Stef Clement had a disappointing 2010 season, in which he spent a long time fighting a chronic hip injury. While he is still not fully healed up, Clement is expecting to be healthy again when the season starts.
He is trying to return to the team early next year. "I hope that in January I can go to the training camp in Mallorca. That would be a tremendous victory, because it would signal that it is going well with me. For now, all I can do is hope," he said on Rabobank's website rabosport.nl.
After a lackluster start to the season, he had to stop due to continuing back and foot problems. This already canceled his plan to try to make the Tour de France team. It became apparent later that 2010 was a lost year. Even six months after starting the break, he is not back to normal. "I am making progress, but after hard training rides I have setbacks."
Besides the lost form due to his long break, he hasn't overcome the physical problems all the way yet. "I can't put full weight on the hip. Only when this is the case, can I think about a real return," Clement said. "I assume this won't take too long anymore, but of course you also have to stay optimistic."
Diagnosing his problems weren't easy in the beginning. "First I had foot pain, but in retrospect, that was due the compensation because of my hip problems. The hardest part was to not stay utterly frustrated," Clement said. He had good supporters. "With the help from my family, the team and Peter Murphy I was able to overcome this. "Clement is cautiously optimistic to make it to the Spanish island. "We look week by week, and the first goal is Mallorca."
Clement was happy he could make Rabobank's team building events this week. "I had goose bumps. Not only from the cold, but really from the atmosphere and the feeling that I was once again a bit of a racer." Clement is getting excited about more to do and he counts on the fact that he will be back soon. "The optimistic feeling takes precedence."