Evenepoel speaks out for the first time after crash: "It is going to be a long journey"

The accident happened in Oetingen, Flemish Brabant. Evenepoel reportedly collided with a van, crashing hard to the ground. The van's door apparently swung open just as Evenepoel passed by. The Belgian rider was conscious and was later carried into the ambulance on a stretcher.

It is not yet clear how the accident occurred. This morning, the Soudal Quick-Step leader's new book was already in the news. People who saw it happening told their story to VTM. "Evenepoel was approaching Kerkplein when a Bpost van stopped and opened his door. Remco could not avoid the door anymore and hit it full-on. His bike was completely broken in two," one man said.

Evenepoel's wife, Oumi, came to the scene after the accident, where her husband's broken bicycle was folded up in the trunk. 'Remco was as pale as my wife's apron. He sat on a chair for a while before being carried away by ambulance. For Remco, this must be devastating. How I saw him sitting here, all hunched over and extremely pale. You could see from his face that he was really in a lot of pain," it continued

The woman who had swung the door open was reportedly 'devastated.' The van's door frame was also bent. Remco was moving fast. It goes downhill a bit here. During the Gooikse Pijl, 70 kilometers per hour are reached here. He probably didn't ride that fast today, but in full descent, that will have been easily at 40 kilometers per hour anyway.

Meanwhile, Evenepoel's father reacted to Belgian media. "We are still on our way, but we don't know much more ourselves," father Patrick Evenepoel revealed. "He was taken to the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht. He sent us a message already, so we hope everything is okay."

Patrick Lefevere, team boss of Soudal Quick-Step, also commented on the accident at Sporza. "It's better that his bike is in two than his arm. I only know that someone opened a van door, and Remco crashed into it. Someone who knows our team soigneur, David Geeroms, saw it all happen. That's how we found out. Unfortunately, Such accidents happen 5 times per day, with people not paying attention and opening their door. Remco has pain in his shoulder and his hand. Our doctor is working on it," Lefevere said.

Evenepoel underwent surgery just last night. He must now remain immobilized for two weeks and rest, so his preparation for the 2025 cycling season will have to be postponed by several weeks. Depending on how the next two weeks go, a new training program will be created.

On Wednesday morning, Evenepoel reacted to the situation himself for the first time. "The comeback starts now," he wrote above his social media message. "After a scary accident on training yesterday, I underwent surgery last night and everything went well. With a fracture to my rib, shoulder blade, hand, contusions to my lungs and a dislocation of my right clavicle which has caused all surrounding ligaments to be torn, it's going to be a long journey but I’m fully focused on my recovery and I’m determined to come back stronger, step by step."

On top of that, the GC rider is grateful for all the help and support. "I’m very grateful for all the help and support I received the last 24 hours. From the emergency services, the neighbours that helped me in the first moment, the medical teams in Anderlecht and Herentals and our team doctor Phil Jansen. Also a special mention for my wife, my family for standing by me in these difficult moments and to everyone for their supportive messages. I also want to express my support to the woman who was involved in the accident," the Belgian superstar ended his message.