From broken back to Paris-Roubaix podium: Bob Donaldson is making a statement
Second at Paris-Roubaix Espoirs, just a year after his career was almost cut short, the young Brit is ready to turn pro
This time last year, Bob Donaldson was only just able to ride outdoors again after a crash that could have ended his budding career.
It all happened in a flash. Descending a hill near his home on the outskirts of Manchester, the then 20-year-old was struck by a car driver, who swerved across the road in front of him towards their driveway. It took place "in plain sight," Donaldson tells Cycling Weekly, and before he could reach for his brakes, he was lying on the floor.
"I managed to crawl to somewhere I could perch," he says. "An hour and a half later, I was taken in an ambulance to the hospital, where I had scans and stuff."
The scans revealed that he had suffered four transverse process fractures to the vertebrae at the bottom of his spine. "I was lucky not to be more damaged," he says. His bike had split in half, and his front wheel had crumpled under the impact with the car.
It's a memory that Donaldson will have for the rest of his life. And yet, as he stood on the podium at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, second in the under-23 race just a year on from the crash, that day felt so distant.
Back when Donaldson was bed-bound, racing across Roubaix's jagged cobblestones was unimaginable. The young Brit spent 10 days off the bike, waiting for his broken back to heal, and went almost two months until he could brave the roads again. The challenge, it appeared, wouldn't be regaining fitness, but rather overcoming the fear of crashing.
"At any point, there's the peril of what a two-tonne car can do," he says. "It also spreads into racing, and only recently have I lost the little conscience in my head to be a bit safer. Throughout the season last year, I had in my head that I did not want to crash and have a major incident again. At the end of the day, it could have ended my career."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Growing up, it was always the lure of the Classics that drew Donaldson to cycling. He idolised serial Monument winners Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara, and dreamed of riding Paris-Roubaix, more so than the Tour de France.
When he made his debut in the 'Espoirs' event on Sunday, the 22-year-old was familiar with the folklore. The Hell of the North, and its treacherous cobbles, is regarded as one of the most dangerous races on the calendar. But, as Donaldson knew, "you can't go into Roubaix with any fear".
"You've got to go in with full confidence, and just no fucks, really. You can't be worrying about what could happen. You've just got to race at the front, and race for yourself," he says. And that's what he did.
A year after breaking his back, Donaldson shook away the fear and rode Roubaix on the front foot. His team, under-23 British Continental outfit Trinity Racing, positioned him well into the early cobbled sectors, and inside 20km to go, he attacked to start the move that would last to the line.
"I knew my girlfriend and dad would be at the Carrefour de L'Arbre, so I was motivated to just smash it as much as I could across there," Donaldson says. He then worked with Lidl-Trek's Tim Torn Teutenberg and Lotto Dstny's Robin Orins, the trio entering the velodrome together, where Teutenberg sprinted to victory.
A few days later, Donaldson posted on Instagram, writing that it was "tough to be first loser".
"There were a few things that maybe I could have done better," he now reflects. "I think, as a cyclist, if you're ever content with not winning then something's probably going wrong. I can take the positives out of coming second, it was such a strong field, and I have a lot of respect for everyone else in the race. To be so close, it just hurts in a way."
Though he did not win, Donaldson did succeed in making a statement. This year is his last in the under-23 ranks, and without a professional contract for next season, the Brit felt he needed a result to put his name in the shop window.
"People say that the start of the season is the most important time of the year, because that's when deals are done to prepare for next year," he says. "I missed that big chunk last year, and I had no clue how my form would come out of that and how it would impact my season as a whole.
"It's the results that do the talking at the end of the day, to help get that contract for next year, which is the ultimate goal. With that [Roubaix second place] in the bank, now I feel like I can race with a bit more freedom and confidence that my legs will do the talking."
The effects of the crash still linger in the back of Donaldson's mind. He's quick on his brakes when he sees a car pull up, he says, and he's still got his broken bike frame, which he keeps in his bedroom. Crucially, though, he doesn't let the fear affect his racing.
"I want to be a Classics rider and have a successful career doing it," he says. "Not necessarily winning loads of races, but having an enjoyable, successful career, which I can look back on and be happy with." The 22-year-old then pauses for a moment. "Yeah, being happy, I'd say, is the number one thing."
Thank you for reading 20 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
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast, which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides.
He's also fluent in French and Spanish and holds a master's degree in International Journalism.
-
Lidl-Trek narrowly win opening team time trial at La Vuelta Femenina after late crash
Gaia Realini takes an early lead over her rivals in the general classification
By Joseph Lycett Published
-
Why do coffee and cycling go together so well? An investigation
Coffee connoisseur Adam Becket delves into the storied yet mysterious relationship between cycling and the original energy drink
By Adam Becket Published
-
'There's blood on my handlebars': Inside one rider's debut at Paris-Roubaix Juniors
Patrick Casey got his chance to ride the Hell of the North after going through the Red Bull Junior Brothers programme
By Adam Becket Published
-
Elia Viviani says helmet 'saved his life' in Paris-Roubaix crash
The Italian abandoned the race after 40km on Sunday, but left without any fractures
By Adam Becket Published
-
Opinion: Mathieu van der Poel firmly grasps legend status with second Paris-Roubaix victory
Reigning world champion deserves his place alongside Roger de Vlaeminck and Eddy Merckx as one of cycling’s greatest-ever one-day racers
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Van der Poel ‘in a different league’ at Paris-Roubaix, says Mads Pedersen
Former world champion forced to settle for third on the podium behind Van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It’s a completely different beast’ - Tom Pidcock happy with top 20 finish after ‘epic’ Paris-Roubaix debut
British rider was unable to grip his handlebars properly in the finale as the last cobbled sectors arrived
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I just wanted to make it a hard final' - Mathieu van der Poel on 'unplanned' Paris-Roubaix winning attack
The world champion launched his race winning move on the Orchie cobbled sector, almost 60 kilometres from the Roubaix velodrome
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m just here to enjoy it': Tom Pidcock on his surprise Paris-Roubaix appearance
British rider was a late addition to the Ineos Grenadiers team for the race across the pavé
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mads Pedersen: Paris-Roubaix suits me better than the Tour of Flanders
'The dream scenario will be to finish alone with two minutes... but it's not going to happen,' says the former world champion
By Tom Thewlis Published