The force reawakens: Milan Vader's incredible comeback from near-fatal crash that broke his back in 11 places

After a horrific crash over a guard rail at Itzulia Basque Country in April, the Jumbo-Visma rider was left fighting for his life. Here, he tells CW about his incredible comeback

Milan Vader close-up, smiling
(Image credit: Mario Stiehl)

This article was originally published in Cycling Weekly's print edition as part of the long-running MY FITNESS CHALLENGE series.

As Milan Vader lay in a hospital bed in Bilbao, hours after crashing over a guard rail at April’s Itzulia Basque Country, little did he know he was fighting for his life. The Jumbo-Visma rider had been placed in an induced coma after a trapped air bubble in his brain had paralysed his entire right side. Surgeons were working flat-out to keep him alive. 

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