Saturday, July 19, the world collapsed on Remco Evenepoel. After the first fairly disturbing mountain stages where the Olympic champion seemed in difficulty, he abandoned on the terrible slopes of the Col du Tourmalet, in tears. Almost a week later, the training runner Soudal Quick-Step expressed himself, without filter, as usual, on the Instagram social network in a moving message explaining the progress of his preparation, of his terrible fall in December in training until Tour de Francewhich has been marked by many tests …
VIDEO – Remco Evenepoel had won the 5th stage of the 2025 Tour!
“I always felt like I was late …”
“What was to be the highlight of my season turned into disappointment. The Tour de France was my big goal. After my accident in December, everything I did had a single goal: to be ready in time for July. This goal allowed me to concentrate, but it also put me under pressure. The winter months, which are normally the period when we build a solid base for the season, were devoted to rehabilitation and recovery. To be patient: I had to heal. did not want to abandon my dream.explains the Olympic champion.
“With hindsight, I was not known, but I was clearly exhausted. I was out of breath even before the start of the tour, and then, just before the tour, I had another accident. During the national championships, I broke a coast again. It was not the worst, but it was certainly not ideal. So I presented myself at the start of the most difficult race with an exhausted coast. was not the best combination. was not at the best of my form.
“The first signs of an infection started to appear …”
“After twelve days, I fell in love. Everything I had accumulated finally caught up with me. But I still didn't want to give up. I fought with all my might. For you, my fans, I wanted to give everything left. But two days later, I felt completely vide. It was then that I made the decision to get off my bike. Moreover, the first signs of an infection were starting to appear. Quickly transformed into a full-fledged sinusitis during the following days. that I am human.
Leaving the Tour de France was the most difficult decision I have taken for a long time. But it was the right one. For once, I really listened to my body. And I hope that this moment sends a message, especially to young riders who look: There is no trouble stopping. It's normal to feel tired. It is normal to be human. Sometimes taking a step back is the strongest thing you can do. Now, I take the time to rest and get back for a while. Thank you all for your support. This counts more than you think “concludes Remco Evenepoel on Instagram.
