Four years after being diagnosed with cancer, Norwegian cyclist Torstein Traeen is grateful to be back competing as a professional cyclist – and is now even wearing the most famous jersey in his sport. “It’s obviously a great pleasure to be able to ride in the Yellow Jersey. When you’re diagnosed with cancer, you don’t know what’s going to happen, and to be honest, I’m quite happy to be back competing at a high level and leading the world’s biggest race,” said the 30-year-old ahead of the sixth stage of the 113th Tour de France.
In May 2022, abnormalities in a doping test had set the Norwegian on the path to his diagnosis. “It was Friday the 13th – we were joking amongst ourselves that something bad was going to happen,” Traeen told the website ‘Cycling Weekly’. Then he received a call from the team doctor and was shocked. Markers found in the sample needed to be investigated. On top of that came pain in his testicles and, finally, the certainty.
According to Traeen, his doctor told him: “I’ll make sure you don’t die of cancer.” During an operation, a testicle containing a tumour was removed. The cancer had not yet spread.
How long can Traeen hold onto the shirt?
Traeen was soon able to get back on his bike. Last year, he led the Vuelta for a few days. On Tuesday, he claimed the Maillot Jaune in the Tour as part of a breakaway group and defended it on Wednesday despite a moment of panic following a crash. “I’ve got a small graze on my knee, but nothing really serious,” he said.
The question now is how long he can keep the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar and the Dane Jonas Vingegaard at bay. Traeen currently has a lead of 7 minutes and 53 seconds, but a gruelling stage over the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees awaits as early as Thursday.
“We’ll have to wait and see how fast they ride, and of course Tadej is Tadej. I reckon if he goes full throttle on the Tourmalet, I might fall behind him, and then there’s no telling how far behind I’ll be,” said the Norwegian. “In this heat, anything could happen. You just have to stay positive and give it your best shot.”
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