Double Olympic road cycling champion Remco Evenepoel broke a hand, ribs, and shoulder blade when he collided with the open door of a postal van in Brussels during an off-season training ride on Tuesday.

Extent Of Injuries

The 24-year-old's team, Soudal Quick-Step, revealed the severity of his injuries as the Belgian was transferred to a specialist hospital for a procedure on his shoulder.

"Following an incident while training today, Remco Evenepoel was taken to hospital where it was revealed that he has sustained fractures to his rib, right shoulder blade, and his right hand," they said in a statement.

Later, Quick-Step issued an update on Evenepoel, who will be off the bike for at least the next fortnight.

"Examinations have also revealed contusions on both lungs and a luxation of the clavicle. The clavicle will be operated on this evening, which if successful, should allow Remco to leave hospital tomorrow. There will then be a two-week period of immobilization required following this, after which a plan for his return to training can be made."

History Of Crashes

Evenepoel has a history of dramatic crashes, including plunging into a ravine in Italy in 2020, being brought down in full flight by a dog at last year's Giro d'Italia, and suffering a high-speed downhill fall during the Tour of the Basque Country earlier this season.

Olympic And Racing Achievements

Evenepoel won both the individual time trial and the road race at the Paris Olympics and took the best young rider's jersey at the Tour de France in July. He successfully defended his world time-trial title in Zurich in September and won the 2022 Vuelta a España. His last major race of the season was October's Il Lombardia, where he finished in second place.

Impact On Future Plans

Despite his training absence, it is not immediately clear what impact the injuries will have on his racing plans. In 2025, Evenepoel plans to race one-day events such as Milan-San Remo in March and Liege-Bastogne-Liege in April, as well as July's Tour de France and possibly the Giro d'Italia, starting in May.

Details Of The Accident

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

Quick-Step boss Patrick Lefevere said Evenepoel had called him shortly after the fall, explaining a postwoman had opened a door of the stationary van as he cycled past it.