Tour de France: Four years after cancer in yellow: “Of course a great joy”

Four years after a cancer diagnosis, the Norwegian Torstein Traeen is grateful that he can be active as a professional cyclist again – and even made it into the most famous jersey in his sport. «It is of course a great pleasure to be able to ride in the yellow jersey. When you get cancer you don’t know what’s going to happen and I’m honestly pretty happy to be back at a good level and leading the biggest race in the world,” said the 30-year-old.

For two days, Traeen was allowed to wear the coveted bib of the overall leader of the 113th. Tour de France carry. On the sixth stage, however, superstar Tadej Pogacar left all his rivals behind thanks to a show of force, and the lead of almost eight minutes was not enough for Traeen, who was clearly far away. After a fall on a descent, he struggled to the finish with a long gap.

Cancer diagnosis in 2022 after doping test

In May 2022, abnormalities in a doping sample put the Norwegian on the path to diagnosis. “It was Friday the 13th – we joked with each other that something bad was going to happen,” Traeen told the “Cycling Weekly” portal. Then he received a call from the team doctor and was shocked. Markers found in the sample had to be examined. There was also pain in the testicles and finally certainty.

According to Traeen, his doctor told him: “I will make sure you don’t die of cancer.” During surgery, a testicle that had a tumor in it was removed. The cancer had not yet spread.

Traeen already suspected Pogacar’s attack on the Tourmalet

Traeen was soon able to return to the bike. Last year he led the Vuelta in Spain for a few days. On Tuesday he won the Maillot Jaune at the Tour as part of a breakaway group and defended it on Wednesday despite a moment of shock with a fall. “I have a small wound on my knee, but nothing really serious,” he said.

Traeen already suspected that things would be tough on the sixth stage. Before the start he said: “We have to wait and see how fast they go, and of course Tadej is Tadej. I think if he goes full throttle on the Tourmalet, I might be behind him, and then you don’t know how much behind I will be,” said the Norwegian. “Anything can happen in this heat. You just have to hope and do your best.”

© dpa-infocom, dpa:260709-930-356429/2