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

[red_flanders]

Why do some on VLAB "hate" Remco? What's the beef?

 

[Andre]

....while I ponder tomorrow's stage...do we see a scenario where Vingo goes on the attack near the top (let's say with one or two kilometers left) and Tadej follows easily and Remco follows but with a little less push...then the two diminishing mutants mark each other, and Remco makes it almost all the way back at his pace a la Gerraint Thomas style? Rodriguez then comes up maybe a minute behind Remco...
p.s. too bad Roglic is not there any longer, since it would have been fun to watch him and Remco fight it out

 

[houtdffan]

....while I ponder tomorrow's stage...do we see a scenario where Vingo goes on the attack near the top (let's say with one or two kilometers left) and Tadej follows easily and Remco follows but with a little less push...then the two diminishing mutants mark each other, and Remco makes it almost all the way back at his pace a la Gerraint Thomas style? Rodriguez then comes up maybe a minute behind Remco...
p.s. too bad Roglic is not there any longer, since it would have been fun to watch him and Remco fight it out

In that scenario, I could see Remco continuing when he catches the other two unlike Thomas who would often slow and follow wheels. . That's the thing Vingo needs to avoid as he has even said before that he cannot attack at all when Remco sets his tempo

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

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.

It's a bit the boy who cried wolf. Roglic has sat one too many time in Evenepoel's wheel claiming he couldn't work or wasn't allowed by his team, either to attack him later on, or work against Evenepoel rather than for himself. Two days ago i think Roglic in fact was completely done, but you can't blame Evenepoel for getting fed up and thinking Roglic was once again playing games. He didn't have to push him and he didn't have to say Roglic wasn't working hard to the press (though i personally see no issue whatsoever with the latter, we all could see it) but i can perfectly understand his reaction.

Regarding Vingegaard, if Vingegaard needs special consideration because he was in a crash, that is assuming he is still suffering from his crash. But nobody forced Vingegaard to race the TDF, least of all Evenepoel and Pogacar. If Vingegaard wasn't ready for it, he should have stayed away. But you can't expect your competitors to treat you like a poor victim while you are in fact there to win the race against them. All Evenepoel said was that Vingegaard should could have shown a bit more guts. He just chose to describe it rather graphically.

I personally feel Pogacar's attitude towards Roglic is a lot more damning. Telling Evenepoel he shouldn't worry about Roglic (what for? Because he would crash out? Because he is washed? Because he is not in their league? Because he wants to manipulate Evenepoel into his bro-club for his own gain?) and the day later telling the press how sorry he is for Roglic to crash out and that he was getting stronger every day. That's a lot more two-faced and discrediting than anything Evenepoel has ever done.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

It's a bit the boy who cried wolf. Roglic has sat one too many time in Evenepoel's wheel claiming he couldn't work or wasn't allowed by his team, either to attack him later on, or work against Evenepoel rather than for himself. Two days ago i think Roglic in fact was completely done, but you can't blame Evenepoel for getting fed up and thinking Roglic was once again playing games. He didn't have to push him and he didn't have to say Roglic wasn't working hard to the press (though i personally see no issue whatsoever with the latter, we all could see it) but i can perfectly understand his reaction.

Regarding Vingegaard, if Vingegaard needs special consideration because he was in a crash, that is assuming he is still suffering from his crash. But nobody forced Vingegaard to race the TDF, least of all Evenepoel and Pogacar. If Vingegaard wasn't ready for it, he should have stayed away. But you can't expect your competitors to treat you like a poor victim while you are in fact there to win the race against them. All Evenepoel said was that Vingegaard should could have shown a bit more guts. He just chose to describe it rather graphically.

I personally feel Pogacar's attitude towards Roglic a lot more damning. Telling Evenepoel he shouldn't worry about Roglic (what for? Because he would crash out? Because he is washed? Because he is not in their league? Because he wants to manipulate Evenepoel into his bro-club for his own gain?) and the day later telling the press how sorry he is for Roglic to crash out and that he was getting stronger every day. That's a lot more two-faced and discrediting than anything Evenepoel has ever done.

Regarding Vingegaard, I’m not suggesting he treat him like a victim but rather that he treat him with respect, as in a rider who clearly knows what he’s doing. He’s proven repeatedly that he is not lacking in balls. Two stages later, the “no balls” comment seemed like a silly, unnecessary provocation that betrayed a misunderstanding, as I said, of where the two stand in the relative hierarchy.

Regarding Pogacar, no disagreement there. I posted elsewhere that Pogacar is a master manipulator, charming MVDP to gang up against Wout and get in his head, charming Roglic in 2020 to big brother him to victory, charming fans, now charming Remco with some tactical goal no doubt. That’s why I’d like Remco to surprise and surpass him. It’s be a nice reversal of 2020.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Regarding Vingegaard, I’m not suggesting he treat him like a victim but rather that he treat him with respect, as in a rider who clearly knows what he’s doing. He’s proven repeatedly that he is not lacking in balls. Two stages later, the “no balls” comment seemed like a silly, unnecessary provocation that betrayed a misunderstanding, as I said, of where the two stand in the relative hierarchy.

Regarding Pogacar, no disagreement there. I posted elsewhere that Pogacar is a master manipulator, charming MVDP to gang up against Wout and get in his head, charming Roglic in 2020 to big brother him to victory, charming fans, now charming Remco with some tactical goal no doubt. That’s why I’d like Remco to surprise and surpass him. It’s be a nice reversal of 2020.

Saying sometimes you have to ride with guts and saying Vingegaard didn't do that that day, imho is not really disrespectful, rather simply calling it like we all saw it. He could have his reasons not to ride, just like Evenepoel mentioned, and he might be the defending champion, but gutsy it was not. Plain and simple. So he was simply stating the facts and giving his opinion.

That Vingegaard appears stronger 2 days down the line has little to do with guts.

Ever since he burst onto the WT, people have been looking for the tiniest bit in order to feel offended by whatever he does or says. Like i said at the time, i wouldn't have called out Vingegaard like that, but i also don't think he said anything wrong per se.

 

[Andre]

It's a bit the boy who cried wolf. Roglic has sat one too many time in Evenepoel's wheel claiming he couldn't work or wasn't allowed by his team, either to attack him later on, or work against Evenepoel rather than for himself. Two days ago i think Roglic in fact was completely done, but you can't blame Evenepoel for getting fed up and thinking Roglic was once again playing games. He didn't have to push him and he didn't have to say Roglic wasn't working hard to the press (though i personally see no issue whatsoever with the latter, we all could see it) but i can perfectly understand his reaction.

Regarding Vingegaard, if Vingegaard needs special consideration because he was in a crash, that is assuming he is still suffering from his crash. But nobody forced Vingegaard to race the TDF, least of all Evenepoel and Pogacar. If Vingegaard wasn't ready for it, he should have stayed away. But you can't expect your competitors to treat you like a poor victim while you are in fact there to win the race against them. All Evenepoel said was that Vingegaard should could have shown a bit more guts. He just chose to describe it rather graphically.

I personally feel Pogacar's attitude towards Roglic is a lot more damning. Telling Evenepoel he shouldn't worry about Roglic (what for? Because he would crash out? Because he is washed? Because he is not in their league? Because he wants to manipulate Evenepoel into his bro-club for his own gain?) and the day later telling the press how sorry he is for Roglic to crash out and that he was getting stronger every day. That's a lot more two-faced and discrediting than anything Evenepoel has ever done.

you nailed it!!!

 

[Slavique Nuke]

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.

The strongest guys in the RR all had the Tour in their legs. I think WvA, Kung and Pog's bad ITT was due to the brutally hard RR race, not the Tour

 

[Venge 82]

The strongest guys in the RR all had the Tour in their legs. I think WvA, Kung and Pog's bad ITT was due to the brutally hard RR race, not the Tour

I don't agree. You cannot compare an ITT withthe RR. ITT is all about freshness, RR is about hardness.

 

[Venge 82]

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.

I completely understand your question.
To be honest, that is the only info I have. I do not know which team, as of when, the €€€,...

Since months, I try to look for answers as my source (clearly embarrased by his slip of the tongue) doesn't want to share more info.
I also tried to interpret communication from Remco and Patrick Lefèvre. They communicate like if he would still be part of the squad next year. So, that's a bit strange. Unless Remco has signed a contract for the 2026 season.

My contact is family and he has it from Patrick Evenpoel himself.

 

[Extinction]

Regarding Vingegaard, I’m not suggesting he treat him like a victim but rather that he treat him with respect, as in a rider who clearly knows what he’s doing. He’s proven repeatedly that he is not lacking in balls. Two stages later, the “no balls” comment seemed like a silly, unnecessary provocation that betrayed a misunderstanding, as I said, of where the two stand in the relative hierarchy.

Regarding Pogacar, no disagreement there. I posted elsewhere that Pogacar is a master manipulator, charming MVDP to gang up against Wout and get in his head, charming Roglic in 2020 to big brother him to victory, charming fans, now charming Remco with some tactical goal no doubt. That’s why I’d like Remco to surprise and surpass him. It’s be a nice reversal of 2020.

Man, I don't know if you were around in the 80s, but saying someone didn't have balls was nothing in comparison to the banter back then. I don't like this culture of over-sensitivity constructed to protect everyone from feeling insulted, because it's hypocritical and manipulative to dissuade people from speaking their minds. Let's just pretend cycling isn't a ruthless war and that riders are fragile crystal glasses. But this is all just part of the general Western neurosis of so-called safe space culture, an unnatural perversion intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism, or potentially threatening actions, ideas, or conversations, with the result that everyone is overjoyed at the opportunity to be offended. The reality is that cycling, like life, is ruthless, so you'd better be able to roll with the punches. No, I rather enjoyed Remco's straight talk, which is so refreshing from the rather spineless and annoying pre-concocted play-nice drivel that has become the staple. I remember when Fignon called Lemond "excess baggage" and it was wonderful.

 

[Bolder]

Remco is in a great position right now for a podium spot. I’m hoping he’ll manage his efforts and not get carried away trying to follow Pog or Jonas if they attack. Problem is that without Roglic he won’t have a natural ally.

As far as switching teams, hm, ofc it’s his career. My suspicion is that Red Bull, the company, may not have a lot of patience if Denk doesn’t produce some big wins with the structure that’s in place now, so it could be a good chance for Remco to get onto a budding super team.

 

[Venge 82]

I'm wondering if/hoping that Remco is still quite fresh compared to Pogacar and has a slightly bigger base condition compared to Vingegaard.

Maybe I'm naïve or too much a fan, but could it be that Remco will be the strongest in the last week? Don't get me wrong, I believe in normal conditions the other 2 are still a tier above, but given the circumstances...

A podium spot would for sure be fantastic, but secretely I'm hoping for more.

 

[Valv.Piti]

It's a bit the boy who cried wolf. Roglic has sat one too many time in Evenepoel's wheel claiming he couldn't work or wasn't allowed by his team, either to attack him later on, or work against Evenepoel rather than for himself. Two days ago i think Roglic in fact was completely done, but you can't blame Evenepoel for getting fed up and thinking Roglic was once again playing games. He didn't have to push him and he didn't have to say Roglic wasn't working hard to the press (though i personally see no issue whatsoever with the latter, we all could see it) but i can perfectly understand his reaction.

Regarding Vingegaard, if Vingegaard needs special consideration because he was in a crash, that is assuming he is still suffering from his crash. But nobody forced Vingegaard to race the TDF, least of all Evenepoel and Pogacar. If Vingegaard wasn't ready for it, he should have stayed away. But you can't expect your competitors to treat you like a poor victim while you are in fact there to win the race against them. All Evenepoel said was that Vingegaard should could have shown a bit more guts. He just chose to describe it rather graphically.

I personally feel Pogacar's attitude towards Roglic is a lot more damning. Telling Evenepoel he shouldn't worry about Roglic (what for? Because he would crash out? Because he is washed? Because he is not in their league? Because he wants to manipulate Evenepoel into his bro-club for his own gain?) and the day later telling the press how sorry he is for Roglic to crash out and that he was getting stronger every day. That's a lot more two-faced and discrediting than anything Evenepoel has ever done.

Great post as always. Evenepoel did nothing wrong at all in saying what he did (seriously, guts, balls, courage, its all the same, who the *** cares), but I think the way Jonas rode was very defendable from a tactical POV in that specific instance. We all hoped he would play along, but chances were that he wouldn't and it is what it is. Later on it was a lot more blatant when he got away with Pog and Matteo and still decided to obstruct the race. That was the most painful thing about his riding.

Also as a sidenote, being danish and all, its incredible the amount of critiscm Evenepoel receives from the July-fans on social media here who has little to no clue about cycling. Now everyone hopes and prays for his downfall and they are constantly referring to that specific comment, especially when Jonas dropped him on stage 11. But as you say, that had nothing to do with courage, that was simply just stronger legs.

Grande Remco. Stay strong, podium is very realistic, and who knows, its not completely unrealistic to try to win the whole thing.

 

[Netserk]

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.

He behaves like a football player.

 

[Netserk]

Saying sometimes you have to ride with guts and saying Vingegaard didn't do that that day, imho is not really disrespectful, rather simply calling it like we all saw it.

If those were Evenepoel's words, it would have played better.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1810002042234003483

View: https://x.com/itvcycling/status/1810002042234003483

"Maybe Jonas didn't have [the balls to race] today."

Not really disrespectful, sure.

 

[Berniece]

If those were Evenepoel's words, it would have played better.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1810002042234003483

View: https://x.com/itvcycling/status/1810002042234003483

"Maybe Jonas didn't have [the balls to race] today."

Not really disrespectful, sure.

Because when he first mentioned this he said: “Tom Boonen used to say that sometimes you need to show big balls to win”.

 

[Extinction]

He behaves like a football player.

No, like a cyclist.

 

[Netserk]

Because when he first mentioned this he said: “Tom Boonen used to say that sometimes you need to show big balls to win”.

At what timestamp does he mention Boonen in the interview with Danish TV2?

 

[Berniece]

At what timestamp does he mention Boonen in the interview with Danish TV2?

Dutch interview with Sporza. And then he went on to other interviews without giving that context.

 

[Netserk]

Dutch interview with Sporza. And then he went on to other interviews without giving that context.

Doesn't change that his answer to Danish TV2 was disrespectful.

And it would have made a difference if he said that Vingegaard didn't show big balls. Instead he said that maybe he didn't have them. That's disrespectful.

 

[Berniece]

Doesn't change that his answer to Danish TV2 was disrespectful.

And it would have made a difference if he said that Vingegaard didn't show big balls. Instead he said that maybe he didn't have them. That's disrespectful.

Yes we’ve already established that you find it insulting. [[content removed]]

 

[Netserk]

Yes we’ve already established that you find it insulting.[[content removed]]

I don't see the point in making a personal comment. Why not keep the discussion about Evenepoel?

 

[MLKarlos]

I completely understand your question.
To be honest, that is the only info I have. I do not know which team, as of when, the €€€,...

Since months, I try to look for answers as my source (clearly embarrased by his slip of the tongue) doesn't want to share more info.
I also tried to interpret communication from Remco and Patrick Lefèvre. They communicate like if he would still be part of the squad next year. So, that's a bit strange. Unless Remco has signed a contract for the 2026 season.

My contact is family and he has it from Patrick Evenpoel himself.

My gut tells me he will ride for Red Bull from 2026 on

 

[Berniece]

I don't see the point in making a personal comment. Why not keep the discussion about Evenepoel?

Because that discussion is over. You find it insulting, most of us here don’t. That’s it.