Evenepoel Reflects on Career Doubt After Crash, Eyes Return to Racing

Remco Evenepoel, a double Olympic champion, revealed that he contemplated the end of his cycling career following a severe crash in December. He made these comments on Thursday, just before his return to racing at the Brabantse Pijl.

The 25-year-old Belgian sustained multiple injuries in the accident. These included fractures to his rib, shoulder blade, and hand, along with lung contusions and a dislocated right clavicle, which resulted in torn surrounding ligaments. The crash occurred during a training ride in Oetingen, reportedly involving a postal vehicle's open door.

Evenepoel described the injuries as quite severe, particularly the damage to his shoulder, where muscles and ligaments were severely affected. He underwent a demanding surgery. He admitted that the second time experiencing a shoulder injury within six months led to doubts about its recovery and functionality.

The Soudal-Quick Step rider, who achieved third place in last year's Tour de France, also mentioned a nerve problem in his shoulder. He stated that a portion of his shoulder muscle is currently non-functional. He acknowledged that if he were involved in a sport like tennis, volleyball, or basketball, his career would likely be over.

Evenepoel has experienced several significant crashes in recent years, including incidents at the 2020 Giro di Lombardia and the Tour of the Basque Country, the latter also involving Jonas Vingegaard. He noted that the off-season period made it more challenging, as he had to wait while others began training.

Evenepoel is scheduled to compete in the Brabantse Pijl, followed by the Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallonne, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, a race he has won twice. He acknowledged that he is not at his peak fitness but is still in good shape. He expressed uncertainty about his ability to compete with riders like Tom Pidcock and Tadej Pogacar, who are currently in excellent form.

When asked about the possibility of defeating Pogacar, Evenepoel responded that he would not participate if he didn't believe in his chances. He added that if he feels strong, he would be ready to compete.