Michel Wuyts urges Remco Evenepoel to contact Van Aert & Roglic after latest crash disaster: "Exchanging experiences with fellow sufferers is also beneficial"

Not for the first time in his illustrious career, Remco Evenepoel was the victim of nasty crash earlier this week, as an accident with a BPost van in Belgium, left the Soudal - Quick-Step leader hospitalised. According to Belgian cycling expert Michel Wuyts, it might be time for Evenepoel to seek advice from his rivals.

"The world's best cycling country continues to be plagued. It's like having to pay a price for too much talent. Sounds tough, even defeatist, but reality shows that it is no different," Wuyts begins in his column for HLN. "At 24, Remco Evenepoel is ready for his third major rehabilitation. Pelvic fracture in Lombardy, shoulder fracture in the Basque Country, broken in three places in Oetingen."

"I see pictures of an already operated Evenepoel with his thumb up. 'A bit of a knockout, but I’m still here.' How optimistic. Because it’s so beautiful in the press. Model boys have to keep up the spirit of a nation in very dark times. People don’t tolerate more misery. Top athletes have to remain heroes. Even when they’ve only just been glued back together," Wuyts continues somewhat sceptically. "The truth is of course different. I am not making it up, the pain Evenepoel has to go through. Physically, even more so mentally. Every day, every hour, every five minutes. Doubts everywhere. Nagging irritations. Nagging memories. The broad base is gone. First team training camp gone, the second in January possibly too. Make it to Paris-Nice or not? Will I reach a full hundred percent in Liège? December will be a month of shambles. Bits of hope, bits of despair. It is good that Remco can count on Oumi, father, mother, the Lefevere institute. Social structure is the foundation of every successful recovery."

In time, Evenepoel will be back though, Wuyts is sure of that. "There is Remco's exceptional temperament. That unstoppable urge. Fire in every fibre. I will and I must. That slightly choleric that tells me that it will go faster than hoped. Not, never fold," he notes. "Believe me, as soon as the pain subsides, Evenepoel will put his intact chassis to work. Videos on social media of Pogacar working himself to death, Remco will use them as motivation triggers in the rebuilding."

As mentioned though, given this is far from Evenepoel's first dice with disaster, Wuyts suggests the Soudal - Quick-Step leader get in contact with fellow serial crash victims in order to gain reassurance and inspiration as much as advice. "Exchanging experiences with fellow sufferers is also beneficial. Greg van Avermaet, Wout van Aert or ultra-experienced expert Primoz Roglic, recognizing details in their battles will stimulate," he concludes.