Remco Evenepoel took a swing at his critics as he introduced he was back in coaching 9 days after abandoning the Giro d’Italia with Covid regardless that he was within the lead.
“Ups & downs are part of our job and I can accept that,” the 23-year-old posted on Facebook. “What is hard to accept is all the fake and negative comments I got after having to leave the race.”
“I just want to ask everyone to remember I am not a robot, but also a normal human being, husband, son, teammate etc. with normal feelings. After today’s check-ups and medical screenings, I got the green light to start training again.”
Evenepoel left the race on May 14 after testing constructive. He returned to Belgium the subsequent day, “sick as a dog,” in keeping with the boss of his Soudal-Quick Step staff, Patrick Lefevere.
The rider, who gained the World Championship and the Vuelta final season, stated leaving the race was robust.
“Definitely one of the hardest setbacks in my still very short career,” he wrote. “A very brutal end of what could have been a beautiful story. 6 months of full preparation for only this race. Sacrifices, long days in the rain, long periods away from home. Everything was going according to plan but that is how sport goes.”
Cycling now not obliges cyclists to cease racing after testing constructive for Covid-19 and in Italy, a number of former champions, together with Francesco Moser, criticised Evenepoel’s determination to go away the Giro on the eve of the remaining day.
Gazetta dello Sport accused Evenepoel of failing to respect the organisers by saying his withdrawal earlier than warning them.
Gazetta stated Evenepoel “would have found it hard to accept a defeat and preferred to leave the race with the pink jersey and two wins in the two time trials.”
Evenepoel responded on Tuesday that “I am not the type of person that is going to hide or is afraid of losing”.
“The last days were emotionally very hard because of these comments,” he stated. “But I will take those moments with me on the bike, preparing for my next goals and races.”
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