NTT Pro Cycling
Source: NTT Pro Cycling |

Remarkable Pozzovivo Impresses a Year on from Horror Crash

Pozzovivo, incredibly, made a return to racing in February at the Tour de la Provence, followed by the UAE tour, and says that he’s getting stronger all the time

In the beginning my opinion, and that of the doctors, was that it would be impossible to come back to even ride a bike again, let alone to race one

PARIS, France, August 15, 2020/APO Group/ --

NTT Pro Cycling (http://www.NTTProCycling.com) climber Domenico Pozzovivo climbed off his bike following the conclusion of stage 3 of the Criterium du Dauphine, sporting a wry smile. Having finished just over two mins behind compatriot Davide Formolo, who won solo in stunning style, he’d also just slipped off the back of the race’s elite group of climbers with 3km to go.

The 37-year-old Italian had expertly managed himself to the finish, retaining his top-20 spot on the general classification; a confidence building performance ahead of bigger challenges ahead, namely the Tour de France.

The date was an important one for Pozzovivo, as 14 August, 2020 marked exactly a year since he underwent a mammoth six hour operation on serious injuries to his leg and arm sustained in a head-on collision with a car while out training. It’s a remarkable recovery for a man who thought that his cycling career had ended on that day.

“I could not imagine to be (back) here and at this level. In the beginning my opinion, and that of the doctors, was that it would be impossible to come back to even ride a bike again, let alone to race one. The first surgery was an emergency on the day of the crash (12 August 2019), it was simply to save my life. On the 14th I was operated on again in Switzerland where consideration was given to maximising what they could for the future, including the insertion of over 20 screws and four metal plates.

“From that point there was a still a lot of uncertainty, as you don’t know how the body will react to the metal and how the body will develop in the future as I’d lost a lot of bone, on the street. I spent a month in hospital which included six surgeries for injuries to my tibia, right hand, four ribs as well as the collar bone.”

Pozzovivo, incredibly, made a return to racing in February at the Tour de la Provence, followed by the UAE tour, and says that he’s getting stronger all the time: “I always try to do my best but if you think (of what’s happened) then I must be proud. In February when I raced it was still playing on my mind and I had some pain but now during the race but it’s not something I’m thinking about anymore, I’m just occupied by the tempo, and performing in the race.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of NTT Pro Cycling.

Media Contact: 
Jean Smyth (Head of Communications)
Email: jean@ryder.co.za
Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033

About NTT Pro Cycling:
Founded in 2007, NTT Pro Cycling (formerly Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka) (http://www.NTTProCycling.com) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a WorldTour license, in 2016. With the support of our headline sponsor and technology innovation partner, NTT, we are the most purpose-driven, performance-led, and technology-enabled team in pro cycling today. 

Our ambition is to continue to race at the highest levels in world cycling, to develop riders to realise their full potential and to inspire and motivate people across the African continent to ride bicycles.

We have bases in South Africa, Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy. 

We also ride to raise awareness for Qhubeka, a global charity operating in South Africa, through our #BicyclesChangeLives campaign. 

The hands on the back of the team race jersey are a reminder that every Qhubeka bicycle is a helping hand up to a beneficiary, which are provided through Qhubeka's learn-to-earn and work-to-earn programmes. 

About Qhubeka:
Qhubeka (https://Qhubeka.org/) is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.

A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 

About NTT Ltd.:
NTT Ltd. (https://hello.global.NTT/) is a global technology services company bringing together the expertise of leaders in the field, including NTT Communications, Dimension Data and NTT Security. We partner with organizations around the world to shape and achieve outcomes through intelligent technology solutions. For us, intelligent means data driven, connected, digital and secure. As a global ICT provider, we employ more than 40,000 people in a diverse and dynamic workplace and deliver services in over 200 countries and regions. Together we enable the connected future.

Visit us at our new website https://hello.global.NTT/

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