 Months later his health deteriorated and he was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus.Forced to stop racing altogether, he spent the next three years studying for a degree in product design at the University of the West of England, but did not graduate.After recovering his health he started racing again in 2008 but his season was once more disrupted after he was knocked off his bike by a horse while competing in a Surrey League race and suffered injuries including a broken collarbone and nose.