Two months after a crash at the Boels Ladies Tour left her in a wheelchair with a broken pelvis and arm, Ellen van Dijk is now focusing on rehabilitation for the 2020 season with Trek Segafredo.

The 32-year-old has won 57 races, 16 in team time trials, one world, four European, and four national individual time trial titles, and the 2014 Tour of Flanders.

Her European champion jersey was only a month old when she crashed badly on the fourth stage of the Boels Ladies Tour in September, setting her sights on the World Championships in Yorkshire.

"I was really focused on the World Championships and had been working towards this goal for months. It took me a while to fully understand that I would not be competing. On the day of the time trial I didn't watch the race. I went to the cinema instead," Van Dijk said in an interview published on Trek-Segafredo's team page.

"To go from being 100% healthy to not being able to move at all is a huge shock, both physically and mentally. The first week I spent most of it in the hospital and was so tired from the pain meds that not being able to move didn't bother me that much; the second week I was at home and getting more and more frustrated; the third week I was in the hospital and couldn't move at all.

"I regained some energy, but couldn't do much more than lie in bed or sit in a chair. Luckily, lots of friends and family came over and entertained me. In fact, from a social standpoint, it was a great time."

As a results-oriented athlete, van Dijk has been motivated by small goals and improving every day. After three weeks I could walk with crutches, and after four weeks I could walk a little without crutches." Every little step feels like a small victory."

"About a month later, I went to the gym to start basic exercises to strengthen my arms and legs. I've been in bed for a while and you wouldn't believe how much muscle I've lost. Last week I was able to ride my bike for the first time, but my right leg needs to be stronger. So for now I can do short rides and lots of strengthening exercises"

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Still, the recovery has taken longer than van Dijk had hoped.

"Now that I can finally ride, I thought I could resume training. But everything takes time. At the moment I can only ride for an hour and a half, and I still can't ride every day. Every time I think I'm completely fine, my body tells me to slow down. Doctors keep telling me that my recovery is very fast. But for me, it's never fast enough."

Van Dijk also has big goals for the 2020 season.

"Right now I'm focusing all my energy on recovery: getting back to 100% condition and being able to fully train and race. Then I will set my sights on the Spring Classics, the Tokyo Olympic trials, and the European and World Championships at the end of the season."