Culverwell recovering after 'traumatic' crash

Sam Culverwell finished ninth in the road race at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Guernsey cyclist Sam Culverwell says he hopes to resume his professional career after a serious crash last month.

The 23-year-old was hurt riding for the British St Piran team in the first stage of the Tour du Loir et Cher last month.

Culverwell, who was ninth in the road race at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, needed multiple surgeries in France and the UK to fix damaged knee ligaments, an injured iliotibial (IT) band in his leg and get skin grafts to replace the skin he lost after the crash.

He later needed an operation to remove a haematoma on his injured leg which could have burst.

"I went into the barriers at full tilt," Culverwell told BBC Radio Guernsey about the crash close to the finish of the opening stage in Fougeres-sur-Bievre in central France.

"It was pretty traumatic, I've had quite a lot of crashes in the past and I've never really been phased by them, even when I've broken bones, but this was something different.

"When I stood up and saw the state my leg was in, it didn't look pretty."

Sam Culverwell needed almost 50 stitches in his leg injury

Culverwell is one of Guernsey's top cyclists and won gold medals in the individual road race and town criterium at last year's Island Games as well as time trial silver and two team silver medals.

"Right now I can't ride a bike and can't really walk properly, it's not the time to make a decision about what to do about my professional career," he said.

"For me I'm just taking it day by day.

"I'm aiming to get back on the bike as soon as I can and then we'll see from there how it goes.

"The support I've had has been incredible from my friends, family and team.

"I can't thank everyone enough and it gives me the confidence that I don't have to rush back and I can take the time to fully rehab myself properly and come back fully functioning."