lungs, collarbone… the medical toll increases for Remco Evenepoel after his fall

Medical tests carried out by Remco Evenepoel revealed new injuries to his lungs and collarbone following his accident in training on Tuesday. The runner should still be released from the hospital this Wednesday.

The medical toll is getting worse for Remco Evenepoel. The Soudal-Quick Step team provided an update on Tuesday afternoon on the condition of its runner, victim of an accident during training in the morning. The double Olympic champion during the last Paris Olympics allegedly hit the door of a La Poste car. Transported to the Erasmus hospital in Anderlecht, he underwent initial examinations which revealed fractures to his ribs, right shoulder blade and right hand. But the extent of his injuries is ultimately greater.

Two weeks of immobilization

Transferred to the Herentals establishment, he underwent further medical examinations which also revealed contusions to both lungs and a dislocation of the clavicle, which required an operation on Tuesday evening. Despite these numerous injuries, the Belgian should leave the hospital this Wednesday. “The collarbone will be operated on this (Tuesday) evening, which, if successful, should allow Remco to leave the hospital tomorrow (Wednesday),” the team statement added. “There will then be a two-week downtime period, after which a return to training plan can be made.”

The exact circumstances of the accident have not yet been clarified. The third in the last Tour de France apparently fell after hitting the door of a Belgian post car (Bpost) which was opening while he was crossing the town of Oetingen.

“We deeply deplore what happened and we will fully collaborate in the investigation,” bpost spokesperson Mathieu Goedefroy told the BELGA agency. “We cannot comment on the precise circumstances of the accident,” added the bpost spokesperson. “The police arrived on the scene to make the necessary findings and, of course, both bpost and the postman concerned will cooperate fully with the investigation. The postwoman in question is also very affected. This is an incident very regrettable and we sincerely hope that the great Cycling champion Remco Evenepoel does not suffer any serious injury.”