Remco Evenepoel faces long recovery after serious cycling accident
- Remco Evenepoel sustained multiple injuries in an accident with a postal van's open door while training.
- He underwent successful surgery for his injuries and has begun the recovery process.
- Evenepoel is determined to return to competitive cycling stronger and has outlined his future race plans.
In Belgium, a serious incident occurred involving Remco Evenepoel, a double Olympic road cycling champion, during a training ride on Tuesday. While riding near Brussels, Evenepoel collided with the door of a postal van that had been opened unexpectedly. The impact was severe, resulting in multiple injuries including a broken hand, fractured ribs, and a shattered shoulder blade. Emergency medical services quickly attended to Evenepoel, who was transported to a hospital for surgery later that evening. After the incident, Evenepoel took to social media to update his followers on his condition. He expressed gratitude towards the emergency responders and medical staff who provided care and support following the accident. Evenepoel reported that his surgery went well but acknowledged that he faced a challenging recovery journey ahead. He described his injuries as including contusions to his lungs alongside a dislocated clavicle, which affected the surrounding ligaments. Evenepoel's cycling team, Soudal Quick-Step, confirmed that he would remain off his bike for at least two weeks while he recuperates. The team manager, Patrick Lefevere, spoke about how the accident unfolded, mentioning that Evenepoel had called him shortly after the collision, indicating that the postal worker had opened the van's door right as he was cycling past. Witnesses described Evenepoel's immediate aftermath as alarming, noting that he looked pale and was conscious but in significant distress. Looking ahead, Evenepoel has expressed commitment to his recovery and determination to return to racing stronger. He has outlined his plans to compete in key races such as the Milan-San Remo and Liege-Bastogne-Liege in early 2025, as well as the Tour de France in July and possibly the Giro d'Italia in May. With the focus now on his rehabilitation process, Evenepoel's resilient outlook suggests that he is prepared to tackle the arduous road to recovery while keeping his future racing ambitions in mind.