Regardless of some issues together with his time trial place, Remco Evenepoel (Sodual-QuickStep) will likely be prepared for the Tour de France in accordance with staff boss Patrick Lefevere.
Evenepoel broke his collarbone and shoulder blade within the horror Itzulia Basque Nation crash in April.
It has been a fast highway again for Evenepoel after having surgical procedure and returning to driving on the highway final month, with a debut on the Critérium du Dauphiné wanting prone to be his remaining pre-Tour de France race look.
The Belgian is at present at altitude in Sierra Nevada alongside among the group that can be part of him for his debut on the Tour, with Lefevere confirming that Evenepoel’s restoration has gone nicely and that the Grand Depart in Florence ought to see him at full health.
“Not that we ever actually doubted it, however Remco Evenepoel will likely be prepared for the Tour,” mentioned Lefevere in his Het Nieuwsblad column.
“Throughout his fall within the Tour of the Basque Nation, he broke his collarbone and his shoulder blade. The latter at present causes stiffness within the time trial place, however that could be a matter of days.
“There will likely be a person time trial of 34 kilometers within the Dauphiné on June 5. There isn’t a purpose to assume that Remco couldn’t attain his finest degree there.”
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Evenepoel has 22 days to achieve his peak and work on re-finding his finest time trial place earlier than the Dauphiné begins in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, with precisely seven weeks between at this time and the beginning of the Tour de France.
Whereas key rival Tadej Pogačar dominates the Giro d’Italia, two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard has equally been on the highway again to full health after breaking his collarbone, ribs and struggling a collapsed lung in the identical crash as Evenepoel.
Nevertheless, Vingegaard additionally returned to driving open air on Might 7 so is wanting extra prone to be in preventing form for the Tour because the weeks go on. With Vingegaard, Evenepoel and in addition Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) all nearing full restoration, the four-way Tour de France contender battle seems to be again on the playing cards.
The group with Evenepoel in southern Spain consists of new signing for 2024, Mikel Landa, who is ready to be the important thing tremendous domestique for the Belgian within the mountains. He’s prone to be a shoe-in however Lefevere was eager to state how just one man’s place was confirmed.
“Other than chief Evenepoel, nobody is for certain of a range in the meanwhile. The process has been the identical for a number of years: an extended record of twelve riders who all should assume that they are going to be there,” mentioned the skilled staff boss.
However did concede how “It’s no secret that the riders who’re at present with Remco have a very good likelihood of going to the Tour later.”
These with the Belgian at altitude are Landa, Ilan Van Wilder, Gianni Moscon, Casper Pedersen and Yves Lampaert.
Louis Vervaeke would have been in Spain with the staff in accordance with Lefevere however he was at residence in Belgium for the start of his second baby.
Alongside Vervaeke, one rider who has been robust alongside Evenepoel at his few Grand Tour appearances is Mattia Cattaneo, however he will not be taking the beginning in Florence because of struggles with sickness.
“Mattia Cattaneo would even be a everlasting fixture within the Tour staff, however he has been in hassle for a number of months,” Lefevere mentioned. “First a COVID-19 an infection, now issues with the thyroid gland. Too dangerous, however sadly: he is not going to be there within the Tour both.”
