Chloe Dygert has lost three inches around her left quadriceps muscle since undergoing surgery to repair an 80 percent laceration suffered in a fall at the World Championships in Imola, Italy, in September. The American talent is calm, positive, mentally strong, and focused on recovering to win the time trial and team pursuit at next summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo.

On his way back to the finish line in Imola on his way to his second consecutive world championship individual time trial title, Daigert crashed on a downhill, hitting an unpadded section of guardrail. He was taken to a hospital in Bologna, where it was confirmed that he suffered a deep wound on his left leg that will require surgery.

"I lacerated my quadriceps muscle, and I still have about 20% of it left, and the doctors were able to repair it and stitch it back together," Dygert told Cycling News. "There was also a partial tear in the tendon and they stitched that back together, and the MRI showed that the bandages on the knee were fine, there was some cartilage damage and a little bit of bone bruising, but it's all manageable and he's recovering well. I almost didn't know how bad the injury was, it looked bad, but I could move my leg, so I knew I didn't break anything, but it never occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to come back."

Dygert posted images and video of his first steps after surgery on September 29, and on October 1 he was discharged from the hospital and returned to his family home in Indiana to begin the recovery process. Although his leg muscles have atrophied a bit due to the brace on his leg, he has now begun therapy and is slowly regaining movement.

"We're still figuring it all out, and soon I'll be able to ride a stationary bike without the watts, and I'll be able to ride a bike again, but it all depends on getting the strength back in my legs," Daigert said. 'There's a three-inch gap between both legs. It was a real struggle to get my legs up. It woke up my muscles a little bit and I was able to bend it a little bit, stimulating the muscles. I was able to lift and it was a good session the other day."

With a little more strength, Dygert will return home to Boise in about two weeks before undergoing rehabilitation and physical therapy in Santa Monica, California. She is also discussing her injuries with Jumbo Visma's Wout Van Aert, who was involved in a horrific crash during the Tour de France individual time trial last July and suffered serious injuries, including deep cuts to the skin, capsule, and muscles of her upper thigh and buttocks.

Van Aert made a full recovery, winning two stages of the Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, and Tour de France, and finishing second in the Tour de Flanders and World Championships.

"It was great talking to Wout. I got to hear how he was recovering, what he was going through, and how he dealt with it. I wasn't worried, but seeing where he is now gives me hope," Dygert said.

Dygert blamed himself for the accident during the time trial, saying he entered the corner too fast and lost control of his bike. However, many who watched the video of the accident believe that the race organizers did not extend the guardrail pads far enough around the curve in the road, and that with proper protection, he could have suffered more minor injuries.

"I didn't think I was winning by enough, so I felt I needed to push the limits of what was possible," Daigert said. That turn was going to be on the aerobars, so it wasn't spur of the moment, it was planned." It's very clear to me. It doesn't scare me, and when I watch the replay it doesn't bother me that much.

Dygert signed a four-year contract with Canyon-SRAM before the World Championships. She will leave her longtime development team, Twenty20 Pro Cycling, to compete in the Women's World Tour starting in 2021.

"Canyon-SRAM was always my go-to team," she said. Everything fell into place, I knew from the beginning that I would be going to a European team in 2021, and Canyon-SRAM has always been the most consistent team, giving me what I wanted and what I needed to be the best I could be. They give me the opportunity to be myself, not only as a person but also as a track and road rider, and they don't try to pull me in directions that don't benefit my career. I am really happy with this move."

There were several teams interested in signing Dygert, but she will continue to work with her coach, three-time Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong, who is flexible to support her Olympic goals while she continues to compete in time trials and track She said it was important to find a team.

"If they wouldn't let me use my pink shoes, or hire Kristin as a coach, or let me use my Red Bull helmet, I would say, 'OK, you're out. Canyon-SRAM was the team most willing to let me be me."

Dygert switched bikes from Felt Bicycles to Canyon Bicycles for the first time in his career, but he is comfortable that only the best equipment for training and racing on the road will be supplied.

"I wouldn't go to a team without the best equipment, and I wanted to choose somewhere that was good for me and had top-of-the-line equipment so I wouldn't have to worry about whether they had fast wheels or bikes," Daigert said. With Canyon-SRAM, I don't have to worry about that." I've been using felt all my life, so it's a strange feeling to jump over. Until Canyon develops a bike for track, I'll continue to use felt bikes on the track, but I'm looking forward to giving Canyon a shot."

He will focus on the Olympics next year, but looks forward to joining the team the following year during the spring classics.

"I want to experience the Classic and be part of the team. With Christine and her knowledge and experience, she can pick the races that she thinks are best for me." With Christine and her knowledge and experience, she can pick the race that she thinks is best for me.

Just hours after Dygert's accident in Imola, Armstrong told Cycling News that although she was devastated, she had no doubt that Dygert would come back stronger.

"She's a coach. She knows. She's never for one second thought, 'I'm not going to make it, I'm not going to make it,' and she's always willing to do it. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get better, to heal, and to not have excuses come Olympic time."