Every rider taking part in the UCI Track Champions League has a story to tell about how they reached the pinnacle of the sport, but few have had to overcome the setbacks Philip Heijnen has faced in the last few years.
Back in December 2021, Heijnen was on a training ride with the Dutch national team when team-mate Amy Pieters suffered a horror crash which resulted in her being placed in an induced coma. She didn't regain consciousness for four months, and as of April this year, she was still unable to talk.
Then, in April last year, Heijnen suffered a career-threatening crash of his own. Racing at an event in Ghent, Belgium, he fell hard in the Omnium, breaking four vertebrae in his back and spending four days in hospital.
During that time, Heijnen almost quite the sport, a story that is covered in this Cycling Weekly article. Thankfully, he had second thoughts, and within six weeks of his crash he was back on the track, and within three months he was U23 European Madison Champion.
His performances at the senior European Championships in February, where he took a bronze medal in the Elimination, helped him earn his UCI Track Champions League debut, and we sat down with him after the Grand Finale in London to reflect on his remarkable return to the top which saw him ultimately finish fifth in the Men's Endurance competition:
It's fair to say you were at a crossroads in you career after your crash in April last year. What were the main reasons why you decided to keep on going, and keep on cycling?
Because, at the end of the day, I love cycling. At first, after the crash, I was thinking a lot about the risks we face in this sport, but then talking to people about it, they raised the point that you can also have accidents in everyday life as well. For instance - I could injury myself falling down the stairs. That made me think about what I wanted to do in the next chapter of my life, and there was nothing I wanted to do more than ride my bike; riding with my friends, either in a velodrome or outdoors. I love the camaraderie, the speed and the tactics of this sport - that's what makes me happy. Realising that, I knew I needed to keep going.
When did you first start cycling?
I've been riding bikes since I was very young but started to take more of an interest when I was 10. No-one in my family was into cycling, my dad watched the Tour de France, but that was about it. I joined my first club when I was 11 and began competing a year later. I progressed step by step over the years, began riding on the track when I was 14, and got better and better until here I am today.
Do you ever think what you'd be doing now if you had stopped?
I'd like to think I'd still be doing something in sport - maybe a personal trainer or something. If not that, I'd maybe have liked to study hotel management, because that's something I'm interested in, and I might still look to go into after I retire. In this sport you spend a lot of time in hotels, so I am pretty well qualified to know what is good and what is bad (laughs).
Did you surprise yourself how quickly you were able to get back to your best after your crash?
Yes, it was a pretty big surprise winning the U23 European Madison title, and it confirmed to me I'd made the right choice about continuing my cycling career. That gave me confidence in my rehabilitation, and I was actually more surprised when I was able to finish third in the Elimination at the senior European Championships last February.
What were your feelings when you won that Madison title? Was it a way of closing a difficult chapter of your life?
I was super happy, and I was pleased to prove a few of my doubters wrong, because there were a few people after my crash who said they didn't think I could make such a full recovery.
How hard is it now to block out negative thoughts about crashing before you start each race? Is it something you've learned to do, or is it an ability that came naturally?
At the end of the day, I am a racer, so that allows me to block things out. I am a different person when I'm on the track and the cycling itself becomes second nature. Crashes happen, every rider knows that's part and parcel of the sport.
How much did you enjoy riding the TCL for the first time this season?
A lot. The atmosphere inside the velodromes was great, and it reminded me a lot of the six-day races we do. It was nice to be back in London for the last two rounds as I had happy memories from that venue. I won an U23 six-day event there a few years ago and I remember being so motivated by all the cheering, so it was nice to experience that again.
What is it about the series you most enjoyed?
It was great to be with all the other riders for such a sustained period of time. As for the racing, it definitely improved my condition. The Scratch races were really short efforts which I'm not normally so good at in training, but doing them in a race environment was a lot more fun - going full gas where you have no choice but to make it to the finish line, due to the points and prize money at stake. I really enjoyed the Elimination races too.
Who are the riders you most looked up to?
I have a lot of respect for many riders, but I don't really look up to anyone in particular. I liked watching Katie [Archibald] and Harrie [Lavreysen], and appreciate what they were able to do, and Dylan [Bibic] is also someone I also enjoyed watching.
What are your ambitions for the future?
My next big goal is the European Championships in January, I'm really looking forward to those. They're taking place in Apeldoorn and I am a proud Dutchman, so I want to ride well in front of a home crowd. I'm not due to ride the 2024 Olympics, but the 2028 Olympics are already on my radar after that, and all the work I'm putting in now will hopefully pay dividends then.
Follow Philip Heijnen on Instagram at @philipheijnen
