Portugal Colonial - Evenepoel says 'long journey' ahead after postal van collision

The 24-year-old Belgian, who won road race and time-trial gold at the Paris Olympics, was rushed to hospital Tuesday after striking the open door of a stationary van in Brussels while preparing for the new season.

"After a scary accident on training yesterday, I underwent surgery last night and everything went well," Evenepoel wrote on social media Wednesday.

The post was accompanied by a picture of Evenepoel in his hospital bed, with his right arm in a sling.

"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," he said.

"But I'm fully focused on my recovery and I'm determined to come back stronger, step by step."

The boss of Evenepoel's Soudal Quick-Step team Patrick Lefevere said Evenepoel had called him shortly after the fall, saying a postal worker had opened a door of the stationary van as he cycled past it.

Witnesses to the accident said Evenepoel, a former international youth footballer, lay stricken and ashen-faced but conscious, with the top tube of his bike frame broken in two by the force of the impact.

Quick-Step said he would be off the bike for at least the next two weeks, but it was not immediately clear what impact the injuries would have on his racing plans.

In 2025, Evenepoel plans to race the one-day races Milan-San Remo in March and Liege-Bastogne-Liege the following month, as well as July's Tour de France and possibly the Giro d'Italia, which starts in May.

Evenepoel thanked the emergency services, medical staff and those who first arrived on the scene after the accident, while also expressing his support for the postal worker.

"The comeback starts now," he said.

B.Godinho--PC