OFFICIAL: Fractured rib, shoulder blade and hand for Remco Evenepoel after collision with van
Cycling
The news are worst than initially forecasted for Remco Evenepoel. The Soudal - Quick-Step rider suffered a harsh training crash this morning whilst out during a training ride, and the Belgian team has now confirmed that he has suffered several fractures as a result.
The incident happened as Evenepoel was out on a ride. Reportedly he hit the door of a postal van that had opened at the same moment that he was riding through. Onlookers had said that he was holding an arm quite a lot, and Patrick Lefevere told Sporza that he had arm and shoulder pain. Het Nieuwsblad initially reported that he had suffered a fractured collarbone, but this is not the case. Unfortunately, he has three fractures.
"Following an incident while training today, Remco Evenepoel was taken to hospital where it was revealed that he has sustained fractures to his rib, right shoulder blade and his right hand," the team confirmed in a press release.
"Remco was taken to the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht shortly after the incident, where he was initially assessed. He will now travel to the hospital in Herentals, where alongside the Soudal Quick-Step medical staff, his injuries will be further assessed and the pathway for his recovery decided".
This does not come as a disaster as there is still over a month for the start of the season, however this will take away some weeks of training off his schedule and likely delay his competitive start to 2025. Furthermore, it may hinder him from riding during the upcoming team training camp. "We wish him a speedy recovery," the team concluded. In the coming weeks Evenepoel was expected to talk about his racing schedule for the upcoming season which is certain to include the Tour de France, but could also feature the Giro d'Italia as he will certainly aim for a Grand Tour win as well.
We have an update on @EvenepoelRemco, who was involved in an incident while training on Tuesday.
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) December 3, 2024
Read more about it and join us in wishing him a speedy recovery: https://t.co/9NMwMyOGWl
Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/Dv5ycKFJYZ
The one good part of this (hopefully) is that it happened before the serious training began, where he has time to recover. But to recover from injury is different from building up a body for the larger races later in the season. Two seasons ago, Pogacar’s wrist interrupted his life. Last season, Vingagaard and Evenepoel both suffered from that awful crash. Let’s hope he heals on time for his body to do what his mind wants him to do. (What irony that this happens on the day of an article about him maturing, obviously planned before news of the accident came out.)
Bernal, Remco - how do these teams not have support to keep their multi million dollar investments safe in training rides? Be it scooters ahead of them or finding safer routes, this is insane.
Are you serious? Have you thought of the implications and logistics? Considering that almost every rider lives in a complete my different place, has to train all year round and might want to have some margin in schedule and teams don’t really have a base, what do you suggest, live-in babysitters? Besides, as long as not more is considered important (also by teams it seems) during racing, it would be a little hypocritical to treat training differently. Maybe that’s part of the reason why cycling stars are still relatively « badly » paid.
When someone is being paid millions, there might be value in retaining a person for maybe 100k, someone whose sole job is on the road safety. Insurance policy, you might call it. Not that this job exists, but as prices increase, it might be worth it, don’t you think?
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- Yep I think he must still be recovering from that crash last year. He has done well to get over that, but I would bet it will take some time yet to get back to peak pre-crash fitness. This latest "off" will not have helped.Cyclingsbestfan17-03-2025
- Doesn't mean anything. In 2023 he was only 3rd at Paris-Nice but then won the toursomeeffingname17-03-2025
- MSR is the race that brings the Spring', proper for better or worse...
leedorney17-03-2025 - Not sure that’s the whole story otherwise babies would be a lit more susceptible to nose bacteria too. Obviously cyclist breathe far more than average humans which should help keep things cleaner, on the other hand if you don’t clean your nose well or use an infected finger … and then why bacteria and not viruses? I would prepare mentally for more testing if this doesn’t solve things. Teeth and gums are the most overlooked entry point for infectious agents. Ears and eyes can also be easily contaminated.Mistermaumau17-03-2025
- Yeah, sorry, some people forget a few facts like him being in a similar age category as Tadej, Jonas, Remco, Tom and that there are plenty of promising younger riders developing too so it’s really quite far-fetched based on current givens.Mistermaumau17-03-2025
- If they learnt from 2024 MVDP/JP strategy, yes, possibleMistermaumau17-03-2025
- Name another race with 20 different winners in the last 30 years. This is probably the single most influential fact that points towards Tadej, or will it be Mads, or a « newcomer »?Mistermaumau17-03-2025
- Nobody asked you and you have very little future prediction precedent. 20 years ago no-one predicted Slovenian cycling domination, Tadej, Trump, Manchester United replaced by City, the recent serial UK Tory leadership or the drastic demise of German Olympic performance. Unfortunately JJ probably won’t be around much longer so can’t be held « accountable » if wrong.Mistermaumau17-03-2025
- Also, note how fast a counter article appeared, either naturally or as part of a comm. strategyMistermaumau17-03-2025
- Not sure, remember where he is saying it and what this person did for him. Perhaps he was coaxed into saying something to stimulate US interest or provocative to improve you know who’s media significance.Mistermaumau17-03-2025