Fabio Jacobsen (Deceuninck-QuickStep) will return to the bike this month for the first time since a career- and life-threatening crash at the Tour de Pollogne in August.

The Dutch sprinter, who suffered serious facial injuries when he crashed into the finish barrier at high speed, has completed another step in his recovery with the removal of stitches from a recent surgery.

A month ago, Jacobsen underwent surgery to reconstruct his jaw by taking bone from his pelvis. The stitches have been removed and the surgery appears to have been a success.

"Four weeks after the upper and lower jaw reconstruction surgery, it was time to remove the stitches. The healing process is going well," Jacobsen said in a social media update.

"The grafted bone should grow strong and firm for the next four months. The next surgery is scheduled for 2021.

Once the new bone is stable, Jacobsen will undergo surgery again early next year to implant new teeth.

In the meantime, once his pelvis heals, he should be able to ride his bike again. No word yet on whether or when the 24-year-old, who feels lucky to even be alive, will be able to resume his career as a professional cyclist, but he did offer a positive sign, calling it "training."

"In a couple of weeks the pelvic dyke should be healed and I should be strong again like before," he said. Then I can slowly start training on the bike again!"

"I'll be back to my old self in three weeks.

Jacobsen was forced to the barrier after Dylan Groenewegen deviated from the line in a high-speed downhill sprint in Poland. Jacobsen, of Jumbo-Visma, was suspended and is still under disciplinary investigation by the UCI.

Meanwhile, many criticized the UCI and the race organizers for what was already considered a dangerous finish and for the barriers that apparently gave way too soon. There are also calls for the creation of a new breakaway union, the Riders' Union, to counter the existing CPA.