BMC Racing’s Alessandro Ballan continues his recuperation following his near fatal crash last December and his subsequent operations.

Previously, the 2008 world road champion has undergone surgeries to have his spleen removed and a double fracture of his left femur repaired. As stated by his team doctors, these operations have all proceeded according to plan.

Now the smile appears to be coming back on the face of the unfortunate rider. In a tweet today, the former champion of the world announced that he is slowly on his way back to recovery.

“I went for a little walk today,” Ballan wrote. “These are my first steps towards a comeback. My morale is excellent and I can’t wait to get back on my bike!”

While the exact date of Ballan’s successful return to the road remains uncertain, his team doctors expect Ballan to return to active racing in approximately 4 months, barring any further complications following his operations.