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One-on-one With the Heroes of Cycling.

- André Valentine

One Sunday afternoon in June 2016, at the Coppa Della Pace in Italy, South African-born racer Keagan Girdlestone was chasing down the peloton. As he weaved through the convoy of team cars, his own slowed down in front of him. He ploughed straight into the back of it, crashing through the rear window. 

Girdlestone suffered serious neck injuries, severing his carotid artery and jugular vein - which starved the right side of his brain of blood, causing several other complications, including paralysis on one side of his body. He is lucky to be alive. 

He's since been through a tough rehabilitation programme, determined to get himself back to normal. In November, five months after his horrific crash, he rode his bike for the first time. He is nowhere near fully recovered, but remains optimistic. Here he shares his experience, the lessons he's learned, and his hopes for the future. 

NAME: KEAGAN GIRDLESTONE AGE: 19 BIKE: CERVÉLO R3 PROFESSION: PRO RACER, TEAM DIMENSION DATA CONTINENTAL

Do you remember anything from the aftermath of the accident?

I remember feeling hot liquid running down my neck, and spectators saying something that sounded like ‘Piano, piano, piano’ [gently, slow down]. Then everything went silent.

What was the first thing you thought when you woke up?