Remco Evenepoel fractured a collarbone and shoulder blade a few weeks ago at the crash that has so far marked the season for the worst reasons at the Itzulia Basque Country. However, despite not being back on the road training, he is fully on track for his Tour de France debut according to Patrick Lefevere.
"I think Remco’s recovery is going quite well. I met him last Thursday and he came to say hello," Soudal - Quick-Step manager Patrick Lefevere revealed in an interview with GCN. "He brought some cakes for the staff, and he’s quite happy with how things are going. His next race is in the Dauphiné, and there are no changes to his schedule before then. We don’t like changes.” With the injuries seemingly not preventing him from joining an altitude training camp this May, it seems as if the Belgian is on track to do his scheduled Tour preparation.
This will include the training camp, recon of a few Tour stages and ultimately, the Criterium du Dauphiné - where initially it was expected that he would battle Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic, but that might no longer be the case. However with Mikel Landa also sidelined at the moment, it is unsure if Quick-Step will be able to race the Tour with it's intended riders, or if they will be forced to take to the start without the ideal support for Evenepole.
“We need healthy riders. It’s difficult because you’re always bound by the budget and we invested a lot in the Grand Tours with Remco, Mikel Landa and some other guys. I know that we’re looking on the market with what we can do. It’s still early but agents are pushing and riders are signing very early. I’ll see," he concluded.