Tour de France 2022: Dylan Groenewegen had 'mental demons' from Fabio Jakobsen crash, says Robbie McEwen

Dylan Groenewegen’s victory at the Tour de France will be a «massive gorilla off his back» after the long battle to rediscover his sprinter’s instinct, according to Eurosport expert Robbie McEwen. The Dutchman (BikeExchange–Jayco) was banned for nine months for causing a crash at the Tour of Poland in 2020 which left Fabio Jakobsen in a coma, although race organisers also came in for heat after concerns were raised about the safety barriers.

Ad/> Both riders suffered in the aftermath. Jakobsen was left with severe injuries including brain and lung contusions, skull fractures, a broken nose and 10 lost teeth.

Groenewegen was subjected to death threats and stinging criticism, spending almost three years in the WorldTour wilderness as he struggled to recover from the crash mentally. Tour de FranceGroenewegen sneaks Stage 3 as Van Aert is bridesmaid again4 HOURS AGO Incredibly, the pair completed their own comeback stories within 24 hours of each other at the Tour – Jakobsen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) winning on a blustery Stage 2 before Groenewegen’s triumph a day later.

Groenewegen was almost lost for words at the finish, admitting “mentally it was hard” to return to the top after the crash two years ago. Eurosport expert McEwen, who won 12 sprint stages at the Tour between 1999 and 2007, revealed he had been working with Groenewegen in recent months and said the 29-year-old wanted to avoid a repeat of the Jakobsen incident “at all costs”.

Tour de France GC standings Latest Tour de France news “This is going to be such a massive gorilla off his back,” said McEwen. “I’m hoping for him [that] it leads to more that will help him get back to the level that he was before both physically and psychologically and we see these