“We often refer to a bad or disastrous day as a dark one. The kind of dark that surrounded my family, team and friends that­­ day, all the while ignoring the fact that I was swimming in white. A dazzling, shiny and pure white, but at the same time cold and enigmatic. A sort of deaf white, if you like, that’s if a colour can have sound.”

On May 16th 2009, during the 8th stage of the Giro d’Italia, Rabobank rider Pedro Horrillo slipped off the road on the descent of the Colle San Pietro. His career ended there. From memories of the morning before the stage, to the sensations experienced while in a coma, this is his story.

The Rouleur Longreads Podcast brings you selected long form articles from the magazine, especially recorded for Rouleur. Don’t stop what you’re doing – do it while listening to the world’s best cycling writing.

The latest in this series is ‘The Crash’ by Pedro Horrillo, from Rouleur 19.3. Translated into English by Rob Hatch; Read by George Oliver.

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