Despite some issues along with his time trial place, Remco Evenepoel (Sodual-QuickStep) will likely be prepared for the Tour de France in keeping with crew boss Patrick Lefevere.
Evenepoel broke his collarbone and shoulder blade within the horror Itzulia Basque Country crash in April.
It’s been a fast street again for Evenepoel after having surgical procedure and returning to driving on the street final month, with a debut on the Critérium du Dauphiné wanting more likely to be his remaining pre-Tour de France race look.
The Belgian is at the moment at altitude in Sierra Nevada alongside among the group that may be a part of him for his debut on the Tour, with Lefevere confirming that Evenepoel’s restoration has gone properly and that the Grand Depart in Florence ought to see him at full health.
“Not that we ever actually doubted it, however Remco Evenepoel will likely be prepared for the Tour,” stated Lefevere in his Het Nieuwsblad column.
“During his fall within the Tour of the Basque Country, he broke his collarbone and his shoulder blade. The latter at the moment causes stiffness within the time trial place, however that may be a matter of days.
“There will likely be a person time trial of 34 kilometers within the Dauphiné on June 5. There is not any purpose to suppose that Remco couldn’t attain his finest stage there.”
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Evenepoel has 22 days to succeed in his peak and work on re-finding his finest time trial place earlier than the Dauphiné begins in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, with precisely seven weeks between at this time and the beginning of the Tour de France.
While key rival Tadej Pogačar dominates the Giro d’Italia, two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard has equally been on the street again to full health after breaking his collarbone, ribs and struggling a collapsed lung in the identical crash as Evenepoel.
However, Vingegaard additionally returned to driving outdoor on May 7 so is wanting extra more likely to be in combating form for the Tour because the weeks go on. With Vingegaard, Evenepoel and in addition Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) all nearing full restoration, the four-way Tour de France contender battle seems to be again on the playing cards.
The group with Evenepoel in southern Spain consists of new signing for 2024, Mikel Landa, who is about to be the important thing tremendous domestique for the Belgian within the mountains. He’s more likely to be a shoe-in however Lefevere was eager to state how just one man’s place was confirmed.
“Apart from chief Evenepoel, nobody is for certain of a variety for the time being. The process has been the identical for a number of years: a protracted checklist of twelve riders who all must assume that they are going to be there,” stated the skilled crew boss.
But did concede how “It is not any secret that the riders who’re at the moment with Remco have a great probability of going to the Tour later.”
Those with the Belgian at altitude are Landa, Ilan Van Wilder, Gianni Moscon, Casper Pedersen and Yves Lampaert.
Louis Vervaeke would have been in Spain with the crew in keeping with Lefevere however he was at dwelling in Belgium for the start of his second baby.
Alongside Vervaeke, one rider who has been sturdy alongside Evenepoel at his few Grand Tour appearances is Mattia Cattaneo, however he will not be taking the beginning in Florence resulting from struggles with sickness.
“Mattia Cattaneo would even be a everlasting fixture within the Tour crew, however he has been in hassle for a number of months,” Lefevere stated. “First a COVID-19 an infection, now issues with the thyroid gland. Too unhealthy, however sadly: he won’t be there within the Tour both.”