Saxo Bank rider Jonny Bellis almost lost his life thirteen months ago after a scooter accident. He has returned to racing and hopes he can repay the Danish team for their support through the recovery.

Bellis signed a one-year contract extension with Bjarne Riis’s team in August, who continued to give his support.

After returning to racing, Bellis continued to have problems. He has gone through a tough time.

He abandoned British National Championships in June. He did however finish the GP Plouay but in September, he quit the Tour of Britain during stage one.

Before the accident, the British rider took bronze in the 2007 Under 23 World Road Race Championships in Stuttgart. And he hopes to show himself again, with exactly the same potential as in 2007.

“I know a lot of people will be saying behind my back that I’ve got a lot to do and won’t make it, but, as bad as it was, the accident caused no permanent damage,” he said.

“You don’t just lose your talent. People will look at my performance at the Tour of Britain and draw conclusions, but that was the ride of someone who had no race fitness and was up against people who had just ridden major tours and were preparing for the Worlds. I felt normal for someone starting his season. The problem was that I was the only guy in that position.”