Shelley Olds (Bigla) will return to racing at Omloop van Borsele on Saturday, following her recovery from a rib injury sustained at Ronde van Drenthe on March 14.
“From the first day that I knew I had a broken rib, I have focused on staying positive and moving forward,” Olds said. “As soon as I could start working, I did. The first days were difficult, but every day I saw progress and I felt better with each week that passed.”
Olds was forced to take time off the bike following the crash, which occurred on one of the cobbled sectors in Ronde van Drenthe and resulted in broken ribs for the American sprinter.
A fast finisher with a track racing background, Olds is a two-time stage winner at the Giro Rosa and was America’s top elite finisher at the world championship road race last fall, placing sixth. She is a likely candidate to lead the American team at the world championships in Richmond, Virginia later this year.
“I am taking it one day at a time still, but I am very excited to race and grateful that it is possible. The doctors told me it can take 6-12 weeks to recover, so to be able to come back this soon is great,” Olds said.
“However, the trauma of the crash affected me in more places than my rib, and my whole body is still working to recover. But I know that I have worked really hard in the last month, and I want to race more than anything now. I really want to rejoin my team and enjoy the races.”
Bigla will race Omloop van Borsele on Saturday and Dwars door Westhoek on Sunday. Olds is on the startlist for both events.
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