The Belgian runner Remco Evenepoel performs this Friday (from 1:30 p.m.) on the arrow Brabançons his return to competition four months after his serious accident in training, and the “most difficult” fight of his career.
“The way to get to where I am was very hard and trying. Without a doubt, it is the most difficult fight of my life so far. Mentally and physically, I can honestly say that I touched the bottom. I really doubted my future, “he revealed this week on Instagram.
The Ardennes before thinking about the Tour
In December, the double Olympic champion in Paris (time trial and online race) struck at high speed the door of a Belgian post van. Assessment: a complicated fracture of the right shoulder.
A new blow of fate for the 25-year-old Belgian, who has never had a season without falling since his professional beginnings, with the exception of 2022. This painful experiences, he said, allowed him to come back “at least as strong as before”, even if his shoulder is still suffering, the nerves having been severely affected.
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This Friday, the 162 kilometers of a demanding route in the suburbs of Brussels will therefore serve as a revealer.
Evenepoel, who made the Tour de France the big goal of his season, will continue with the main classics of Ardennes: Amstel, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Among his opponents, is his compatriot Wout van Aert who wants to save his spring after the rounds in the round and in Roubaix (4e each time).
Then on Sunday in Valkenburg (Netherlands), he will find on his road Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian world champion, author of a capital campaign (winner of the Tour des Flanders and 2e in Roubaix), is in the form of his life. A duel that Evenepoel “impatiently awaits”.
