Rider Interview: Soudal-Fast-Step offered their workforce and plans for the 2025 season to the press on Thursday afternoon in Calpe, Spain. There was one crucial rider lacking: Remco Evenepoel. He needed to miss the presentation due to a medical scan. The double Olympic champion hit a van door, whereas coaching in Belgium in early December and was critically injured. He had fractured ribs, proper shoulder blade and proper hand. He additionally had two bruised lungs and a dislocated collarbone. The rehabilitation will take months. Evenepoel and his spouse have been not too long ago within the south of Spain for some rest and research time for Oumi. After their break, Evenepoel returned to Belgium for a scan in Herentals, which was on Thursday, the identical day because the Soudal-Fast-Step workforce presentation. Evenepoel acquired excellent news and had his first physiotherapy session on Thursday afternoon. The Belgian spoke through a dwell hyperlink to the journalists on the workforce media day.
The Evenepoel crash in December
What was the results of Remco’s scan?
“I had my scan on Thursday morning. With constructive information, as a result of the outcome was good. After that, I used to be in a position to begin my first session with the physiotherapist in Herentals instantly. So my rehabilitation can lastly begin now. We’re taking it daily. We wish to make certain that all the things is 100% recovered. I’ve to strengthen my muscle mass. A nerve on the surface of my shoulder has been hit. In consequence, the surface feels a bit useless. The ache is bearable, besides when getting up. Then it appears like twenty vans have run over it. There’s additionally no muscle response but. Now we have to keep watch over that. However crucial factor is that I can begin now.”
The gold bike
You hope to return within the Ardennes classics, these are very exhausting races.
“Sure, the Ardennes classics are tough to make a return. However I do know these races nicely, so that could be a plus and constructive. Furthermore, I’m going to start out a little bit earlier, within the Brabantse Pijl. That makes it a little bit simpler. Additionally for the motivation, as a result of that could be a race near house. After that, the Amstel Gold Race, the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège comply with. These are particular races to restart, however it’s possible. A one-day race is simpler than Paris-Good or a Giro d’Italia. That’s the reason the Giro is totally off the desk. I do know that I now have three months. That’s sufficient area to be good within the Brabantse Pijl. Liège can be solely two weeks later. It’s a threat, however we’re assured.”
Leaving hospital
Is it exhausting to not be in Spain and with the workforce on the presentation?
“That was and may be very tough to simply accept. I’m actually mendacity in mattress, my situation (race kind) is deteriorating by the day, whereas everybody else is now enhancing their kind. The hole is rising by the day. I’ve not accomplished any sports activities workouts for 5 weeks now. Not on the bike, not within the fitness center. And I took a vacation earlier than that. That implies that I’ve not accomplished something for about ten weeks now. It’s tough to dwell with that. I’ve skilled it earlier than. These are low factors in my profession. The distinction with my profitable summer season is nice. Though I do know what must occur. I’m additionally extra constructive by the day. Round New Yr I additionally sought out the solar for some time, realizing that it is perhaps the final rest for the approaching months. However that did me good.”
Lacking the coaching camps
You missed the primary two coaching camps. What concerning the third?
“That’s in two weeks and I cannot make that both. Any more I can go to the fitness center daily and prepare on the rollers. My shoulder is just not but prepared to soak up the shocks of the highway. That’s the reason there is no such thing as a level in going to the following camp. Whether or not I’m on rollers there or right here: it doesn’t matter. The medical doctors hope that I will prepare exterior for the primary time on February 3 or 4.”
Final 12 months on the workforce presentation – Evenepoel with Jurgen Fore, the brand new workforce supervisor
Might this damage additionally have an effect on the extent you may attain within the Tour?
“Let me put it this fashion: if there’s one factor I could be completely happy about, it’s that this damage occurred in December. We additionally needed to decide now and that’s the reason I’m not using any spring races. I wish to be 200% prepared for the Tour de France. Perhaps we are going to add the Tour de Romandie after the 4 hilly Classics, to have a couple of extra racing days in my legs. After that we wish to copy final 12 months’s preparation. I’ve little question that if I comply with that path, I will probably be in superb form for the Tour. There are nonetheless seven months till then. There’s time. That’s the reason the Tour is now the primary aim. If issues don’t go nicely within the Ardennes Classics, it’s a part of the method in the direction of the Tour de France. That’s how I’m it within the coming interval.”
The large assault in Liège 2023
Tim Merlier can be going to the Tour, will that conflict together with your ambitions?
“No. Tim and I went to the USA collectively for wind tunnel exams final autumn. We talked about it loads there. Tim is the quickest within the peloton. If you already know that the primary day is a bunch dash, he’s the European champion and might take yellow in Lille, close to his hometown: you then take Merlier alongside to the Tour. He and Bert Van Lerberghe know that they’ve to guard me through the day. However after that they’ll do their factor within the sprints. Within the mountain levels will probably be the identical: they should drop me off on the foot of a climb after which they’ve to return in on time. We’re primarily UAE Emirates and Visma | Lease a Bike. They’ll wish to management once more. We don’t have seven riders for that and that’s the reason we’re specializing in two objectives: Tim’s sprints and my classification.”
No conflict between Evenepoel and Tim Merlier
Are you mentally prepared for combat again?
“Positively. My days will probably be busy. Two-hour periods with the physio within the morning, half an hour to 2 hours on the rollers within the afternoon. That’s good. Mentally, I’m additionally prepared. I don’t care how lengthy I’ve to be on the rollers. I’m completely happy that I can do that once more. However I’m not going all in instantly. Then I gained’t get better correctly. My shoulder is crucial. That nerve wants to enhance. If that goes nicely, I can scale up. I’m trying ahead to that, as a result of I’ve a variety of catching as much as do.”
Wanting ahead to the Tour
Would you be pleased with third general and a white jersey in Paris?
“I do wish to get nearer to the ultimate victory. If that element is in your contract with the identical outcomes, then I’ll signal blindly. I wish to be nearer. That’s a step in the fitting path. I wish to enhance all the things. If you wish to win the Tour, each facet counts. I used to be third, so I nonetheless should catch up two. I’ve to develop myself. Not solely as a rider, but in addition as an individual. Hopefully I will probably be able to win the Tour sooner or later. I used to be fairly shut final 12 months. I bought a style of it. We additionally know what we’ve to enhance. That’s the reason I’m attempting to return out of this era stronger. I’ve to be affected person and anticipate the fitting second. I’m solely specializing in the Tour. All the pieces else is sadly secondary. That isn’t in my nature, however that’s how it’s.”
third general and ‘Finest Younger Rider’ within the Tour
Remco Evenepoel’s provisional 2025 race program:
18.04: De Brabantse Pijl – La Flèche Brabançonne
20.04: Amstel Gold Race
23.04: La Flèche Wallonne
27.04: Liège-Bastogne-Liège
08.06: Critérium du Dauphiné
05.07: Tour de France
21.09: UCI World Championship Kigali TT
28.09: UCI World Championship Kigali RR.
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