Remco Evenepoel almost 'back on the rollers' after being doored by Belgian post vehicle
Multiple Olympic champion aiming to return to training on the road in February and will tentatively begin riding indoors at the weekend


Remco Evenepoel is making progress in his return to fitness after injury and says he will be getting back to indoor cycling at the weekend on his rollers.
The multiple Olympic champion suffered a range of injuries after being doored by a Belgian post vehicle during a training ride in December. Evenepoel required surgery after breaking a rib, his hand and shoulder blade. He also suffered contusions on his lungs and a luxation of his clavicle. The Belgian’s gold S-Works bike was also snapped clean in two by the heavy impact during the incident.
In a media release from his team Soudal Quick-Step, Evenepoel discussed his progress as he continues his return from injury and outlined his goals for the season. The 24-year-old said he is targeting "a good result" at the Tour de France.
"The first couple of weeks after my injury were difficult, because this happened just as I was preparing to start training again, but I tried to take my mind off this during the holidays and things are better now," Evenepoel said. "It’s been almost five weeks now that I didn’t do any proper sports, which means that I have been off the bike for 10 weeks now.
"That’s why the most important thing for me is to start my rehab and jump on the rollers, hopefully on Saturday. I will combine riding with physio sessions. I am ready mentally to be back on the bike, but I won’t push myself to go all in from the beginning, because I want to make a full recovery of my shoulder."
"The reason I’m not going outside yet is that the shoulder isn’t ready to absorb the shocks of the road," he added. "I hope to restart training outside at the beginning of February, that would be the best scenario at this point.
"As I said, it wasn’t easy when this happened, especially as it was my second injury on that side in the same year and I was coming after an excellent summer – which was one of the best moments of my career – but I got a lot of support from my family and my team and eventually stopped thinking about this and focused instead only on my recovery."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Evenepoel explained that he is aiming to make his comeback at Brabantse Pijl in the Classics. He said that if everything goes according to plan on his home roads in Belgium then it’s possible that he could start the Tour de Romandie before competing in the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Belgian National Championships.
"I think it’s easier to return to competition in one-day races instead of stage races," he said. "And I love the Ardennes Classics, so hopefully I will be in good shape by then, in three months' time."
From there Evenepoel will head to altitude for a final tune up before heading to Lille for the start of the Tour.
He concluded: "I want to be at 200% for the Tour de France, and if things go as planned and I continue to improve, I am confident I can start there in a strong form and fight for a good result."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2022 and his news stories, rider interviews and features appear both online and in the magazine.
Since joining the team, he has reported from some of professional cycling's biggest races and events including the Tour de France and the World Championships in Glasgow. He has also covered major races elsewhere across the world. As well as on the ground reporting, Tom writes race reports from the men's and women's WorldTour and focuses on coverage of UK domestic cycling.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
Lidl-Trek riders say they'll 'never go back' to 2x on the cobbles, but why isn’t anyone else using this set-up?
Lidl-Trek's sponsors make it easier for the team to run a 1x mullet groupset grounded in mountain bike tech
By Andy Carr Published
-
'Like a horror movie with a happy ending': how one rider's run-in with a thief came good after his bike was returned in pieces
Zsolt Lokodi's stolen bike was given back to him in bits – but a new one is on the way
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Extra wildcard team approved for Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España
Number of teams to increase from 22 to 23 at men's Grand Tours
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard out of Volta a Catalunya after Paris-Nice crash
Visma-Lease a Bike say two-time Tour de France winner needs more time to recover from wrist injury sustained in France last week
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson aiming to 'set the bar higher' and target a Grand Tour after securing second Paris-Nice title
American explained that targeting a win in one of the sport's biggest three-week races was now the logical next step in his career
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Matteo Jorgenson rules out Tour de France leadership after Jonas Vingegaard's withdrawal from Paris-Nice
The American is on the cusp of a second consecutive victory at the Race to the Sun
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Why is Jonas Vingegaard wearing a special helmet at Paris-Nice?
The two-time Tour de France winner’s new helmet is part of a sponsorship deal that will see him wear the lid throughout the year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'When he starts his Tour preparation, we’ll then see Jonas 2.0' - Jonas Vingegaard heads to Paris-Nice almost at full strength, coach says
Tim Heemskerk says the Danish star is not interested in outside noise as he attempts second stage race win of the year
By Tom Thewlis Published