Remco Evenepoel joined his Soudal-QuickStep teammates for his or her Omloop Het Nieuwsblad reconnaissance trip on Wednesday as he continues his restoration and base coaching after his collision with a postal van and sophisticated shoulder harm.
Evenepoel grew to become up in Kruisem in western Flanders and was once given a heat welcome through his teammates at the Soudal-QuickStep crew bus. He then rode with them as they studied the important thing cobbled sectors and Flemish climbs to the east of Oudenaarde. Evenepoel rode his gold motorcycle and wore a gold helmet in reputation of his double Olympic victory in Paris remaining 12 months.
He seemed satisfied however presented few phrases, promising to shave off a moustache and skinny beard he had grown for a up to date film premiere in Belgium.
“The desire is great, but at the moment not much is possible. But everything is okay. You will receive updates soon,” Evenepoel informed the Flemish media of his slow go back to health.
Evenepoel suffered rib, hand and shoulder blade fractures and dislocated his collarbone, sparking nerve injury in his shoulder. He spent six weeks off the motorcycle and handiest returned to coaching indoors in mid-January and rode outside for the primary time on February 2.
He has since higher his coaching load however is handiest anticipated to make his 2025 season debut at Brabantse Pijl on April 10, two months later than his competitors. The Excursion de France stays Evenepoel’s primary purpose for 2025 after he completed 3rd in 2024 in the back of Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard.
Evenepoel finished a 136km trip in Belgium remaining week and was once willing to trip together with his teammates at tempo at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad course. He deliberate to trip from the end in Ninive to his house in Schepdaal, west of Brussels.
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“From there it is not that far home, right”, Het Nieuwsblad quotes him as announcing, a sign he deliberate a long trip.
Yves Lampaert and proficient younger French rider Paul Magnier will lead Soudal-QuickStep at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Additionally within the crew are Pascal Eenkhoorn, Dries Van Gestel, Gil Gelders, Casper Pedersen and Mattia Cattaneo.
5 riders will come into the crew for Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday, with Soudal-QuickStep hoping Tim Merlier can win the predicted dash end.