Remco Evenepoel joined his Soudal-QuickStep teammates for his or her Omloop Het Nieuwsblad reconnaissance experience on Wednesday as he continues his restoration and base coaching after his collision with a postal van and complicated shoulder harm.
Evenepoel turned up in Kruisem in western Flanders and was given a heat welcome by his teammates on the Soudal-QuickStep workforce bus. He then rode with them as they studied the important thing cobbled sectors and Flemish climbs to the east of Oudenaarde. Evenepoel rode his gold bike and wore a gold helmet in recognition of his double Olympic victory in Paris final yr.
He appeared blissful however provided few phrases, promising to shave off a moustache and skinny beard he had grown for a latest film premiere in Belgium.
“The need is nice, however in the meanwhile not a lot is feasible. But every little thing is okay. You will obtain updates quickly,” Evenepoel informed the Flemish media of his gradual return to health.
Evenepoel suffered rib, hand and shoulder blade fractures and dislocated his collarbone, sparking nerve harm in his shoulder. He spent six weeks off the bike and solely returned to coaching indoors in mid-January and rode outside for the primary time on February 2.
He has since elevated his coaching load however is just anticipated to make his 2025 season debut at Brabantse Pijl on April 10, two months later than his rivals. The Tour de France stays Evenepoel’s main aim for 2025 after he completed third in 2024 behind Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard.
Evenepoel accomplished a 136km experience in Belgium final week and was eager to experience together with his teammates at tempo on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route. He deliberate to experience from the end in Ninive to his residence in Schepdaal, west of Brussels.
“From there it’s not that far residence, proper”, Het Nieuwsblad quotes him as saying, a sign he deliberate a prolonged experience.
Yves Lampaert and gifted younger French rider Paul Magnier will lead Soudal-QuickStep at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Also within the workforce are Pascal Eenkhoorn, Dries Van Gestel, Gil Gelders, Casper Pedersen and Mattia Cattaneo.
Five riders will come into the workforce for Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday, with Soudal-QuickStep hoping Tim Merlier can win the anticipated dash end.
