Maurits Lammertink refuses to give up hope of continuing his career as a professional cyclist, but faces a long road to recovery with no guarantees after a horrific brain injury suffered earlier this year.

In June, the Dutch rider for Intermarque Wanty-Gobert Materio was on holiday with his partner and children when he was hit by a motorcycle outside an ice cream parlor in Hangelo.

He suffered a fractured skull, lost a great deal of blood and went into a coma, requiring emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain.

Six months later, Lammertink was interviewed by the Dutch publication Tubantia (opens in new tab) and visited the rehabilitation center in Rosings, where he spends his days between sessions of speech, exercise, occupational, physical, and psychotherapy.

Although he appears well, he is easily overwhelmed mentally, and his report describes a time when he had to go outside because he could not tolerate the lights and noises in the hall. He takes medication to help him process stimuli, and his partner explains that without the medication he can barely read bedtime stories to his children.

At 31 years old, Lammertink is in a state where he is fighting just to be able to live a normal life again, but he has not given up on his career.

"I want to get back to the professional level," he told Tubantia.

In addition to his brain injury, he suffered blows to his jaw and ear canal, is partially deaf, has damaged his vestibular organs, needs major shoulder surgery, and still suffers from loss of feeling in his hands.

Furthermore, his contract with Intermarque Wanty-Gobert expires at the end of this year, but he has not yet received an offer for an extension. In fact, communication between him and the team seems to be in disarray, with the team professing that Lammertink is training hard again and the director indicating that he may remain on the roster next season.

"I was congratulated on that, but I knew nothing about it," Lammertink said. We have kept the team management informed of all developments, but we have not discussed a contract extension until now."

"We have not discussed the possibility of a contract extension," he said.

His partner added, " I don't mind if the team offers him a contract with clauses, but at least give him that chance."

As for riding a bicycle, Lammertink can get out there, but he has not reached the level of what could be considered decent exercise for a professional rider.

"I like to ride for an hour or two, but I wouldn't call it cycling," he said, adding that he has suffered a few falls due to head problems. 'Stupid falls. I just wasn't focused anymore. Toward the end of the ride, I made a simple mistake because of mental fatigue."

He added, "I was just too tired.

Despite all the hurdles standing in his way, Lammertink has no intention of giving up.

"Until I know where my ceiling is, I can't accept it. That's why I'm here now. To expand my mental capacity and be able to function in normal society and in the cycling peloton."

"The question is, will I ever be able to do that again? I don't know. I keep training, I keep working hard. I can't do anything else. Time will tell what is possible."