OPINION | Remco Evenepoel’s injury comeback was more impressive than Jonas Vingegaard’s

On April 4th, 2024, an horrific crash in the Basque Country threatened to ruin the year’s cycling season. Both Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel suffered injuries that threatened to ruin their seasons, but both riders have come back to enjoy a strong summer. The question is, which rider has rebounded stronger from their crash?

It is a good question when taking into consideration a few factors including the severity of the injuries, the speed of the comeback but also the performances and results achieved after making a comeback to the peloton.

The Crash

With 35 kilometres to go on stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Country, the peloton took a right-hand bend where multiple riders fell and skidded along the road surface and into the surrounding woodlands.

At least 10 riders were affected by the fall, including both reigning 2023 Tour de France Champion Jonas Vingegaard, and Belgian superstar Remco Evenepoel. The likes of Primoz Roglic and Jay Vine were also involved. Whilst Evenepoel was able to get to his feet, albeit holding his right arm gingerly, Vingegaard layed motionless on the road, and was tended to by the medical team.

Vingegaard, 27, was found to have broken several ribs, his collarbone, as well as suffering a punctured lung. Whilst Evenepoel’s injuries weren’t as severe, he suffered from a broken collarbone and scapula, and did not race again until the Criterium du Dauphine in June.

Fast forward just 4 months, both riders stood on the Tour de France podium alongside Tadej Pogacar, and both picked up stage wins. But who was more impressive?

Pre-crash form

Let’s rewind to the early races of the 2024 season, before the horror crash in the Basque Country. Back in March, it looked as if Visma-Lease a Bike were on track to replicate the success of 2023.

Vingegaard produced a dominant display to take the overall victory in Tirreno-Adriatico, with two mountain stage victories over his competitors. As the Dane lifted the famous trident trophy, his American teammate Matteo Jorgenson was handing Remco Evenepoel a shocking defeat in Paris Nice. In what was the Belgian’s first race in France, Evenepoel failed to take the overall victory, leading to further questions from cycling experts about his calibre as a true GC rider.

Vingegaard’s display in Tirreno-Adriatico, as well as at O Gran Camiño, showed that he was at his dominant best, and ready to defend his yellow jersey in the summer. This leads me to the first reason why Evenepoel’s comeback was more impressive; the Belgian had not shown impressive form prior to his crash, meaning many did not see him as a true threat prior to the start of the Tour de France.

Vuelta a Espana 2023 Stage 13

The 2023 Vuelta was one of the only times Evenepoel and Vingegaard had raced prior to 2024. And stage 13 in Pyrenees could not have gone more differently for the two stars, as Evenepoel crumbled early in the day and was dropped by the peloton, finishing almost half an hour off the race winner. And who was that race winner? Jonas Vingegaard. Yes, the Dane stormed to victory up the Tourmalet, to shatter Evenepoel’s hopes of defending his Vuelta title.

It was this performance in the Pyrenees that led many to question Evenepoel’s credentials in the high mountains, particularly up against Vingegaard and Pogacar.

Fast forward to stage 19 of the Tour de France, and for the first time in his career, Evenepoel had Vingegaard under pressure on a mountain stage. With Pogacar 1:42 up the road, Evenepoel fought to shake Vingegaard off his wheel on the climb to Isola 2000, and the Dane looked on the verge of cracking. Whilst Vingegaard managed to hang on, he could not pull with Evenepoel, and conceded after the race that he had been struggling.

Whilst Evenepoel was already comfortably third in the Tour at this stage, with a victory under his belt, this may have been the day that he solidified his potential as a future Tour de France. Putting Vingegaard under pressure, the Belgian 24-year-old showed that he had the endurance and grit to not just survive, but attack in the high mountains. What a turnaround, less than a year on from his Vuelta disaster, and just 3 months on from his injuries.

Golden boy

After three gruelling weeks, Jonas Vingegaard’s summer in France came to a close. But for Evenepoel, his French mission had only just begun. Less than a week on from standing on the podium in Nice, Evenepoel defeated Italy’s Filippo Ganna and Belgian compatriot Wout van Aert on his way to an emphatic Time Trial gold. Evenepoel navigated slippery conditions to add an Olympic gold to his World Titles.

Fast forward another week, and Evenepoel made history by becoming the first male to win the Olympic Time Trial and Road Race at the same Games. The 274-kilometre race was expected to be a battle of the classic’s riders, and many had tipped Mathieu Van der Poel for glory. But when Evenepoel went solo with 15 kilometres to go, not even a last-minute puncture could stop him from an iconic double gold.

Whilst Vingegaard’s two Tour de France overall victories are iconic, he is yet to prove himself away from the French mountains. Just 4 months on from his Basque Country crash, Evenepoel has proven himself as a worthy GC contender, the best time trialist in the world, and is among the best of the classics riders in the world. Talk about palmarès!

Conclusion

But does all this justify the statement that Evenepoel’s comeback was more impressive than Vingegaard’s? In my opinion, yes. The Belgian has not only excelled in areas we knew he was brilliant at already, but he’s also proven himself in places where many doubted him before. There’s been a calmness about him this summer, which shows he’s maturing as he expresses his raw cycling talent.

Whilst Vingegaard’s comeback from his injuries was impressive, particularly with his win over Pogacar on stage 11, we all already knew that he was a sensational climber. On top of that, Vingegaard was clearly in supreme form prior to his crash, and may have been able to return to that level quicker than expected. On the other hand, Remco Evenepoel was not close to his best prior to his injuries, which makes his French summer that little bit extra impressive.