Pro Log: Remco Evenepoel and Katy Marchant injury updates; Vélo d’Or winners; Thomas De Gendt goes to De Gravel; Tom Pidcock signs for Q36.5 Pro Cycling

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Pro Log: Remco Evenepoel and Katy Marchant injury updates; Vélo d’Or winners; Thomas De Gendt goes to De Gravel; Tom Pidcock signs for Q36.5 Pro Cycling

Welcome back to another edition of Pro Log. Here’s a rundown of the latest results before we get started:

• Sardinia, Men’s World Cup, Sun 8th Dec: Cancelled due to high winds.
• Sardinia, Women’s World Cup, Sun 8th Dec: Cancelled due to high winds.
• UCI Track Champions League, Men’s Sprint: Harrie Lavreysen
• UCI Track Champions League, Women’s Sprint: Alina Lysenko
• UCI Track Champions League, Men’s Endurance: Dylan Bibic
• UCI Track Champions League, Women’s Endurance: Katie Archibald

Multiple fractures for Remco Evenepoel after crash

Remco Evenepoel rode into the door of a Bpost postal vehicle when out on a training ride in Belgium last week. Photos from the scene showed him being helped into an ambulance, his golden bike having been snapped in half.

His Soudal-Quick Step team said Evenepoel had ‘sustained fractures to his rib, right shoulder blade and his hand. Examinations have also revealed contusions on both lungs and a luxation of the clavicle.’

Evenepoel’s 2024 season was highlighted by a historic World Championship/Olympics double in the time-trial as well as a podium at the Tour de France on his debut and second at Il Lombardia.

Katy Marchant stable after velodrome crash

The final round of the UCI Track Champions League was cancelled after a horror crash in the women’s keirin that saw Great Britain’s Katy Marchant and Germany’s Alessa-Catriona Pröpster launched over the barriers and into the crowd at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London.

Both riders plus four spectators were immediately seen to by medical staff. Marchant was taken to hospital where X-rays revealed a fractured radius and ulna in her right forearm as well as two dislocated fingers. All others involved were able to walk away from the accident.

The barriers were installed at the velodrome after a similar incident involving Matt Walls at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Vélo d’Or winners

Tadej Pogačar and Lotte Kopecky won the Vélo d’Or awards for the best riders across 2024. Both then doubled up with the Eddy Merckx Trophy for being the best Classics riders.

Romain Bardet, who retired this year, won the Bernard Hinault Trophy for best French road rider as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was awarded the Daniel Morelon Trophy for best French rider in the Olympics. Harrie Lavreysen was given the award for the world’s best rider in Olympic disciplines and Alexandre Léauté won the paracycling Vélo d’Or.

Also awarded was the newly established Gino Mäder Award, named after the 26-year-old Suisse who died at the 2023 Tour de Suisse. As Mäder was known for being charitable and caring for the environment, the award is given to a rider for their social and charitable commitment. In 2024, it was awarded to Luis Ángel Maté and presented by Mäder’s parents.

Tom Pidcock moves to Q36.5 Pro Cycling

The saga of whether Tom Pidcock would be leaving Ineos Grenadiers and where he would be going has finally given us an answer. He’s off to ProTeam Q36.5 Pro Cycling on a three-year deal.

The Olympic MTB champion was notably deselected for Il Lombardia towards the end of this season for Ineos Grenadiers. His move to Q36.5 Pro Cycling might mean he’s pushed himself out of the WorldTour, but it gives him more scope to continue the off-road disciplines he’s so well skilled in.

Thomas De Gendt turns to gravel

Retirement only lasted for so long. After stepping away from the road, Thomas De Gendt is taking his skills to the gravel scene for the Classified gravel team.   

He said, ‘The roads may change, but the hunger remains.’

Is gravel ready for #DeGendting?

See you soon.

The post Pro Log: Remco Evenepoel and Katy Marchant injury updates; Vélo d’Or winners; Thomas De Gendt goes to De Gravel; Tom Pidcock signs for Q36.5 Pro Cycling appeared first on Cyclist.