European Championship 2025: Men’s ITT, October 1

[Danskebjerge]

His past 18 months have been: 2nd in the Olympics TT; 3rd in the Olympic team pursuit; 2nd in the WC ITT; 2nd in Tirreno-Adriatico GC; 2nd in Milano-Sanremo; 3rd in E3; forced to race Flanders and so ended up bombing Paris-Roubaix; concussion in TdF; 2nd in EC ITT. I would be too.

Did you just leave out his win in the Vuelta, or do you have criteria that I missed?

 

[AlpRaid]

Body shape is the key difference that's not really talked about much, and the advent of wind tunnel testing and CFD simulations have really changed a lot about what's possible in ITTs. It goes way beyond 'bigger guy should go faster on flat' because CdA "should" scale to the 2/3rds power of mass.

agreed.

it also goes the other way in climbing. look at the pog, vingo, ayuso, del toro, even ben O'Connor and Gall body types.

remco feels more like Hinault to me. fabulous at TT. Somewhat limited and on the defensive on long climbs, preferring to go at a steady pace than follow accelerations.

the difference between Hinault and Remco is in eras:

1. Hinault arguably beat the weakest GT competition of any era -- usually riders who were aging already -- more from the Merckx era (Agostinho, Van Impe, Zoetemelk, etc...), and no one really from his own...not exactly pog and vingo type quality to be sure. LOL!
2. Hinault benefitted from incredibly long ITTs in GTs. 192 km total in his first TDF! Including a 75 km flat ITT where he took 4 minutes out of the yellow jersey at the time (Zoetemelk). However, much like Remco, he could suffer setbacks on MTTs -- he dropped substantial time on the ITT that finished on the Puy de Dome.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The Bora guys looked quite good on Tre Capi and into Cipressa this year iirc, Van Gils was there and just got dropped, worst comes to the worse Dangerous Danny van Poppel can get a trademark tactical yellow card moving him to the front.

Or Van Poppel could make sure there won't be any attacks. Pogačar himself wouldn't mind.

 

[AlpRaid]

Gouvenou said the same GC riders do the same in the ITT and the climbs, which is why he hates TTs.

So he puts in a true MTT instead, that simply repeats the result of every single mountain stage and becomes a pure watts/kg test.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

He used to be one of the greatest talents in Danish cycling, we're talking Mads Pedersen level talent.

If you look at his Procycling page upto and including 2019, his results are stellar - and those are with him sharing focus between the road and track, where he was the anchor on the Danish olympic pursuit team, as well as competing in points races individually.

He then broke his leg in november 2019, falling off a table he was dancing on during a party, and since then he never quite reached the same level, and has been on a steady decline until being back at continental level for this season.

But then he, at the tender age of 28, has finally found his way back to his former level.

He's a really likable dude, whom all Danes like to see get another shot at the highest level (Pro Tour for next year, he's on a 1 year contract).

Very detailed explanation thanks

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Can Evenepoel enter Cipressa in the first 5 positions?

He can position himself ok and get over the cipressa with anyone, but he will have a meltdown trying to follow the other riders down the other side! Fake mechanical time!!!

 

[Danskebjerge]

Mads Pedersen will be very disappointed, finishing outside the top 10 (and now beaten twice by his Swedish teammate).

But I think the headwind was a problem for him, as I regard his aerodynamics as among the weaker ones today. The disappointment could also be a result of fatigue.

In any case, I expect him to be an uncontrollable domestique in the RR. Surely a top result would be beyond his reach no matter what shape he is in.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

CQ Ranking have discovered why Tarling only finished 5th today. It turns out it was actually a very good ride by him.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

He should be allowed to make a kit that's half-rainbow, half-stars.

Today he was over the rainbow, reaching the stars.

 

[houtdffan]

So he puts in a true MTT instead, that simply repeats the result of every single mountain stage and becomes a pure watts/kg test.

yep. That's Gouvenou for you

Then he'll howl if Remco decides upon the giro over the tour...

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

It's hard times for those of us who like to feel our heart beating when watching cycling. What happened to wins by narrow margins.

I've settled for just sitting back and enjoying the phenomenon and his superb TT style. On the other hand, I would have liked to have had a few more kimometers today to enjoy (and a slightly more stable broadcasting).

 

[Red Rick]

He was clearly struggling as he blew Pogis doors off.

Did he keep gaining time at the same rate?

Did he keep gaining time at the same rate even today?

 

[Brullnux]

Did he keep gaining time at the same rate?

Did he keep gaining time at the same rate even today?

From what he said, in Kigali he got over-excited about overtaking Pogacar and blew up a bit. I can't remember what happened between the other time checks 2 and 3, but I think that was why he lost time in the final sector.

 

[AlpRaid]

From what he said, in Kigali he got over-excited about overtaking Pogacar and blew up a bit. I can't remember what happened between the other time checks 2 and 3, but I think that was why he lost time in the final sector.

not sure about that.

he only lost time to Vine, that's it.

Vine is quoted as saying racers could lose 30 secs on that last climb and that they had to keep stuff in reserve -- he clearly paced for that himself. That may be the only difference here.

 

[Red Rick]

From what he said, in Kigali he got over-excited about overtaking Pogacar and blew up a bit. I can't remember what happened between the other time checks 2 and 3, but I think that was why he lost time in the final sector.

I'm being a little fatecious, but I think it's mostly that it just was more up and downhill rather than TT position work.

I do think his most savage TTs have been more often in the 20-30 minute range than in the 40 minute+ range.

 

[AlpRaid]

He can position himself ok and get over the cipressa with anyone, but he will have a meltdown trying to follow the other riders down the other side! Fake mechanical time!!!

but why? no way remco can compete in a race that is often determined by how well and how fearlessly you descend the Poggio.

I hardly would want him to jeopardize yet another season with a silly crash.

just build carefully...for the Giro!

 

[red_flanders]

but why? no way remco can compete in a race that is often determined by how well and how fearlessly you descend the Poggio.

I hardly would want him to jeopardize yet another season with a silly crash.

just build carefully...for the Giro!

Agreed. Remco descending the Poggio under pressure seems like a recipe for a problem, or I hate to say it, possible tragedy.

 

[Red Rick]

Poggio descent is the most overrated descent in the world. It's just a series of ordinary switchbacks. It's not particularly fast, it's not particularly narrow, corners aren't particularly difficult to see, etc.

If it were truly a crazy descent you'd see the difference made on the descent much more often, and in practice it never happens there apart from one time when Pogacar deliberately let the gap go and insane motor drafting got involved.

If anything, the fact that the descent is mostly pedaling down should favor Evenepoel very heavily.

 

[red_flanders]

Poggio descent is the most overrated descent in the world. It's just a series of ordinary switchbacks. It's not particularly fast, it's not particularly narrow, corners aren't particularly difficult to see, etc.

If it were truly a crazy descent you'd see the difference made on the descent much more often, and in practice it never happens there apart from one time when Pogacar deliberately let the gap go and insane motor drafting got involved.

If anything, the fact that the descent is mostly pedaling down should favor Evenepoel very heavily.

Consequences. There is truth in what you're saying, but what I don't think your post accounts for is the consequences. It's all concrete walls, drops, and danger.

I'd rather go flying off a mountainside than crash on that painscape.

 

[Red Rick]

Consequences. There is truth in what you're saying, but what I don't think your post accounts for is the consequences. It's all concrete walls, drops, and danger.

I'd rather go flying off a mountainside than crash on that painscape.

I don't remember any heavy injuries occuring on the Poggio descent despite it being a subject of conversation every year.

And this danger is also completely under Evenepoels own control. He shouldn't take risks he isn't comfortable with. He'll descend as fast as the rest by losing time in the corners and going faster in the straight sections.

 

[Sciatic]

Poggio descent is the most overrated descent in the world. It's just a series of ordinary switchbacks. It's not particularly fast, it's not particularly narrow, corners aren't particularly difficult to see, etc.

If it were truly a crazy descent you'd see the difference made on the descent much more often, and in practice it never happens there apart from one time when Pogacar deliberately let the gap go and insane motor drafting got involved.

If anything, the fact that the descent is mostly pedaling down should favor Evenepoel very heavily.

Not disagreeing with your overall—it’s more common that riders come back on the descent. But I wouldn’t characterize it as Pog deliberately “letting the gap go.” Mohoric bunny-hopped the storm grate inches from the curb and Pog couldn’t or didn’t want to risk it. So it was akin to anytime a rider creates a gap on a descent: someone’s combination of technique and nerve is a slightly better than the followers.

 

[AlpRaid]

merckx also won 7 times, often leaning on his particularly strong descending skills.

 

[Cookster15]

no way remco can compete in a race that is often determined by how well and how fearlessly you descend the Poggio

I wouldn't say no way. Descending is a craft which can be learned and the fastest descenders can often be the safest.

An example is Chris Froome who was a terrible descender earlier in his career. Then in 2017 it was Froome leading the descent of Mont du Chat when Richie Porte crashed trying to follow him. The Poggio descent is a piece of cake compared to Mont du Chat.

Remco should practice his descending then surprise us in 2026.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The fact that a one-day racer like Evenepoel has tried only two different monuments is incredible. He should've raced MSR a long time ago and Flandres seems overdue as well.

 

[AlpRaid]

I don't remember any heavy injuries occuring on the Poggio descent despite it being a subject of conversation every year.

all the more likely remco will be the first -- considering his history. ;-)

And this danger is also completely under Evenepoels own control.

precisely the reason to be concerned for his safety as he is a nervous/tentative descender at best and he also is extremely competitive (and emotional) in spirit and may take precisely those risks that he shouldn't if he is tempted by being at the front end of the race.