Remco Evenepoel's recovery on track for Tour de France
Remco Evenepoel's latest medical tests were hopeful, he announced on Thursday. "The results were quite good. I can really start my recovery," Evenepoel said via videoconference at a media day held by his team, Soudal-Quick-Step.
During a training session in December, Evenepoel collided with the open door of a postal van. He suffered fractures to his rib, hand and right shoulder blade. The two-time Olympic champion is still recovering from the crash and has not been on a bicycle since.
But the latest test results are promising. Based on the results, Evenepoel hopes to return to competition at the Brabantse Pijl on 18 April. After that, he wants to complete all three Ardennes classics: Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Starting from scratch
Despite his ambitions, the Belgian remains realistic about his spring prospects. "I will have to start from scratch. I will need time to get back into shape. It is a question mark how my form will be in the Ardennes."
The Ardennes classics should be a springboard for his second Tour de France appearance in July. During his debut last year, Evenepoel finished third in the final classification. "My focus now is really on the Tour," he said. "Everything else is secondary. I want to be 200 per cent at the Tour."
"My focus now is really on the Tour. Everything else is secondary"
Evenepoel also struggled mentally with the aftermath of his crash, he said on Thursday. "Especially now that everyone is leaving for training camps. I know how hard it is to get back into form. I went from a high to a low this summer, but I am more positive now."
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP
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