Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert treated by the same physiotherapist - "I went to their home because they had difficulty getting around"

Belgian headliners Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert are both currently out of competition due to brutal crashes and rough injuries. However, coincidentally both top riders are being treated by the same physiotherapist, who is playing a key role in the recovery of both riders.

“In the early days after the accident, I went to their home because they had difficulty getting around," physiotherapist Thijs Hertsens told Het Laatste Nieuws. "Even if they couldn't do much, it was still important to assess the nature of the injuries based on my expertise. They want to get back to the level they were at at the time of their fall as quickly as possible. But everything takes time."

Van Aert and Jasper Stuyven were actually both hospitalized in the same hospital following the crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen. At the time, Hertsens began to work with the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider right away as he looked to recover his health and form as fast as possible. However unexpectedly, the week after in Itzulia Basque Country a horrible crash took place including several world-class riders. Evenepoel suffered a fractured collarbone and shoulder blade, and so Hertsens found himself supporting another Belgian rider who had to skip the rest of the spring calendar.

“Everything is done in consultation with the doctors at the clinic in Herentals, to whom I report every week. I also report to their teams. Not a single step in the rehabilitation is skipped, everything happens in due time," he tells. "My job is to get them to the point where they can handle the endurance training and the heavier blocks on the bike again. I give them very cycling-specific exercises.”

With some success, it must be said. Less than a month after suffering a broken sternum, collarbone and ribs, the Belgian is already back on the bike and training on the road. Due to the lack of time to do serious training the Giro d'Italia debut was scraped off the plans; but it is likely that he will be racing the Tour de France ahead of the Olympic Games later this summer. As for Evenepoel, he is not yet back on the bike as far as we know, at least outdoors; but is actively working on his injuries and is expected to travel towards an altitude training camp this may with Soudal - Quick-Step.

“Once they are injury-free, the teams' coaches take over again. Right now the communication between me and the coaches is intense," Hertsens shares. "Then it is about the load they can handle and how many hours they can spend on the bike. As soon as they leave for an training camp and start racing again, it becomes less intensive. But then I continue to give practice schedules or work on certain details, which is important.”