Stig Broeckx ready for return to racing after motorbike injury

Lotto-Soudal's Stig Broeckx is set to make his racing comeback at the Tour of Turkey on April 24, two months after breaking his collarbone in a collision with a motorbike at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.

The 26-year-old Belgian was struck by the motor at high speed as it attempted to pass Broeckx's group and sidelined him for seven weeks.

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But after the death of Antoine Demoitié at Ghent-Wevelgem, Broeckx admits that he knew his accident could have been a lot worse.

“It’s such a shame this happened, it shouldn’t be part of cycling. A few weeks ago there was the fatal accident of Antoine Demoitié which caused a lot of emotions because I knew Antoine well," he said.

"If it made me realise that it could have turned out worse for me as well? Believe me, I was aware of that immediately after the accident.”

Broeckx says the motorbike rider contacted him to apologise, which the cyclist accepted, but admits he was frustrated at having to miss out on the entire spring campaign.

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Three weeks in Mallorca have brought the Belgian back to race shape and he hopes to prove he's back to his best in Turkey next week.

“I can’t wait to race again, because it’s frustrating that I have hardly been able to race after all the hard work in the off-season," he said.

"Objective tests showed that I had made progress. I felt that I was ready to do lots of work for the team. Now that will have to happen in the rest of the season. I am keen, let that be clear. At the Tour of Turkey I want to show my teammates that they can rely on me again.”