports director and, in this case, even more so, a long-term coach, we ask him to explain how to manage this phase. He has been through it several times with Vincent Nibali, in particular after the fall in which he suffered a fractured vertebra during the Tour de France on the slopes of Alpe d'Huez.
Paolo, exactly, how does a situation like this evolve?
The champions, but I would say the riders in general, They are clearly disappointed when they suffer injuries, but they remain champions even then because they know there is nothing they can do about it. Psychologically, it's a burden, but they manage to handle it the right way. And above all, after a short time, they're eager to return. And that's where mistakes can be made.
What?
Rushing things. A mistake that has immediate and long-term repercussions. The champion must give his body even more time to recover. The cyclist is then a "gladiator" and depending on what he has, after a week he asks you if he can do rollers, or do this or that activity.
We need to keep him under control, in short…
Exactly, I've found that to be the case. But then the weight issue comes into play. Because it's true that he doesn't have to do anything, but he can't even get fat and so you have to keep an eye on him and tell him to be careful about what and how much he eats.
And then there's the return…
The first part of getting back in the saddle is perhaps the most difficult. The champion has his mind set on what he was, and after an hour of pedaling, he's out of breath, or he sees the amateur pass him and thinks: a lifetime of building, a moment to lose it all.His head would like one thing, his legs and his body would not. Yet after just 7-8 days he finds a decent pedal stroke again and from that moment on everything is a little easier and the champion can fly with his head again. Finally there are some stages for the return.
And what are they?
In the first phase becomes aware of the injury at the time of the accident and realizes when he starts to think that he can get out of it as best he can. The second phase is that before leaving or when he has just left and there is a risk of rushing things (it is still a psychological phase). The third is the gradual and traumatic recovery, when the head and body are not yet in unison, as we were saying. The fourth phase, the easiest, when he understands that he can return to his levelsAnd in that case, optimism reigns.
Maybe it's not a nice thing to say, but are there any precautions to be taken for a champion who is "more precious" and expensive than a normal rider?
In my experience, the team doctor always seeks out as many opinions as possible, as authoritative as possible, and consults various sectors involved in that injury: you can't go wrong. The athlete must continue to produce certain performances. Then there is the team that tries not to rush things and the first thing (as the Ineos-Grenadiers with Bernal, ed.) who wants the athlete to return to how he was before the accident. Evaluate the various options for his return because there is a heritage to recover and possible choices about his future as well.
Paolo, speaking more technically, we saw that Bernal, a climber, is back in the running at Denmark, where the biggest climb is little more than an overpass. Right or wrong?
I would say this is the fifth phase: the choice of returning to racing. And for me Bernal and his team did well. The important thing is to run and not where. In fact, if it's a race that's not too suited to the rider's characteristics, it's almost better. Then you have to consider other factors, such as the athlete's fear. For example, I'm thinking of evenepoel When he crashed on the downhill at the Lombardy race: there's also a psychological problem there. In that case, and perhaps I'm going a little against what I said, you should also try to speed up his return.
It's like when you fall off a horse. They say you have to get back on the saddle right away...
Exact. Certain answers, physical and mental, you find them in the raceIf there is fear of the group, of the fall, only by throwing it back into the fray can you see if the trauma has been erased. Returning to the Bernal case, in my opinion he chose the best race to return.
Why?
He was able to gradually start running again, there were no hills, he “just” had to stay in the mix and find the rhythm. This way he didn't even need confirmation for the climb, for him who is a climber. Maybe he's disconnected and that's been a burden on him. He has to do things progressively and his team wasn't interested in the result, but in finding the athlete again.
So much so that in Denmark they made him stop after his first fall…
For example, when Nibali crashed at the Tour and broke his vertebra, he was thinking about returning for the World Championships. Vincenzo is a champion and recovered quickly for the World Championships, but he was missing something. Two weeks later, he finished second at the Lombardy, but he was growing. The more time passed, the more competitive he became. This gave him the right answers. And he was able to spend a peaceful winter, without doubts about his ability to still be competitive. If, however, Bernal were to leave the situation, he would have doubts. He would not find answers to his questions.
And what about the pace? Do you do a lot of engine-driven riding?
It depends on how the rider is and when he returns. But now the staff have their data, their parameters. For Bernal, for example, I saw that they had already published some (encouraging) data on his VAM: they have some references. At that point the preparation is the standard one before a race and if he was behind the engine before the injury, he will also do it after the post-injury.
