Remco Evenpole (open in new tab) took a few steps on crutches just five days after crashing into a ravine off Solmano on Saturday on Il Lombardia and breaking his pelvis (open in new tab).

Deceuninck-Quickstep (open in new tab) rider was transported to a hospital in Herentals, Belgium, on Monday and posted an optimistic video message.

It's hard to imagine this 20-year-old doing better than he did before his horrific crash. Evenpoel was already a frontrunner for the win, having taken the overall win in four stage races this season, from the Vuelta a San Juan and Volta ao Algarve before the coronavirus outbreak to the Vuelta a Burgos and Tour de Pollogne in recent weeks.

While his victories in the first two races were thanks to his time trial ability, Evenpoel won the mountains prize in Burgos, and his 60-km solo attack on the final stage in Poland put him in contention for a Grand Tour.

Deceuninck-Quickstep posted a video of Evenpoel being assisted to take two steps, showing how the fracture has impaired the mobility of his right leg.

After this season, Evenpoel is focused on a comeback in 2021.

"Me and the team are thinking positive and looking forward to next season," he said Monday (open in new tab).