Remco Evenepoel can laugh again. © APA/afp / TOM GOYVAERTS

Dream comeback: Evenepoel wins Arrow of Brabant

Remco Evenepoel made a perfect return to racing on Good Friday, four and a half months after his serious training crash.

18 April 2025

From: apa/sda

The Belgian cyclist and double Olympic champion from Paris won the Brabant Arrow after 162,6 kilometers in Overijse, ahead of his compatriot Wout van Aert. The two locals attacked with 50 kilometers to go and arrived in the Brussels suburb with a 27-second lead over their closest rivals.

A good four months ago, Evenepoel suffered multiple fractures, a contused lung, and a dislocated collarbone after crashing into the open door of a Belgian postal van. Although his right shoulder was still heavily bandaged on Friday, the 25-year-old impressed. "I'm surprised myself," said Evenepoel. "I'm especially pleased with my final sprint."

The women's winner: Elisa Longo Borghini © ANSA / OLIVIER MATTHYS

Evenepoel's next stop in the coming days is the spring classics in the Ardennes: the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, the Flèche Wallone on Wednesday, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday in a week's time. In the women's race over 125,7 km, Italian Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE) won in 3:07:37, six seconds ahead of Marianne Vos (NED/Visma).