Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team

Andrea Raccagni Noviero

Viktor Soenens

Lars Vanden Heede

Jelle Harteel

Jonathan Vervenne

Federico Savino

Leander Van Hautegem

Gauthier Servranckx

Senne Hulsmans

Jan Kino

Niels Driesen

Renato Favero

Cormac Nisbet

Gabriel Berg

Viktor Vandenberghe

Bogdan Zabelinskiy

Racing

News

Race News

Remco Evenepoel out of the Ardennes Classics following Itzulia Basque Country crash

 (Soudal Quick-Step) has been diagnosed with a fractured right collarbone and scapula following a 

major crash on stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Country

The Belgian was one of 12 riders to hit the deck inside the final 40km of stage when riders appeared to hit a large bump in the road while descending through a corner at speed. 

Evenepoel avoided the large concrete gutter that many riders hit but crashed into the grass verge to the left side of the road. He was able to get to his feet but was soon taken to hospital for scans.

"Following the crash during Thursday’s stage 4 of Itzulia Basque Country, Remco Evenepoel was taken to hospital, for medical examination," 

"There it was revealed that the Belgian Champion suffered a fracture to his right collarbone and his right scapula. Remco will travel to Belgium on Friday, where he will undergo an operation on his collarbone, and further examination, at the hospital in Herentals. Further updates will be given in due course."

The former world champion was scheduled to race the Ardennes Classics later this month but with Amstel Gold Race just ten days away that part of his season now looks lost. A return for Flèche Wallonne (April 17) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 21) also looks impossible given the time Evenepoel is likely to need at this point.

The Belgian wasn't the only major team leader with Tour de France aspirations to crash in the same incident, with two-time Tour de winner Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) leaving the race on a stretcher before being diagnosed with a broken collarbone and several broken ribs. 

Chris Froome takes second with Israel-Premier Tech in first race of 2024

 made his 2024 racing debut on Sunday on the first stage of the 

, and kicked off his year with a second place alongside his 

 in action in Rwanda, were bested by the 

 team who won the 18km TTT in Kigali. Jonathan Vervenne now leads the race.

The Belgian squad, led by AlUla Tour breakout star 

, posted a time of 20:32 in the Rwandan capital, 36 seconds up on Froome and co at 21:08. 

The four-time Tour de France winner was joined by Guy Sagiv, Itamar Einhorn, Joe Blackmore and Moritz Kretschy in the Israel-Premier Tech line-up for the TT, and took on an early pacing role before dropping off as three riders crossed the finish line together. Froome finished 5:21 down on the rest of his team.

Chris Froome plans cycling academy in Kenya but first wants to 'finish off' career with Tour de France fireworks

However, the times on this stage do not count towards the GC of the eight-day race in Rwanda, so Froome will start stage 2 on equal time with his rivals.

In 2023, Froome also raced the Tour du Rwanda, going on a long but narrowly unsuccessful breakaway on one of the stages. He told local media this morning that he had “unfinished business” with the race as he kicks off his 2024 season in Africa.

As well as his personal ambitions and links to the continent of Africa, Froome’s presence in Rwanda is partly to do with Israel-Premier Tech’s relationship with Rwanda. Last year, they launched their ‘Field of Dreams’ cycling centre Bugesera, part of the team’s Racing for Change initiative. As such, it makes sense for them to send a big star to the 2.1 race.

‘Geraint Thomas proves that age isn’t a factor,’ says a resilient Chris Froome

There are a number of jerseys from the WorldTour on the start list, but all have sent their development teams to Rwanda, with the youth-focused squads of Soudal Quick-Step, Astana-Qazaqstan, UAE Team Emirates and Groupama-FDJ in action this week.

After Rwanda, Chris Froome is expected to follow a stage race-focussed programme through the spring, as he builds towards a long hoped-for Tour de France return.

Find the full results of the Tour du Rwanda stage 1 TTT 

Will Tadej Pogačar Win The Giro AND The Tour? | GCN Racing News Show

I Took A Recumbent To A Bike Race... This Is What Happened!

This Recumbent Superbike Is Faster Than Your Road Bike! Here's Why...

Experience Vs Power! Can Simon Defeat The World’s STRONGEST Cyclist?

Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team

Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team

The Team

Top Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team Stories

Remco Evenepoel out of the Ardennes Classics following Itzulia Basque Country crash

Chris Froome takes second with Israel-Premier Tech in first race of 2024

Subscribe to the GCN Newsletter