Belgian phenom Remco Evenepoel confirmed to start Giro d’Italia

Star Belgian cyclist has not raced since a serious fall at last year's Tour of Lombardy, but is still a bookies favorite

Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel, who has not raced since a serious fall during last year’s Tour of Lombardy, will start the Giro d’Italia, his Deceuninck-Quick Step team confirmed on Monday. He's a bookies favorite along with Egan Bernal and Simon Yates for the Pink Jersey.

The 21-year-old, who has been dubbed the heir to the legendary Eddy Merckx, fractured his pelvis after hitting a bridge wall and plunging 10 metres into a ravine during the Italian race last August.

The youngster came off crutches in September but his return to racing has taken longer than initially expected.

This is my first race since last August, we will have to see how my body reacts”, said Evenepoel on his team’s website ahead of the Giro which starts in Turin on Saturday. 

“We will take the race day after day. The most important thing is that I am back with my teammates and my staff, which makes me very happy.”

It will be Evenepoel’s first Grand Tour.

European junior champion in 2018, Evenepoel won the 2019 time trial before winning all four stage races that he took part in last season, including the Vuelta a San Juan, Vuelta a Burgos,Volta ao Algarve and the Tour of Poland, 

Remco Evenepoel suffered a serious accident at Il Lombardia. While descending the Muro di Sormano and after a sharp curve, he collided with a low wall on the side of a bridge and was thrown over it with the impact, falling in a dirt area near some trees, several meters below the road. He suffered a fractured pelvis and a right lung contusion,

He was due to take part in last year’s coronavirus-delayed Giro in October before his Lombardy crash.

The Belgian outfit will also line up the Portuguese Joao Almeida, who wore the leader’s pink jersey for two weeks last year before finishing fourth and Frenchman Remi Cavagna, winner of the Tour de Romandie’s time trial on Sunday. 

Also in the squad are Remi Cavagna and Fausto Masnada, both going well this season.

2021 Giro d'Italia Deceuninck-Quick Step Team

Joao Almeida (POR),
Remi Cavagna (FRA),
Remco Evenepoel (BEL),
Mikkel Honore (DEN),
Iljo Keisse (BEL),
James Knox (GBR),
Fausto Masnada (ITA),
Pieter Serry (BEL)