Evenepoel looking at operated shoulder after Dauphiné crash but realizes he had his guardian angel with him

Remco Evenepoel was one of the victims of the major crash during Thursday's stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné. The Belgian from Soudal Quick-Step hit the pavement just like 70 percent of the peloton in the fifth stage, remained on the asphalt for a while, but eventually continued with the rest of the group to the finish.

"Overall, it's okay: a scrape on the right side and also a scrape on my head, but the helmet saved me," said Evenepoel about his medical condition. His teammates also seemed to fare well, which was not the case for Visma | Lease a Bike: they saw Dylan van Baarle and Steven Kruijswijk drop out. "There are guys who are in a worse situation and I wish everyone a good recovery," Evenepoel also realized.

"Now it's all about the next stage, so we're not focusing too much on what happened," Evenepoel is already turning the page. The Belgian was just returning to the Critérium du Dauphiné after being involved in a major crash in the Tour of the Basque Country. "My shoulder is bleeding and we will have to wait and see what the doctors will say, if the plate is okay. We will see tomorrow, but there's nothing else to do but keep going," said the Soudal Quick-Step team leader.

Evenepoel looks for the cause of the major crash: "A bit of bad luck"

What exactly happened in his view? "Everyone was fighting for position, as this was the last difficult point of the course. A few guys started sliding just in front of me. I was close to making it through, but a bike slid under me and I went over the handlebars when it hit my wheel."

"It was a bit of bad luck. The riders at the front began to slide, which was strange because it wasn't a real turn. But it was very slippery. I hope everyone recovers well," Evenepoel reiterated his wish.