Cyclist Isabel Darvill explains the physical and mental battle of recovering from a broken pelvis as return to racing ruled out until 2025

Elite cyclist Isabel Darvill is on the road to recovery after a crash which initially left her unable to feel her legs.

Darvill suffered a broken pelvis after being hit by a rival bike on the final lap of the Sheffield Grand Prix in mid-July.

The 23-year-old, who lives in Newark, also suffered a hairline-fractured elbow in the smash, while her bike was a write-off.

She’s now spoken of the physical and mental battle she’s faced, six weeks on from the incident.

“It’s a physical blow because I broke my pelvis and had multiple injuries,” said Darvill, who won’t return to competitive action until next year.

“But it was more that mental blow of the unknown of how long I was going to be off the bike and the fact it ended my season early.

“It still is more of a mental thing because you don’t know if you’re ever going to be able to race the same way because of what happened until you’re back racing.

“When you’re training, you’re not in the same mindset or have the adrenaline to judge.

“I’ve had plenty of crashes in the 14 years I’ve been cycling but it’s the first time I’ve come off one and said to my mum I don’t know whether I can do this any more.

“My mum turned into a full-time carer at first because trying to do simple things, like getting changed, having food, making a drink, going downstairs, it was impossible.

“It was almost like being paralysed because you don’t realise how much you use your pelvis and how many other muscles are attached.

“Getting out of bed in the morning took me about half an hour in the first few days, I had to work out how I was going to get up.

“When you’re going from training every day to being forced to sit and do no exercise at all, it’s a big shock and not something I got used to.

“Every week it’s got a little bit easier. I’ve relearnt how to walk and even how to get on a bike but I’m slowly getting myself back and I’ve now had a conversation with my coach about having a training plan again.

“I’ve also got a physio/PT – Paul at Spectrum Wellness in Fernwood. He’s been looking after me right from the start and we’ve got a lot of hours ahead to get myself back to where I was.

“Part of the rehab is teaching the body that you can take weight again as it’s spent six weeks trying to protect itself and limit any movement.”

Amazingly, given her injuries, Darvill is already going out for short rides as she battles her way back to fitness.

Even light work comes with its challenges, though, with the accident still fresh in her mind.

She said: “I’m not one who’s ever taken time off to recover from things and, when I’m ill, I train through it.

“This crash, it’s the first time I’ve actually had to not touch the bike and now it’s about not pushing things.

“It’s been a lot to deal with because I suppose in the moment we just race and that’s what we’re built to do as an athlete. The odd loss of skin is expected.

“But this time, I was reminded that just one split second can change your life and at the end of the day, which a lot of people don’t realise, I’m not a full-time cyclist and I do have a full-time job I need to turn up to.

“I remember the crash entirely, I remember trying to get back up, to cross the finish line, but I just couldn’t feel or move my legs.

“I remember trying to get back up, as I normally do, and not being able to feel my legs.

“I had two ambulances and a fire crew looking after me.

“Everyone was trying their best to reassure me and tell me I’ll be fine but I knew something wasn’t right.”

Darvill was due to travel to Spain in October for a training camp.

She still intends to go but will be taking it slowly after ruling out a return to competition before 2025.

“It was meant to be a full-on training week with my friend in Girona,” said Darvill. “Now it’s going to be more like getting my base fitness back and finding my love back for the bike.

“In terms of racing I have decided to leave it for this year because it’s not worth the risk and I’m just not race fit.

“I’d only anger myself by not getting the results I want.”

Darvill would like to thank London and New York-based company Zwift for supplying her with an indoor turbo bike to help her regain fitness.