Bellis looking forward to return to peloton

Jonathan Bellis (Saxo Bank)

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c rider still recovering from 2009 motorbike crash

Jonathan Bellis is looking forward to returning to professional cycling full-time.  He admits that he is still not recovered from his September 2009 accident which put him in a coma for six weeks, but says he hopes to get back to the top level.

“My goal is simply to allow my body to get used to the pressure during the races. In time, I hope to get back to the level I was before and then to get even better,” he said on the Team Saxo Bank website.

Bellis, now 22, was in a motorbike accident last year which dramatically changed his life.  “After being hit by a car in September 2009, I went into coma and no one knew if I’d live through it. In September 2010, I had my last operation and finally, I’m on my way back to the road. I lost a lot of muscle and weighed in at 46 kilos.”

“Surely, I see life differently now. Minor everyday problems don’t get too big,” he said.   “Compared to what I’ve been through this past year, I’m just happy to be alive.”

“I actually did a stage in Tour of Britain this autumn which was a victory for me. To feel the butterflies in my stomach the night and the morning before the race and to put the race numbers on my back was an excellent experience.”

Bellis returned to racing in June of this year, riding both the Isle of Man and British national championships.  He then went on to the GP Plouay, which he didn’t finish, before tackling the Tour of Britain. Bellis had to drop out of the first stage of that race after only 54 miles.

Those were only the first steps of his comeback, and he knows who to thank for them.  “The support from the team has been unbelievable and more than I could have hoped for. Bjarne has given me the time to recover and has been there for me in every little need I have had. I really appreciate the help and support from the whole team.”

He has now returned from the Saxo Bank teambuilding, saying it “was great being away with the entire team.”  The most important thing, though, was “to let everyone know what I’ve been through this past year so everyone gets

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