Teams & Riders Team Visma - Lease a Bike

[YavorD]

He's a great talent, yes, but he's shown he struggles on tough climbs against Carapaz and Ciccone.

In the Tour, he'll be a domestique, and Remco is aiming for at least third place and consolidate his position as the third contender, only behind Pogacar and Vingegaard.

Everyone bar Vingegaard would be domestique for Pogacar. If Del Toro has indeed improved, he will be mentioned in the battle for 3rd alongside Evenepoel.
He isn't your regular domestique that should be easily beaten by Evenepoel, or perhaps even Vingegaard for that matter.pyí⁶

 

[theyoungest]

I don't know if it's good or bad for Remco. Losing to Vingegaard is acceptable, but now he's forced to beat Del Toro easily.

On the other hand, a test against Vingegaard would have been better to measure his climbing level for the TDF and avoid any potentially misleading impressions.

I'm pretty sure Evenepoel would have been equal or better than Vingegaard on those UAE climbs. Vingegaard is good when there's recovery involved, multiple climbs, hard stages. That's where Evenepoel suffers. None of that happens in the UAE Tour, or anywhere in the early season.

I don't think Del Toro will be a match for him either.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

I'm pretty sure Evenepoel would have been equal or better than Vingegaard on those UAE climbs. Vingegaard is good when there's recovery involved, multiple climbs, hard stages. That's where Evenepoel suffers. None of that happens in the UAE Tour, or anywhere in the early season.

I don't think Del Toro will be a match for him either.

Maybe add Pogacar also and let's call Remco the best ever in UAE Tour?

 

[Cycling111]

I'm pretty sure Evenepoel would have been equal or better than Vingegaard on those UAE climbs. Vingegaard is good when there's recovery involved, multiple climbs, hard stages. That's where Evenepoel suffers. None of that happens in the UAE Tour, or anywhere in the early season.

I don't think Del Toro will be a match for him either.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2024. He also dominated all the spring stage races in 2023 except for Paris-Nice because Pogacar was there.

Remco wouldn't have beaten this Vingegaard.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2024 Stage 5 results

Tirreno-Adriatico 2024 Stage 5 from Torricella Sicura to Valle Castellana was won by Jonas Vingegaard before Juan Ayuso and Jai Hindley. Jonas Vingegaard was leading the general classification.

www.procyclingstats.com

 

[theyoungest]

Maybe add Pogacar also and let's call Remco the best ever in UAE Tour?

Eh... no. Pogacar is a different story.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Thought it was allegedely communicated it was a irrelevant crash at first. Whatever its a bummer nothing else.

So he did not sustain any serious injuries but when the injuries were followed by sickness, the injuries makes him skip a race that is to start in 10 days....Meanwhile he out and about training in rainy conditions as of yesterday....

Visma LAB: "Jonas Vingegaard crashed during training on Monday. Fortunately, he is okay and did not sustain any serious injuries."

Visma LAB: "Jonas Vingegaard will not line up at the start of the UAE Tour later this month after all. A recent crash followed by illness has ruled out his planned participation."

Vingegaard: "I was really looking forward to returning to the UAE Tour and am therefore disappointed that we have had to make this decision. However, the combination of the crash and subsequent illness made it necessary. It is better to fully recover first so that I can then focus on my next goals.”

 

[Pozzovivo]

"Whatever the fans want, let's do the opposite"

- Vingegaard and V-LAB

 

[RedheadDane]

"Whatever the fans want, let's do the opposite"

- Vingegaard and V-LAB

Do people actually have any strong opinions about whether or not he races UAE Tour?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Tirreno-Adriatico 2024. He also dominated all the spring stage races in 2023 except for Paris-Nice because Pogacar was there.

Remco wouldn't have beaten this Vingegaard.

Tirreno-Adriatico 2024 Stage 5 results

Tirreno-Adriatico 2024 Stage 5 from Torricella Sicura to Valle Castellana was won by Jonas Vingegaard before Juan Ayuso and Jai Hindley. Jonas Vingegaard was leading the general classification.

www.procyclingstats.com

Remco of today seems to be a different beast than those he beat in 2024. So is the Del Toro of 2026, most likely, while he himself hasn't shown signs of improvement since his Itzulia crash. That doesn't mean he wouldn't have been able to beat them in UAE this year, but we'll never know now.

I'm getting a couple of inches closer to thinking he will be taking over the Yates schedule and do PN, Dauphin-ish and the Tour.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Eh... no. Pogacar is a different story.

I hope my sarcasm was clear

 

[Berniece]

Do people actually have any strong opinions about whether or not he races UAE Tour?

I find it quite annoying that he isn't racing as much.

 

[theyoungest]

I find it quite annoying that he isn't racing as much.

It's February. And it's not like he didn't want to race. It's actually the first time ever he won't be racing in February.

 

[Red Rick]

Do people actually have any strong opinions about whether or not he races UAE Tour?

Not racing enough is the favorite stick to beat Vingegaard with by Pogacar fans, while he raced more than him last season

 

[RedheadDane]

Not racing enough is the favorite stick to beat Vingegaard with by Pogacar, while he raced more than him last season

Has Pogacar actually been beating Vingegaard with that (proverbital) stick?
Or mostly just Pogacar's fans?

 

[theyoungest]

Not racing enough is the favorite stick to beat Vingegaard with by Pogacar, while he raced more than him last season

Not by Pogacar, but by Pogacar fans. But you're right, Vingo had more race days than Pogi last year... and it's not even close. I'm sure @Pozzovivo was aware of that.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Not racing enough is the favorite stick to beat Vingegaard with by Pogacar, while he raced more than him last season

Well all know that a race day =/= race day

 

[Salvarani]

Not racing enough is the favorite stick to beat Vingegaard with by Pogacar, while he raced more than him last season

By race days? Vinge had 3 months of absence during the season. Seems like GTs is the only thing he is taking seriously now.

And its disingenous to just look at the race days, without looking at the context of the races that Pog raced.

And the context of each of their season. Or them as different riders.

Pog was active from Feb to October.

He didnt take 3 months off to just do camps and skip racing, which is a shame for one of the best riders in the world. Without an injury keeping him out, but by choice.

 

[theyoungest]

By race days? Vinge had 3 months of absence during the season. Seems like GTs is the only thing he is taking seriously now.

And its disingenous to just look at the race days, without looking at the context of the races that Pog raced.

And the context of each of their season. Or them as different riders.

Pog was active from Feb to October.

He didnt take 3 months off to just do camps and skip racing.

If it's about context there's no discussion anyway, since a crash and sickness is the reason he won't be racing UAE, not some aversion to racing.

Well all know that a race day =/= race day

Yes, a Pogacar race day is infinitely superior to a Vingegaard one.

 

[Salvarani]

If it's about context there's no discussion anyway, since a crash and sickness is the reason he won't be racing UAE, not some aversion to racing.

My response was obviously not about this instance, but what was said in the post I quoted.

 

[Salvarani]

Well all know that a race day =/= race day

Context doesnt seem to matter, I guess

 

[Berniece]

It's February. And it's not like he didn't want to race. It's actually the first time ever he won't be racing in February.

He’s only doing Catalunya before Giro…

 

[Red Rick]

Well all know that a race day =/= race day

Yes. Words literally cease to have their textbook meaning when talking about the God-King

 

[Rou]

Well all know that a race day =/= race day

Yes, yes, we know.
Pogacar does Flanders and is equal to 10 race days for Vingegaard, right?
I'm curious how did Merckx do 80+ race days including Monuments and 2 GTs per year and was competitive all the time.
Option A: He was racing against plumbers.
Option B: Pogacar's endurance is overrated and that's why he races so little.
I think both options are somewhat true.

 

[YavorD]

Not racing enough is the favorite stick to beat Vingegaard with by Pogacar fans, while he raced more than him last season

I beg to differ. Pogacar did more races than Vingegaard. Less days, but more races
But I don't agree with criticising Vingegaard either.

 

[Cycling111]

Not racing enough is the favorite stick to beat Vingegaard with by Pogacar fans, while he raced more than him last season

Because 5 days in Valencia is the same as 5 days in Monuments.