On Friday, almost six months after his life-threatening crash, Kris Boeckmans completed the Vuelta a Espana stage in which he fell on August 29th, tweeting afterwards “Made it to the finish … Where is everybody? @lavuelta #nevergiveup”
The 29 year-old crashed on the eighth stage of the race last year and was subsequently placed in an induced coma. He required eight hours of facial surgery on a broken nose and jawbone, as well as treatment for concussion, three broken ribs and bleeding in his lungs.
Boeckmans later revealed that he almost died on six different occasions in the days following the accident, such were the extent of his injuries.
He was later transferred back to a hospital in Belgium. Now as part of his recovery, he has completed a training spin on the route of the 182-kilometre eighth stage from Puebla de Don Fadrique to Murcia.
Boeckmans is hopeful of returning to racing later this season.
Superstar.