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

[Peter von]

Ca

Can't see him, Rog and Hindley working well together.

fair. I would also advice him to go to INEOS because they are basically a top(-ish) GC team without a top GC leader, and yeah Bora has top(-ish) leaders and lack the GC team parts.

 

[Extinction]

fair. I would also advice him to go to INEOS because they are basically a top(-ish) GC team without a top GC leader, and yeah Bora has top(-ish) leaders and lack the GC team parts.

I agree.

 

[movingtarget]

He stay upright and gets another podium. The rest of the top 10 don't seem to be much of a threat unless he has a bad day in the final week.

 

[Berniece]

He stay upright and gets another podium. The rest of the top 10 don't seem to be much of a threat unless he has a bad day in the final week.

How do you mean another podium? It's his first GT podium besides winning the Vuelta. He never finished any other GT.

 

[Venge 82]

However I think that the most important thing for Remco now is to focus on racing.

Don't worry, racing is and will be his focus. As mentioned before, Remco has signed months ago for another team. Patrick Lefèvre knows about it. I received this input before the spring classics. The only thing I don't know, is which team...

 

[kingjr]

I haven't really been blown away by the level of Roglic, Hindley, Vlasov, or the rest of Bora so far this year. Doesn't seem to me like they are anywere close to UAE or even Visma (who until this week didn't look too hot either).

Lipowitz at least made an impressive step forward this year.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Lipowitz at least made an impressive step forward this year.

Well, we don't know because he came out of nowhere, so we have no real frame of reference. Had you put Pogacar or Evenepoel at FDJ in 2019, you could also say the team was doing great because "look at Pogacar/Evenepoel".

 

[red_flanders]

Don't worry, racing is and will be his focus. As mentioned before, Remco has signed months ago for another team. Patrick Lefèvre knows about it. I received this input before the spring classics. The only think I don't know, is which team...

It's one thing to have the contract negotiations be a distraction. That's actually a relatively minor, in house distraction over which the team and Remco would have control.

The larger distraction is the press. There are already the rumors circulating and many articles being written. As it stands, there will be a few ongoing questions which aren't that big a deal, but if someone gets any real info about which team he signed with, it will become a very public, and very uncontrollable distraction.

 

[kingjr]

Well, we don't know because he came out of nowhere, so we have no real frame of reference. Had you put Pogacar or Evenepoel at FDJ in 2019, you could also say the team was doing great because "look at Pogacar/Evenepoel".

It suggests they're not completely hopeless at developing talent. Anyway, the point wasn't that the team is doing great, merely that it is not completely bad either. Personally, I always felt Denk/Bora are a bit of a joke. But that may be because the feeling of second-hand embarrassment is much stronger where your own countrymen are concerned.

 

[movingtarget]

How do you mean another podium? It's his first GT podium besides winning the Vuelta. He never finished any other GT.

My mistake I thought he had one other podium besides the Vuelta win.

 

[MLKarlos]

I don’t get the Bora diss here…for me they are already a better GC Team then Ineos and with the signings they did, they will be even better in 2025. I really think there will be a Red Bull performance boost due to their performance center, aerodynamic performance experience etc.

I honestly think it’s the only team which makes sense for Remco, mainly because of Spezialized. Remco has a multi year deal with them. The only other WT Team with Spezialized…is RB Bora. Also Roglic just got a two year contract means he runs out of contract at the same time as Remco…and will be 35? 36?


I doubt that Ineos buys Remco out of his contract with Soudal and with Spezialized. In addition they have a multi year with Pinarello…it’s way too much dead money in my eyes.

UAE…will never happen…too many wunderkids and of course Pogi above them all

Visma hates Remco

Lidl? Don’t see a strong GT Team there. Not sure Remco is attracted by them.

Who else ? Bahrain? Ääääh no
Movistar? Nooope

I would be shocked if it is anyone else Red Bull

 

[houtdffan]

It could be for 2026 Remco is signing, as Soudal and the majority team owner only agreed to continue through 2025

 

[red_flanders]

I don’t get the Bora diss here…for me they are already a better GC Team then Ineos and with the signings they did, they will be even better in 2025. I really think there will be a Red Bull performance boost due to their performance center, aerodynamic performance experience etc.

I honestly think it’s the only team which makes sense for Remco, mainly because of Spezialized. Remco has a multi year deal with them. The only other WT Team with Spezialized…is RB Bora. Also Roglic just got a two year contract means he runs out of contract at the same time as Remco…and will be 35? 36?


I doubt that Ineos buys Remco out of his contract with Soudal and with Spezialized. In addition they have a multi year with Pinarello…it’s way too much dead money in my eyes.

UAE…will never happen…too many wunderkids and of course Pogi above them all

Visma hates Remco

Lidl? Don’t see a strong GT Team there. Not sure Remco is attracted by them.

Who else ? Bahrain? Ääääh no
Movistar? Nooope

I would be shocked if it is anyone else Red Bull

A very good, very rational post. I think mainly folks are questioning whether Bora is the right environment to develop Remco rather than any of the contractual practicalities you rightly bring up here. I think the questions are less about what makes contractual sense than where would folks like to see him go so he can reach the highest potential.

 

[Slavique Nuke]

Did he say anything about the Olympic ITT? Strange that he is only the third biggest favourite according to the bookies.

 

[Medvind]

Did he say anything about the Olympic ITT? Strange that he is only the third biggest favourite according to the bookies.

Many of the guys who did the tour last year struggled in Worlds ITT. Ganna and Tarling will be fresh. Course is flat and just 32.4 k.

 

[Didinho]

Saw some posts saying Oumi couldn’t get to Remco after the race. Today Remco almost couldn’t get there himself.
(There’s a video of it on socials, you could see it was crowded and he crawled under during Pogi’s interview).

 

[Berniece]

Don't worry, racing is and will be his focus. As mentioned before, Remco has signed months ago for another team. Patrick Lefèvre knows about it. I received this input before the spring classics. The only thing I don't know, is which team...

Why wouldn’t this have been started in the press then?

 

[Venge 82]

Why wouldn’t this have been started in the press then?

I have no idea. Maybe the press didn't know.

 

[Berniece]

I have no idea. Maybe the press didn't know.

Would surprise me even more

 

[Billy The Kid]

It could be for 2026 Remco is signing, as Soudal and the majority team owner only agreed to continue through 2025

Could be. The original sponsor deal with both Soudal and Quickstep ends 31.12.2027 though. After the merger negotiations with Visma ended last year it was said that Zdenek Bakala would end his ownership after the 2025 season. I believe he owns 80% of the team and Patrick 20!? I dont have access to the accounting for Soudal-Quickstep for 2023, but i believe the main income (If not all?) for the team is from sponsors (Soudal,Quickstep,Spezialized etc) and not from the owners. Then it should be possible to continue the team after the 2025 season. I ofcourse agree that UAE,Visma,Ineos etc have stronger teams this year for the Tour, but with 2-3 strong signings Remco can win the Tour with SQS, so why change teams. The team did a hell of a job when he won the Vuelta, and he probably would have won the Giro last year with the same team had it not been for covid running rampant. For example this team for 2025 Tdf: Remco,Landa,Van Wilder,Paret-Paintre,Cattaneo,Eenkhoorn,Lampaert and Junior Lecerf. This would be a very strong and dedicated team that could compete in all terrains and then it will be up to Remco If he is good enough to win

 

[Venge 82]

Would surprise me even more

Look, I have received this info via a source very close to the family. I cannot say more.

 

[red_flanders]

Look, I have received this info via a source very close to the family. I cannot say more.

OK, so you're saying a contract with another team has been signed, before the classics this season. Correct?

I guess that leaves:

• With what team
• For what time period
• For how much
• If there are other riders involved

May I ask who you are that you have this information? Just trying to gauge how much stock to put into it–hopefully no offense taken, but this is an anonymous post on a message board. Happy to believe you have the access you say you do, but I think hard to assess that when the information seems like it will never be confirmed. If you have that access, I definitely appreciate you having shared what you already know.

If Team Remco® announces next year that they have signed a contract with another team for 2026, I guess that would surprise no one. If they announce this year for 2026, that would be more interesting. I doubt they'd ever announce that it was signed before the classics, so will that ever be confirmed? If they announce this year that he's signed for 2025, that would be a big announcement. Seems reasonable that it happened before the Tour.

I mean it sounds good that they have it sorted out already and there's no issue with Lefevre. That would be ideal. Just not sure how to react to such limited, anonymous claims.

 

[houtdffan]

OK, so you're saying a contract with another team has been signed, before the classics this season. Correct?

I guess that leaves:

• With what team
• For what time period
• For how much
• If there are other riders involved

May I ask who you are that you have this information? Just trying to gauge how much stock to put into it–hopefully no offense taken, but this is an anonymous post on a message board. Happy to believe you have the access you say you do, but I think hard to assess that when the information seems like it will never be confirmed. If you have that access, I definitely appreciate you having shared what you already know.

If Team Remco® announces next year that they have signed a contract with another team for 2026, I guess that would surprise no one. If they announce this year for 2026, that would be more interesting. I doubt they'd ever announce that it was signed before the classics, so will that ever be confirmed? If they announce this year that he's signed for 2025, that would be a big announcement. Seems reasonable that it happened before the Tour.

I mean it sounds good that they have it sorted out already and there's no issue with Lefevre. That would be ideal. Just not sure how to react to such limited, anonymous claims.

For 2025 would be questionable, since Lefevre already said their entire classics campaign next year is Remco. 2026 makes sense due to the ownership change, etc

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

I don’t get the Bora diss here…for me they are already a better GC Team then Ineos and with the signings they did, they will be even better in 2025. I really think there will be a Red Bull performance boost due to their performance center, aerodynamic performance experience etc.

I honestly think it’s the only team which makes sense for Remco, mainly because of Spezialized. Remco has a multi year deal with them. The only other WT Team with Spezialized…is RB Bora. Also Roglic just got a two year contract means he runs out of contract at the same time as Remco…and will be 35? 36?


I doubt that Ineos buys Remco out of his contract with Soudal and with Spezialized. In addition they have a multi year with Pinarello…it’s way too much dead money in my eyes.

UAE…will never happen…too many wunderkids and of course Pogi above them all

Visma hates Remco

Lidl? Don’t see a strong GT Team there. Not sure Remco is attracted by them.

Who else ? Bahrain? Ääääh no
Movistar? Nooope

I would be shocked if it is anyone else Red Bull

Good point about it possibly making sense for Bora to bring in Remco not to ride with Roglic necessarily but to be the next star. As much as I am a Roglic fan, he can’t ride at the highest level forever. It’d be interesting seeing them ride a GT together, though. Even more patronizing pushes no doubt.

In regard to VLAB, some might “hate” him, but I have no doubt they would snap him up in a heartbeat though. They lost Roglic, Wout has had issues, Jorgenson and Kuss are great and all but they’re not Remco, or even close. However, if Remco’s goal is to win the Tour, it doesn’t make sense for him.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

European here. How much is that in balls?



He had a sore on the other side of his lip three days ago. Check the interviews after the gravel stage. Maybe not completely innocent.


So, Evenepoel is responsible for Roglic crashing and what Pogacar says. Or what exactly did Evenepoel say that you take offense with.

Late response, but I didn’t say Remco was responsible for Roglic crashing; I said I particularly don’t like Remco’s attitude toward Roglic, which was evidenced by words and actions before Roglic crashed out, given Roglic’s misfortune. I don’t hate Remco by any means - I actually think I am hoping he shocks Pogi and Vinge - but no one who has followed Remco and heard his comments after the stage that Roglic’s pulls were weak could interpret his push as anything but disrespectful.

I enjoy his directness and honesty, but at times he comes across as arrogant and disrespectful. Saying Vingegaard had no balls displayed a lack of judgement regarding strategy and Vingegaard’s form, and a lack of respect for a two-time Tour winner who just came back from terrible injuries. He similarly had issues with Roglic during Catalonia last year, and it seemed like he had trouble grasping the situation on the road. Remco lost the climb on La Port and this he had to attack Roglic to take the win back (he could not.)

He at times says very respectful things and no doubt feels respect to all of those riders at times and at others feels angry or contemptuous toward them; he’s only human like all of us.