It is a small wonder that Kris Boeckmans still alive and even more impressive that he is again sitting on a road bike. The Lotto Soudal sprinter was involved in a big crash in the eighth stage of the Vuelta a España and his condition was very serious as he was kept in an induced coma for a long time. "Six times I was died," he tells Het Nieuwsblad.

Boeckmans is currently with his team at training camp in Mallorca. Almost three months ago, nobody would have expected that.

"Today I know how lucky I am. It was ten times worse than it has ever been reported in the press. Six times I almost died. A first time at the crash itself, then when I swallowed my tongue and had bleedings in my lungs, then again when they decided not to bring me to two local hospitals but rather directly to a university hospital, the next time when I was in need of oxygen and they had exactly the unit that I needed - there were only nine of them throughout Spain - and again when the device accidentally was turned off almost exactly on time. Another 12 hours and I would have had blood clots in my veins. It does make you think a lot."

Boeckmans has a contract with Lotto Soudal and the team has promised to support him fully during the recovery. It is still not known whether he will be able to return to racing.