- Mar 13, 2009
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Hard to believe this is a 20 year old neo.
I mean everybody is raving about Evenepoel, but it doesn't eclipse Pogacar's performances so far
I mean everybody is raving about Evenepoel, but it doesn't eclipse Pogacar's performances so far
- Apr 12, 2017
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Pogačar is about 1,5 years older though, but anyway, no need to compare their efforts yet really. We'll surely get enough time for that in the future.
Interesting times ahead! Pogačar, Bernal, Evenepoel ...
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- May 11, 2013
- 13,995
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- Jun 7, 2011
- 20,849
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If you are talking in absolute terms, then no, i don't think it eclipses what Pogacar has done this year. I would rate both debuts about equal. Winning San Sebastian, an actual classic, winning the EC ITT, stages in BBT and AIR and the overall in BBT, couple of top 10 stageraces (San Juan, Turkey, AIR...), some exploits in Hammer series and the Belgian National ITT (3rd) vs stages + overall in California & Algarve, top 10 in Pais Vasco & Slovenia and the Slovenian National ITT win . But if you factor in age, then Evenepoel's trajectory is the (far) more baffling imho.
We'll have to wait and see if RE will be able to pull off in 16 months what Pogacar did this year (I'm not yet convinced he will). But i'm also quite sure Pogacar wouldn't have been able to do what Evenepoel did this year, 16 months ago (i actually don't think Pogacar could have done this year, what Evenepoel did this year). They are after all quite different. The biggest difference however, imho, is not in strenght or commitment, but in style. While Pogacar seems very calculated and strategically clever, Evenepoel seems far more brazen and going against established rules. I think this is also what makes him more fun to follow than Pogacar. There are more actual "WTF" moments. But whether their way of riding is due to temperament or (lack of) experience, remains to be seen. I'm just enjoying the ride watching these guys. This year has given us (or me at least) a lot of enjoyment with Evenepoel, Pogacar, Bernal, van Aert, van der Poel, Carapaz and... Lambrecht. To be honest, i haven't been able to watch one stage of the Vuelta yet, simply because last month i was so excited to see him ride there.
- Jul 10, 2012
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Seems like a rookie move to waste that energy when the next two weeks will be brutal. What did he earn, 2 seconds? The riders behind were in a group on an easy gradient so I don't think the claim they spent as much energy holds water. Yeah, he was feeling good but he needs to realize that was because they were all riding slow. Not crafty imo.
- May 11, 2017
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If he's going to pay for yesterday's efforts then it's a lesson learned for him. That's what he's there for in the first place
- Jul 10, 2014
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- May 15, 2011
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- May 26, 2009
- 10,230
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Pogacar has been fantastic but Evenepoel didn't race a bike until 2 years ago did he? And didn't race U23 at all. Hard to compare considering that and the fact they're totally different style of rider anyway.
- Oct 14, 2017
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Granted this was almost 2 decades ago, but Kelme pulled Valverde out of the 2002 Vuelta on the 2nd rest day as was decided before the race started, and Valverde was in a position to contend for the overall podium of that race. So it is possible they will pull him even if it's in a good position.
- Jun 7, 2011
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I kind of disagree. On long climbs that matter, he will likely see that older guys with better endurance are too good for him to follow. However, in this case, the peloton wasn't paced too hard, and he attacked only in the final few k before the finish. This wasn't an effort that will make or break his GC. If he pays for this effort next week or the week after, then he was never going to compete anyway. On the other hand, had the peloton not reacted in time on his attack, he might well have gained 20 seconds instead of 2. In fact, his attack did win him over 20 seconds on guys like Knox, Padun, Eg...
- Aug 31, 2019
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I was too young to follow the 02 Vuelta, but this doesnt seem accurate to me. Based on what I can see at PCS and CQRanking, Valverde didnt finish the 15th stage to Angliru (the famous chaos stage where David Millar quit 1 meter before the finish line, and this was the day before the second rest day).
However, before the 15th stage, Valverde was in 45th place 39 minutes down after the 13th stage and on the 14th stage he finished 104th 8 minutes down on the peloton (which contained about 90 riders). He was no way in "a position to contend for the overall podium" and the situation with Pogacar is pretty different.
It's always easy to mix up memories that goes that far back in time.
- Nov 16, 2013
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True, he didn't contend for any podium whatsoever in that race.
Cool name by the way.
- Feb 20, 2010
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Probably some conflation of the '02 and '03 Vueltas, that's all.
I think Pogačar should be allowed to race with freedom now, make his own decisions - and yes, make his own mistakes. It's refreshing to see somebody following their sensations even if it's ultimately foolhardy, because it's a three week race and that's a new experience for him. So long as he's up there in the GC, let him ride. If he cracks before the rest day, most likely on Sunday, then keep him in for a week to stagehunt and get some experience in the break, or use him to ride for Aru. If he doesn't crack until later, which seems far more likely, give him the choice. If it takes until Becenil, then let him finish the race. If it's at Acebo or the La Cubilla stage, withdraw him on the second rest day.
I think Pogačar should be allowed to race with freedom now, make his own decisions - and yes, make his own mistakes. It's refreshing to see somebody following their sensations even if it's ultimately foolhardy, because it's a three week race and that's a new experience for him. So long as he's up there in the GC, let him ride. If he cracks before the rest day, most likely on Sunday, then keep him in for a week to stagehunt and get some experience in the break, or use him to ride for Aru. If he doesn't crack until later, which seems far more likely, give him the choice. If it takes until Becenil, then let him finish the race. If it's at Acebo or the La Cubilla stage, withdraw him on the second rest day.
- Jun 7, 2011
- 20,849
- 20,130
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