Albert resumes training

Just over two weeks after rupturing his spleen, Belgian Niels Albert is back on the bike. Doctors gave permission for him to start light training on rollers. The 24-year-old crashed while warming up for the Superprestige cyclo-cross race in Gavere in November. He remained in intensive care for several days.

Albert started aqua-jogging over the weekend as his first activity and, after a medical check-up Monday, doctors said he could increase his movement.

"Everything is proceeding normally," said his manager Christoph Roothooft to sportwereld.be. "He can now move some, and therefore he can ride his bike on the rollers." Roothooft noted, too, that the doctors impressed on Albert that he was not to force things or become overtired. "So this will drag on for weeks, under observation." (SW)