Michal Valgren continues to fight for his career, but he is slowly but surely making significant progress on his comeback from a major injury suffered this summer and refuses to consider life without racing.

The Danish rider, who has won the Amstel Gold Race and the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, suffered a high-speed crash on the downhill of the Route d'Occitanie in June, fracturing his pelvis and tearing both femoral ligaments and meniscus in his knee.

Doctors told him he may never race again, and that may still be the case, but Valgren sees light at the end of the tunnel.

He is back on his bike, albeit indoors, for 15 minutes at a time and up to three times a day.

"I love what I do and will do whatever I can to get back," the 30-year-old said in an EF Education-EasyPost update.

"I don't want to end my career with an injury. I always say that if I don't want to do it anymore, I'll stop.

"I love my life. Not being on a bike, not being a bike rider, is something I can't even think about at this point."

Valgren wore a pelvic supporter for several weeks, giving him time to regain strength and function. Then, two weeks ago, he underwent manipulative surgery under anesthesia to destroy scar tissue in his knee. The next day he got on his home trainer and turned the pedals for the first time since June.

"It was like a victory," he said. 'Maybe it was too soon, but I had to try. I thought, 'Heck yeah, this is good.'"

As it stands, Valgren is still forced to be patient. The team explained that his routine begins with an hour and a half ride on the knee bending machine, followed by three and a half hours at the physio, then back home for hours on the knee bending machine for more. During the day, he does three 15-minute sessions at a lower load.

"I went from training 25 to 30 hours a week to not doing a single aerobic exercise for months. I'm not sure why, because I get a lot of energy from exercise.

"I was still exercising, but the exercises at Physio were just to push the pain away. Not a good feeling. I'm trying to get through it in the best way possible, but I'm not overjoyed about it. I really miss working up a good sweat and getting my heart rate up."

"The nice thing about injuries like this is that the best thing you can do for recovery is ride your bike, and that's what I do, so the sooner I can get back on the bike the better.

"I'm finally back on the right track. I have more range of motion in my knee. I can finally do pedal strokes.

As for when he will return to the pro peloton, he is still uncertain.

"I'll be honest. I can't say for sure when I'll be at full power, but I'm in really good shape and working hard every day, so I think I'll be back sooner or later."