'I'm one centimetre shorter after Il Lombardia crash': Jan Bakelants' unexpected side-effects from broken back
Ag2r La Mondiale rider back training, but struggling in old riding position
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Three months after breaking his back in a horrific crash at Il Lombardia, Jan Bakelants has revealed that he has lost a centimetre in height due to his injuries
Ag2r La Mondiale rider Bakelants was one of three riders to crash over a guard-rail on a tricky corner on the descent from the Muro di Sormano at the race in mid-October.
Bakelants suffered broken vertebrae in the crash, having to spend a few days in hospital in Italy before being transferred back to Belgium, and speaking out to criticise some of the treatment he received at the side of the road, even claiming that a race motorbike ran over his leg while he was being attended to by medical staff.
The Belgian rider has now been back on his bike for a few weeks, but wrote on Instagram that he had been struggling with his normal position and that the problem had been blamed on an apparent loss of height caused by injuries sustained in the crash.
"Since my crash I felt my old position wasn’t doing the trick any longer," Bakelants wrote. "As it turned out I got 1cm shorter due to the multiple fractures."
Bakelants is currently back training, albeit with metal rods in his back which are to stay in place for a few months and are apparently intended not to impair his riding.
Ag2r La Mondiale are yet to set a date for Bakelants's return to racing, although he looks likely to miss at least the first few months of the 2018 season.
Laurens De Plus was one of the other riders to crash on the same corner as Bakelants at Il Lombardia, and suffered further injuries when he was hit by a truck while training in South Africa.
De Plus fractured his knee in the crash at Il Lombardia, but on Tuesday was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis and spine following the crash in which team-mate Petr Vakoc also suffered a broken back.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
-
Join the e-bike revolution with Himiway’s exciting new launches
Whether you’re looking for an e-bike for heading off-road or for the daily commute, you’ll want to check out Himiway’s new Pony, Rambler and Rhino models
By Sponsored • Published
-
Boardman ADV 8.6 review: a lot of gravel bike without the big price tag
Boardman specs its entry-level gravel bike well to handle the majority of off-road action
By Paul Norman • Published
-
Pogačar still reigns, and farewell to Valverde and Nibali: Five talking points from Il Lombardia
The final WorldTour race of the season saw Enric Mas come close once again, and Julian Alaphilippe disappoint
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar powers beyond Enric Mas to win second Il Lombardia
The Slovenian claimed the third Monument of his career
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Two AG2R Citroën riders latest to test positive for Covid at the Vuelta a España
Jaakko Hänninen and Andrea Vendrame the third and fourth to depart Spain due to virus
By Adam Becket • Published
-
After 'fighting with the best guys', Ben O'Connor is proud of his Critérium du Dauphiné podium
Australian heads into Tour de France with best WorldTour stage result in his pocket
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Geoffrey Bouchard takes breakaway victory to lead the Tour of the Alps
A tense stage one success sees the Frenchman take his first win since turning pro aged 26
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Ben O'Connor conquers La Molina to win stage three of the Volta a Catalunya
AG2R's Australian times his attack perfectly to take mountainous stage and race lead
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Strava data reveals huge performances from Fausto Masnada, Alejandro Valverde, and Mike Woods in Il Lombardia 2021
The KoM for the decisive penultimate climb fell in this year’s edition of the Italian Monument
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Five talking points from Il Lombardia 2021
Tadej Pogačar finishes the season on a high as he wins his second Monument
By Jonny Long • Published