Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel has returned to training for the first time since his withdrawal from the 2025 Tour de France, marking a small but symbolic step forward after a physically and emotionally draining month for the 25-year-old Belgian.On Monday, the Belgian posted a 105-kilometre ride on Strava — his first since leaving the Tour de France on Stage 14 whilst sitting 3rd in the general classification, on course for a second successive podium finish — captioned with a defiant “Coming back at y’all” and lyrics from French rapper Werenoi: “If only you knew how much time we’ve wasted. In trying to recover it, we’ve been frustrated by many things.” The words struck a chord, echoing the frustration and fatigue that ultimately forced Evenepoel to step off the bike three weeks ago.Despite riding into the second week of the Tour de France with a stage win, days in the white jersey and a provisional podium position, Evenepoel’s early form masked deeper issues. The Soudal – Quick-Step leader later revealed that he was suffering from the compounded effects of a broken rib, lingering fatigue from an off-season crash, and a sinus infection that worsened after his abandonment. “I felt completely empty,” he admitted in a candid post-Tour message. “It was the right decision to stop. For the first time, I really listened to my body.”
