Sourdal Quickstep participated in the Belgian team's preseason camp in Calpe, Spain.

Twenty-nine of the Belgian team's 30 riders participated in the Spanish expedition, which ran through December 20. In addition to Mikkel Landa, Yves Lampert, and Tim Merlier, new riders such as Max Schachmann, Valentin Pare-Pantlet, and Britain's Ethan Hayter will be in Calpe.

Evenpoel, however, remains back in Belgium to begin rehabilitation from a training accident last week in which he suffered broken ribs, hand, and scapula, a lung contusion, and a dislocated collarbone.

Klaas Lodewyck, Soudal-QuickStep's directeur sportif, told Sporza that Evenpoel is “doing as well as possible under the given circumstances.”

“Of course it is not easy. Normally it is a good opportunity to get to know new players and train with them. But let's say things are going as well as possible in this situation. Sometimes he thinks about things he doesn't like.” That's understandable.

Lodewijk said he has been in touch with Evenpoel, a two-time Olympic champion, “several times a day,” and noted that it is important that Evenpoel “do the best possible” as he recovers from his litany of injuries.

“Lemko also spoke of another setback.

“But don't worry, he has to stop thinking about the race for a while and think of this period as an extra long winter. No matter how difficult it is for him.”

As for when Evenpoel could return to racing next season, the team said it could be “by mid-January” and that his season could be delayed a month and a half as a result.

“It is very likely that we will have to skip a month and a half and accordingly postpone the start of the season. Only then will we know what his first race will be like and we can look forward to see what is still possible for the Walloon classic.”

“We had put together a great program that he was completely satisfied with. Now we're going to have to get our heads around it again. It all depends on his rehabilitation. So we can't think too far ahead yet, and maybe we shouldn't.

“He now has time to think about his big goals and what we need to do to achieve them. As a team, we've been able to put the puzzle together better for him.”

In the meantime, he can move forward with planning for 2025 with the other big names on the team whose injuries have not delayed the start of the season.

Tim Merlier, who won 16 races last season, including three Giro d'Italia stage wins, could be on the start line for the Tour de France.

“Last season was phenomenal for him. Last season was phenomenal for him.

“And the Tour is up to us as a team to see how well we can combine his goals with Lemko's goals. That's something we're already working on.”