Volta ao Algarve announce Remco Evenepoel's participation but Quick-Step leader faces race against time to recover from injury

The opening few months of Remco Evenepoel's 2025 season are completely unclear at the moment, following the Soudal - Quick-Step leader's hard training crash earlier this December. According to the official website of the Volta ao Algarve though, Evenepoel is set to travel to Portugal to race in February.

"The peloton for the 51st Volta ao Algarve is getting progressively closer to being complete. In 2025, fans, already accustomed to the presence of the world’s best cyclists in Algarve, will once again be able to follow closely two teams with a rich history in the competition: Soudal - Quick-Step and Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe," writes a press release on the race's official website.

"Soudal Quick-Step, the team of Remco Evenepoel, winner of the last edition and record holder for overall victories in the Volta ao Algarve, with three (2020, 2022 and 2024), along with Belmiro Silva, deserves to be highlighted," the post continues, focusing on the presence of the double Olympic champion. "Among the riders already confirmed by Soudal Quick-Step for 2025, in addition to the aforementioned Remco, there are also three names who have already finished on the podium of Volta ao Algarve: Ethan Hayter (second in 2021, for INEOS Grenadiers), Maximilian Schachmann (second in 2020, for BORA-hansgrohe) and Ilan Van Wilder (third in 2023)."

As mentioned though, the presence of Evenepoel isn't quite so simple. After crashing into an open door of a BPost van in early December, the Belgian was left with a dislocated collarbone and numerous broken bones among other injuries. And according to former Soudal - Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere, Evenepoel is set for a spell of up to eight weeks off-bike in order to fully rest and recharge from his injuries. As such, starting in Portugal on the 19th of February might be a close call.