Remco Evenepoel (24), the Belgian cycling prodigy, saw his progress slowed down by a series of spectacular falls. These accidents, which occurred during major events such as the Tour of Lombardy, the Giro or the Tour of the Basque Country, not only affected his performance but also raised questions about his ability to manage the risks inherent in high-level cycling. The causes of these falls are multiple: an offensive running style, an intense training load, bad luck and difficult racing conditions. The consequences are serious: recurring injuries, loss of confidence and questions about its longevity. Despite these challenges, Evenepoel showed great resilience. To ensure its sustainability, it will have to find a balance between its ambition and the need to preserve its health, while encouraging better safety of the races.
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Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick – Step), a true phenomenon of Belgian and world cycling, saw his progress hampered by a series of significant falls. Each one, spectacular and painful, left an imprint on his burgeoning career, raising questions about his ability to stay at the top and how to manage risks in his racing strategy.
Its main downfalls: significant turning points
Offseason 2024 – 2025: Fall in training. Remco Evenepoel suffered a serious fall during training in Oetingen, Belgium, on December 3, 2024. He hit a vehicle, causing several fractures: a rib, shoulder blade and right hand. Despite the violence of the impact, the first medical assessments are reassuring, because his condition is stable and he is recovering in hospital. Soudal Quick-Step confirmed that Evenepoel will have to observe a period of rest, without specifying the exact duration of his unavailability. This new incident reignites debates on the safety of cyclists, even during training.
Tour of the Basque Country 2024: Multiple fractures and concerns. During a technical descent, a collective fall swept away several leaders, including Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič. Evenepoel, seriously affected, suffered fractures requiring a long stoppage. This accident reignited the debate on safety in professional cycling.
Tour of Lombardy 2020: The shock of the Sormano Wall. The descent of the Sormano Wall made history with the dizzying fall of Evenepoel, thrown after hitting a parapet. This image, broadcast live, shocked the world. Fortunately, the injuries were less serious than feared, but the incident ended his season, once again revealing the dangers of extreme courses.
Giro 2021: Retirement at the 17th stage. Weakened but combative, Evenepoel fell heavily, leading to his retirement. No fractures detected, but the psychological and physical impact was heavy on him and his team. This hard blow marked a turning point in his ambition on the Grand Tours.
Giro 2023: The fall caused by a dog. An improbable scene: a dog appears on the road, causing the world champion to fall. Although Evenepoel escaped unscathed, this incident highlighted the unforeseen events of cycling and the need to make the routes safer.
The causes of his falls: between risks and bad luck
The repeated falls of Remco Evenepoel are the result of a combination of complex factors. His particularly offensive racing style, pushing him to take calculated but sometimes excessive risks, is often singled out. In addition, the intensive training load to which he is subjected could promote the appearance of fatigue and thus increase the risk of injury. Bad luck, inherent to any sport, also played a role in some of his falls, particularly during unpredictable collective accidents. Finally, the race conditions themselves, with factors such as unpredictable weather, the density of the peloton and the technicality of the courses, can make falls more likely.
Career consequences: injuries, confidence and future
Remco Evenepoel's repeated falls had a significant impact on his career, both physically and psychologically. Recurring injuries, ranging from bruises to fractures, forced him to stop many times, thus compromising his preparation and preventing him from competing in many races. These incidents also eroded his self-confidence, especially in key moments of the competition when the pressure is maximum. Additionally, these falls have raised questions about his ability to maintain a high level of performance over the long term, with some questioning his longevity at the highest level of cycling.
A future to rebuild: between ambition and prudence
Despite the numerous falls that have marked his young career, Remco Evenepoel has demonstrated remarkable resilience by achieving prestigious victories on each return to competition. This ability to bounce back is a testament to his immense talent and determination. However, to sustain your success and limit the risk of new injuries, it is essential to make some adjustments. Training management must be optimized to avoid overload and the risk of injuries linked to fatigue. Furthermore, his racing style, often very offensive, could be adapted to reduce unnecessary risk-taking. Finally, improving safety at races, particularly in terms of signage and barriers, would help limit unforeseen events and protect runners.
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