12 May 2024 - Giro d’Italia, Stage 9. The peloton is heading toward the finish in Naples when a Tudor Pro Cycling rider goes down hard—Alexander Krieger. He is rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnose multiple rib fractures and a fractured pelvis.
17 February 2025 - UAE Tour. Nine months after his last race, Alex stands at the start line, ready to make his return to the peloton.
Those nine months replay in his mind like a movie, with clear pictures of everything he’s been through.
From the four nights in a Naples’ hospital to two more weeks in Germany, Alex remembers the pain and one defining moment: pelvis surgery. That was a turning point, the key to his recovery and future career. A release breath after that, with crutches supporting him for 6 weeks, he could start his rehabilitation program, mainly confined to his home due to the difficulty of moving.
Alex remembers that period: “The beginning was really tough. I was in huge pain. But now, when I look back, it’s almost… nice. Because I know how it all turned out.” Among all the injuries in his career, this one rivaled the trauma of his December 2020 car accident. But this time, the damage felt even worse, physically and emotionally. “Six or seven weeks after the crash, we could have sped up my recovery, but together with the team, we decided I wouldn’t race again in the season. There was no need to rush and take unnecessary risks for my future. Looking back, it was the right choice. Some setbacks were expected, but in the end, they never came.”
That decision brought Alex relief. The unwavering support of the Team and the collaboration with hospital doctors made all the difference. The connections he built during recovery continued even after he left the hospital.
His first ride back on the bike was on July 18th, just 15 minutes: "At eight minutes in, I had no idea how I was going to make it back home."
Though he spent the whole Summer at home, something unusual for a professional cyclist, he never felt bored: “I have to admit: my friends took really good care of me. As I could walk and move more, I had a surprisingly normal life, maybe even better than normal. I went swimming in lakes, had dinners with friends, hosted BBQ and table tennis nights, rode the Vespa. I really enjoyed that social life.
Beyond these personal moments, Alex also found new ways to stay connected to the Team. In July, he visited the Team altitude training camp for a couple of days in Kühtai, Austria. At the Tour of Germany, he visited the SRAM Headquarters and rode to a stage to support his teammates. His first proper ride came at Granfondo Vaduz, part of the Chasing Cancellara series, where he led one of the groups together with his best friend. At the UCI World Championship in Zürich, he spent the week with the Team’s marketing division, hosting a BMC ride and engaging with sponsors and guests.
His curiosity about people, his desire to connect, only grew stronger. He wanted to give something back. That’s why, in August, Alex took on a new role - he was a Sport Directors for the Devo Team at criteriums in Germany and Switzerland: “When I was at the hospital, I had a lot of time to think and one idea stuck with me: bridging the gap between the Pro and Devo Teams. I explained my vision to Raphi (Meyer) and Boris (Zimine), and they both agreed with it. "I wanted to open up the horizons of younger riders, and as Boris was eager to improve leadouts, criteriums were the perfect training ground. Every 10 kilometers, a sprint, and another chance to refine tactics."
"But beyond performance, this trip was about connection. We spent time together, shared stories, learned from one another. I hope one day they’ll look back on that week and see it as a valuable experience. I personally do - it taught me a lot. I handled logistics, strategy, preparing and handing out bidons.”
Tough moments bring new opportunities.
“Something I learned is that no emotion lasts forever. It’s important to appreciate the good moments in life and fight to have more of them, because we all can have an impact on that.”
About to make his come back to racing, Alex confesses: "I’ve been looking forward to it. I feel tense, but it’s a good tension. The first race of the season is always special, but this time, it means even more. I am not at my peak yet, but definitely strong enough to do my job for the team. Honestly, I’ll probably put more pressure on myself than the team will. I have a clear role to play. I’ll be integrating into a new leadout train (for Arvid De Kleijn), so my job is twofold: learning their process while bringing in my experience. Ideally, we’ll all benefit from each other. Beyond that, I’ll try to support Michael (Storer) for the mountain stages. But most importantly, I won’t forget to have fun. I’ve been ambitious throughout these months. Now, I just hope I can handle the pressure as I did before.”
Dear Alex, we wish you the best of luck on your comeback!