Rider Interview: Soudal-Fast-Step offered their staff 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 had been lately within the south of Spain for some rest and examine 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 staff presentation. Evenepoel obtained excellent news and had his first physiotherapy session on Thursday afternoon. The Belgian spoke by way of a reside hyperlink to the journalists on the staff 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 end result was good. After that, I used to be in a position to begin my first session with the physiotherapist in Herentals straight away. So my rehabilitation can lastly begin now. We’re taking it day-to-day. We need to ensure that all the pieces is 100% recovered. I’ve to strengthen my muscle tissues. A nerve on the surface of my shoulder has been hit. In consequence, the surface feels a bit lifeless. The ache is bearable, besides when getting up. Then it seems like twenty vans have run over it. There’s additionally no muscle response but. We now 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 laborious races.
“Sure, the Ardennes classics are tough to make a return. However I do know these races effectively, so that could be a plus and constructive. Furthermore, I’m going to start out a bit earlier, within the Brabantse Pijl. That makes it a 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 also be solely two weeks later. It’s a threat, however we’re assured.”
Leaving hospital
Is it laborious to not be in Spain and with the staff on the presentation?
“That was and may be very tough to simply accept. I’m actually mendacity in mattress, my situation (race type) is deteriorating by the day, whereas everybody else is now bettering their type. The hole is rising by the day. I’ve not achieved any sports activities workout routines for 5 weeks now. Not on the bike, not within the health club. And I took a vacation earlier than that. That signifies that I’ve not achieved something for about ten weeks now. It’s tough to reside 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 12 months I additionally sought out the solar for some time, understanding that it is likely to be the final rest for the approaching months. However that did me good.”
Lacking the coaching camps
You missed the primary two coaching camps. What in regards to the third?
“That’s in two weeks and I cannot make that both. Any more I can go to the health club on daily basis and practice on the rollers. My shoulder will not be 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 docs hope that I can practice exterior for the primary time on February 3 or 4.”
Final 12 months on the staff presentation – Evenepoel with Jurgen Fore, the brand new staff supervisor
Might this harm additionally have an effect on the extent you possibly can attain within the Tour?
“Let me put it this manner: if there may be one factor I will be completely happy about, it’s that this harm occurred in December. We additionally needed to decide now and that’s the reason I’m not driving any spring races. I need to be 200% prepared for the Tour de France. Perhaps we’ll add the Tour de Romandie after the 4 hilly Classics, to have just a few extra racing days in my legs. After that we need to copy final 12 months’s preparation. I’ve little doubt that if I comply with that path, I can 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 principle purpose. If issues don’t go effectively 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 also be going to the Tour, will that conflict along with your ambitions?
“No. Tim and I went to the USA collectively for wind tunnel exams final autumn. We talked about it lots there. Tim is the quickest within the peloton. If you understand 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 phases 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 may need to management once more. We don’t have seven riders for that and that’s the reason we’re specializing in two targets: Tim’s sprints and my classification.”
No conflict between Evenepoel and Tim Merlier
Are you mentally prepared for battle again?
“Positively. My days can be busy. Two-hour classes 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 straight away. Then I received’t recuperate correctly. My shoulder is crucial. That nerve wants to enhance. If that goes effectively, I can scale up. I’m wanting ahead to that, as a result of I’ve a number of catching as much as do.”
Wanting ahead to the Tour
Would you be proud of third general and a white jersey in Paris?
“I do need to get nearer to the ultimate victory. If that element is in your contract with the identical outcomes, then I’ll signal blindly. I need to be nearer. That’s a step in the precise route. I need to enhance all the pieces. 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 additionally as an individual. Hopefully I can be able to win the Tour in the future. I used to be fairly shut final 12 months. I received a style of it. We additionally know what we now have to enhance. That’s the reason I’m making an attempt to return out of this era stronger. I’ve to be affected person and anticipate the precise second. I’m solely specializing in the Tour. Every little thing else is sadly secondary. That’s not 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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