One year ago, Giant-Shimano rider Matthieu Sprick suffered a stroke that put his career in danger. It is still unclear whether he will ever return to the professional peloton but is now back on his bike and still hopeful that he will be able to resume his career.

One year ago in May, the team was shocked by the news that one of its riders, Frenchman Matthieu Sprick had suffered a stroke and had been hospitalised as a result.

Progress has been slow and labored, however fast-forward one year and Sprick is making good progress both on and off the bike as he fights to feel like a cyclist again. His team's website spoke with him to find out how he is getting on in his challenge to become healthy once again.

“I don’t know exactly what the recovery process is like from a stroke apart from what I have experienced over the past year. I hear from a lot of people who say that I am recovering quickly and well however for me it is not quick enough – they are probably right though.”

Sprick joined in 2011 when Team Giant-Shimano was Skil-Shimano and quickly became an integral part of the team and what it stood for.

He rode in the team’s second participation in the Tour de France in 2012 as part of a strong and consistent year for the team. However his riding is now with a very different focus than when he used to step on the bike.

“I am now on the bike about four times a week, about 10 hours in total and this is supplemented with two visits to the physio of one to two hours a week. My recovery is slow but this is the case and there is not much more I can do to speed up this process.

“I can do what I want now, in terms of getting out and riding, but things are not like they used to be. My goal for on the bike is to recover and that is it now.

“The team has a ‘keep challenging’ ethos and to keep challenging my situation I have several motivational factors – my son, my wife, all of my family. Everybody close to me supports me and this helps me everyday.

“One year after my stroke I would not class myself as a rider, but I am on the bike and am progressing but just a cyclist. It is a bit like starting out again, learning how the body reacts to riding the bike.

“I am proud to still be a member of this team and what it stands for in the sport. What the team is achieving both on and off the bike is like a dream really. Seeing so many young talents, some of the youngest in the WorldTour, doing what they are doing and winning in the Grand Tours and all over the world is a real inspiration and it is a real motivation for me.”

Team Giant-Shimano continues to support Sprick in his recovery process to becoming healthy once again.