As we come to the end of may, with only four months left of the season, I’ve been reflecting on the start of the year and the preparation that went into this season over the winter.Nine months ago, I suffered a very serious crash at Ronde de Valles, resulting in skull fractures and significant head injuries. What followed was one of the most challenging periods I’ve faced — five months of dealing with the physical and mental effects of the accident and trying to get back on the bike.By the end of January, I was finally able to return to full training, but it meant coming into my first races physically underprepared. However, the biggest challenge hasn’t actually been fitness.Mentally, getting comfortable again with descending at speed and riding in large bunches has been incredibly difficult. It’s something I underestimated, and honestly, it has affected my performances massively. The first half of this season has involved getting dropped on descents, spending races in the gruppetto, and crashing more than I’d like.It’s been a frustrating and difficult few months, but there have also been lessons in resilience, patience, and rebuilding confidence step by step.I’m determined to turn things around in the second half of the season and keep progressing, both physically and mentally. There’s still a lot left to race for 💪