Remco Evenepoel not looking 'excuses' after poor showing at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, says Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Fore - 'Miracles don't exist'

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Remco Evenepoel’s continued return from injury stalled during Liege-Bastogne-Liege last weekend, with the Belgian rider unable to stay with Tadej Pogacar when he launched his race-winning attack. Evenepoel wound up coming home over three minutes down on the Slovenian, as his remarkable comeback from multiple bone fractures sustained in a training crash last year suffered a reality check.

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Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel’s (Soudal Quick-Step) return from serious injury continued at the weekend, as he contested Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

A strong showing at Amstel Gold Race had the fans believing that Evenepoel had jumped right back into the peloton in the same kind of form that saw him lauded as one of Tadej Pogacar’s (UAE Emirates-XRG) big rivals last season, but Evenepoel could not sustain that leading form in Liege.

Instead, he came home in 59th place, over three minutes behind Pogacar, who won the race for the third time.

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"It wasn’t necessarily a bad day for Remco," Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Fore said after the race, as reported by Cycling Up to Date.

"He’s simply being confronted with reality. A race like Liege-Bastogne-Liege was still a bit too much, too soon, after the comeback he’s made over the past weeks and months."

Evenepoel’s comeback from serious injury began with a victory at Brabantse Pijl, before he finished third in the Amstel Gold Race.

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But while those results raised hopes, ninth place at La Fleche Wallonne was followed by the 59th place finish in Liege.

"It wasn’t a disaster, but he realised he’s still missing those final few percent needed to compete at the very top," Fore added.

"Miracles don’t exist. Remco has raced four times in seven days. It’s clear that he doesn’t yet have the full base condition. He’s also missing race sharpness.

"La Fleche Wallonne was already extremely tough due to the rain, and in Liege it was the first truly hot day. It’s only natural that he lacks consistency. Once he builds up that race rhythm, he’ll be able to tap into his reserves again."

Evenepoel is expected to take part in the Tour de Romandie next, before the traditional Tour de France warm up, the Criterium du Dauphine.

Evenepoel finished on the podium at the Tour de France last season, behind Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike). But to do so again will require plenty of time in the saddle, as he continues his injury comeback over the coming months.

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"Remco doesn’t look for excuses," said Fore. "You can see in every way that he’s growing older and more mature…

"Sport doesn’t lie, not even for great champions. That’s why we shouldn’t panic. It’s important to stay calm, keep looking ahead, and continue working hard. It will all come together, I’m sure of it.

"If you can already win so soon after such a long period of inactivity, and arguably be the strongest rider in the Amstel, then you have every reason to keep your head held high moving forward."

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