It seems like a lifetime since Matteo Moschetti made an impressive start to the 2020 season with two wins at the Trofeo Mallorca before crashing at the Etoile de Besseges. But it has been less than eight weeks since the promising 23-year-old fractured his pelvis along with his scapula, ribs, and vertebrae.

After surgery, the Italian underwent intensive physical therapy in Forli.

Moschetti crashed heavily on February 7 during the third stage of the race and underwent surgery in Bergamo on February 11, just days before the first coronavirus cases were diagnosed in Lombardy, now a hot spot for the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic.

After the surgery, he was transferred to the physiology center in Forli, where he worked on his hip rehabilitation, but the town was soon sealed off and Moschetti was left mostly alone.

"We, along with his family, decided to entrust Matteo to the care of Fabrizio Bolla and his team at the Physiology Center in Forli," Dr. Gaetano Daniele, head physician at Trek Segafredo, explained on the team website. [Mateo remained there alone, sweating and suffering, for three weeks, while Bolla followed up personally and diligently for six to seven hours each day. Thanks to this hard work, Matteo was able to achieve results that far exceeded even the most optimistic predictions."

Moschetti exercised in the pool and gym to build strength and regain mobility and movement. He was able to walk unassisted after three or four days and showed continued improvement.

"Yes, there were hard days. I would wake up in the morning and feel a little stiff, and it was hard to move my legs and hips," Moschetti says.

"But even though I lost a lot of strength in both legs, on my last day at the center I did an exam and both legs were at the same level.

But Moschetti stayed in a nearby hotel and went to the rehab facility alone. As the coronavirus accelerated its spread throughout Italy, the town was quickly sealed off and his hotel was closed.

"Luckily, the hotel owner had a small one-bedroom apartment not far from the center where I could stay until my treatment was complete."

It was a lonely time, but it kept him busy, rehabbing from morning to night and chatting with family, friends, and partners via videoconference.

"The situation was strange because the lockdown was only in two areas initially. I was already at the center at the time, so my main concern was whether I would be able to continue my treatment, but fortunately I was able to. On the other hand, I knew that everyone was safe at home," Moschetti said. [My mother worked in a supermarket and my father also had to work because he drives a delivery truck. My brother and sister stayed home because school was cancelled, but overall the situation was good and everyone was safe. [25] [26] "Later, as the situation became more serious, the decision was made to extend the red zone to all of Italy. The hotel where I was staying was closed, as were the restaurants in the area and most of the stores. Luckily the physiotherapy center was open, but the last few days were bizarre with only four or five patients."

Now back at home, Moschetti is able to ride briefly on a stationary trainer. Initially, doctors thought he would not be able to do so until May, so the cancellation of all races until June 1 did not significantly affect his plans.

"To be honest, my first thought was not about canceling races or interrupting the calendar. I was more concerned about the coronavirus situation, the progression of the infection, and whether people would be safe. This is not an easy moment. It's bigger than me, the players, the team, and cycling

"I can imagine it's not easy for the players who were preparing for all the big goals of the season. Mentally it's quite difficult for sure, but I believe we can keep fighting the same way. We all have the same goals. For me it's to come back from the fall, for everyone else it's to come back from the virus."