Sawt Falasteen - Pogacar-Van der Poel duel inspires Evenepoel comeback

The 25-year-old tore shoulder ligaments when a postal van door was opened on him in December, an injury he said "would have ended my career if I had been a tennis or basketball player".

He also admitted he had been drained by the crash, even imagining premature retirement.

He said his competitive spirit was reignited by watching races from his sickbed and sofa.

Van der Poel won Paris-Roubaix at the weekend and Pogacar won Flanders the week before.

Evenepoel returns to action Friday at the Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold on Sunday, when he will take on Pogacar.

"Pogacar is an inspiration. But I have to be able to beat him. That's what my team pays me for," said Evenepoel.

"It was amazing to see Van der Poel and Pogacar battling it out. It motivated me to push myself in training. I too want to compete at San Remo, the Ronde, and Roubaix one day," he said.

On Friday, Evenepoel will be one of the favourites with Briton Tom Pidcock, Belgian Wout van Aert and Eritrean Biniam Girmay for the 162.km dash over 21 hills in this Ardennes Classic.

It may be his first outing since hitting the van, but Evenepoel, who has major ambitions for winning the Tour de France in July, wants to win Friday too, said his coach.

"That's Remco for you. He can't turn out thinking about coming 30th," Koen Pelgrim said.

The same riders will be joined by Pogacar in the Netherlands on Sunday for the 255.9 km Amstel Gold with its 34 hills, won in 2024 by Pidcock.

Evenepoel came third at the 2024 Tour de France picking up the best young rider award. He also won the Olympic time-trial and road race gold medals in Paris.

F.AbuZaid--SF-PST