Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread

[Berniece]

this may not age well. ;-)

I expect him to win at least one during his career, probably this year

 

[red_flanders]

I agree and as probably mentioned several times - Remco has been pretty transparent he's not gunning for Pogacar. A 2nd/3rd/4th with a white jersey and no injuries would be beyond amazing for QS and Remco.

Yes, he's been very clear about that. He's also still Remco, still a champion.

"It's going to be pretty tough to beat Tadej, but we always have to push and believe in it. A bad day can happen to anybody," Evenepoel said. "We have to believe in our strength and in our own plans. Day by day, I'll try to finish as close as I can to Tadej, that will take me quite far in this Tour."

Seems to be a BIT of "Maybe I could pull this off" in his head. As there should be. But I agree, he's been quite grounded and clear about his chances. And he seems to be riding in a way which supports those goals. "But we'll see" seems to be hanging out there...

 

[velaso montador]

I hope Remco and Pogacar try again tomorrow. I wouldn’t call him Mini Pog though. Pogacar never even won a WC

Evenpoel is baby Pog in more ways than one actually.

Hope he continues the trend tomorrow. Stage should suit him and im sure he will.
Most importantly if not too show that he is trending in right direction even if gaps at all will be insignificant on a stage like this. Allez allez

 

[Extinction]

I think if Remco has any realistic view of his own bike-handling skills, it's unlikely that he attacks 2 cols out with a couple of (sounds like) fairly tricky descents. I'm sure he'll try and respond to any attacks.

But launching it on his own? I think unwise. Keep your powder dry for the Pyrenees Remco, it's a long race.

As long as he's still in the hunt for yellow, I don't think he'll try a long range attack. This isn't San Sebastian.

 

[houtdffan]

Yes, he's been very clear about that. He's also still Remco, still a champion.


Seems to be a BIT of "Maybe I could pull this off" in his head. As there should be. But I agree, he's been quite grounded and clear about his chances. And he seems to be riding in a way which supports those goals. "But we'll see" seems to be hanging out there...

or he's starting to sound like he did at the 2022 Vuelta. Remco is never one to tell the truth

Watt bomb coming on Puy Mary or Pla D'Adet

 

[red_flanders]

or he's starting to sound like he did at the 2022 Vuelta. Remco is never one to tell the truth

Watt bomb coming on Puy Mary or Pla D'Adet

Interesting. I find him to be frank and candid to a fault.

 

[scribers]

As long as he's still in the hunt for yellow, I don't think he'll try a long range attack. This isn't San Sebastian.

This type of stage might be his only opportunity to distinguish himself from the main rivals

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Interesting. I find him to be frank and candid to a fault.

Yup. When he thinks he's the strongest in the race or that someone lacks balls he says it.

 

[Taxus4a]

Today stage suit him well, the same as Pogacar.

Maybe first real duel we miss at Lieja and another races for crashes. T

They should try to put time on Vingegaard today, becouse is likely he will put them on the high mountains, considering he wanst so bad at the start.

But Vingegaard is not bad at this stages, and has a good team, despite Van Aert doesnt look great.

 

[Extinction]

This type of stage might be his only opportunity to distinguish himself from the main rivals

I don't know. It depends on how it is raced. Pog, Vingo, Roglic and their teams will mark him. If he attacks he'll have to really open a gap for insisting to make sense. It would be interesting if another Big doesn't have a response and then he goes with say Pog or Vingo to the line. Of course, he could be in difficulty trying to follow Pog or Vingo. At any rate, looking forward to how this stage plays out. If he is super, then perhaps it won't be the only opportunity to distinguish himself on the climbs of this Tour de France.

 

[Bolder]

Interesting. I find him to be frank and candid to a fault.

I think this is it, especially in the 30 minutes after a race. He's emotional and competitive. It's quite entertaining, even if it's annoying to hear his various excuses for why he didn't win. That said, he's not malicious, and there's often a lot of context that gets left out of the initial reporting.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I think this is it, especially in the 30 minutes after a race. He's emotional and competitive. It's quite entertaining, even if it's annoying to hear his various excuses for why he didn't win. That said, he's not malicious, and there's often a lot of context that gets left out of the initial reporting.

He comes off a lot better in full interviews, a lot of it has to do with the media explicitly asking him about certain stuff and then taking his answers out of context to create buzz/clickbait headlines.

 

[Netserk]

He comes off a lot better in full interviews, a lot of it has to do with the media explicitly asking him about certain stuff and then taking his answers out of context to create buzz/clickbait headlines.

That goes with the format of post-stage interviews. You should answer any one question so that the answer to it can stand on its own.

 

[Berniece]

That goes with the format of post-stage interviews. You should answer any one question so that the answer to it can stand on its own.

And then you get the amazing interviews Roglic gives

 

[Snake]

2 aliens are in a league of their own, he can win the tour of humans. Great ride

 

[Berniece]

He rode very well again today. He's on track for podium, and definitely for top 5 if he doesn't have a bad day.

Hope he works on his descending skills in the off-season though. It's getting ridiculous.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Grande Remco! Again.

 

[Le Grand Doop]

I will wait until he gets thru this weekend before considering a top 5.

he needs to completely ignore the two aliens. chug at his pace and pull others back. felt a couple of times that he was real close to blowing today -- he cannot risk that.

no surprise that he dropped on the 14% km. he will need to be super conservative when they do the longer 9-10% climbs.

the key is not having a Vuelta aubisque day. and if he goes into the red too much, this will no doubt happen.

 

[Le Grand Doop]

I would love to know how Puy Mary times compare to 2020.

 

[Didinho]

Strong ride today. Let’s get that podium now!

 

[Taxus4a]

He has to improve a lot techically if he want to win a day le Tour.

It is a pity Landa couldnt stay at the key moments, he will be stronger than Remco in another kind of climbs, and one coudl fugh for podium and the other for the top 5.

 

[Billy The Kid]

I will wait until he gets thru this weekend before considering a top 5.

he needs to completely ignore the two aliens. chug at his pace and pull others back. felt a couple of times that he was real close to blowing today -- he cannot risk that.

no surprise that he dropped on the 14% km. he will need to be super conservative when they do the longer 9-10% climbs.

the key is not having a Vuelta aubisque day. and if he goes into the red too much, this will no doubt happen.

Agreed. Im actually a bit disapointed today. I really thought he would challenge for a stage win together with Pog.But, real kudos for the grinta he showed the last 15-20k.I believe the team and Remco spent to much energy in the front of the peleton before the real climbs started. Looking forward to hearing his thoughts after the stage.

It was worth a shot today, but from now on he needs to ride conservative and let the big teams do the work and follow Roglic. Doing this he should have a good chance of the podium👍

 

[Nick2413]

Very solid, needs keep it together now. Would like to see him have a successful GT against this competition.

 

[Bolder]

He rode very well again today. He's on track for podium, and definitely for top 5 if he doesn't have a bad day.

Hope he works on his descending skills in the off-season though. It's getting ridiculous.

I think he's getting better, he didn't crash or have a serious bobble. Maybe he could cozy up to Pidcock this winter.

 

[Le Grand Doop]

Agreed. Im actually a bit disapointed today. I really thought he would challenge for a stage win together with Pog.

I kinda thought that the only way that would happen is if hostilities did not start at the top of Puy Mary. He will always struggle on 14%.

However, he was down 49" at one point and brought it back to 25".

I hope he learns from this -- hate to admit it, but ride like Froome used to, on power only on the climbs and then accelerate near the end (as he did at dauphine and somewhat today).

(Totally ridiculous that Rog is given same time.)