“We are aiming for mid-April to really start competing again,” said the Belgian as he recovers from multiple fractures following a door incident.
Remco Evenepoel said he aimed to return to racing in mid-April after his crash in training last week saw him suffer multiple fractures.
The Belgian fractured a rib, shoulder blade and right hand after the driver of a postal van opened the door in front of him, known as dooring, causing him to fall. He underwent surgery quickly after the incident, with his Soudal-QuickStep team reporting that a “two-week downtime period” would follow.
The team – minus Evenepoel – is currently in Spain for a pre-season training camp. Meanwhile, the two-time Olympic champion provided an update on his recovery, speaking to Studio Bruxelles Wednesday.
“I'm not allowed to do anything for a good month,” Evenepoel said, according to Le Nieuwsblad. “On January 6, I do another scan to see if everything is going well.
“Only then can we come up with a new plan, but I hope to get back on the bike in early February. »
Evenepoel added that he hoped to be back racing by mid-April, which would likely put him in poor shape to attempt to win a third Liège-Bastogne-Liège title. He said it would be “difficult” to face the Giro d'Italia in May.
“For now, we are aiming for mid-April to really start competing again. The Giro d'Italia will probably be difficult to reach, but we'll see. »
Evenepoel was first taken to Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht after the incident on December 3, then transferred to Herentals Hospital where team doctors made the decision to perform surgery on his collarbone that evening. He reported that his surgery “went well” but noted that he still faced a long road back and was recovering “day by day” with months to go before he could return. in the peloton.
“The painkillers are doing their job, but I've had quite a few fractures. But I can't complain, the operation in Herentals went well. We take it day by day,” Evenepoel said.
“I wake up from pain, especially at night. In the morning I wake up completely knocked out, also from the painkillers. But that's what happens after a serious injury. »
