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

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I think he's the favourite for 2nd now. Vingegaard is fading. Evenepoel has found consistency, pretty surprising actually.

Which of the two is surprising? I know i'm one of the few who voted Vingegaard to fade in the 3rd week in that poll. So that to me is not surprising. But we'll need to wait a few days because these guys have a habit of making us say stuff that makes us look like an ass a few days later.

 

[Sciatic]

I don't know if that's really the case though. Then you use Vingegaard as the benchmark. Compared to Pogacar it's similar to the start.

Agreed. In fact, riders rarely get better as race goes on —they just maintain good form while others get worse.

 

[houtdffan]

he has enough time to even go for a suicide attack for the overall win

it's a zero risk all reward scenario given his lead on 4th

 

[Berniece]

he has enough time to even go for a suicide attack for the overall win

it's a zero risk all reward scenario given his lead on 4th

Pogacar won’t let that happen. Pogi will ride away himself or he’ll see if Remco is able to gap Vingegaard. Once that happens, he’ll jump to Remco

 

[Oldermanish]

Yeah but I don't see him attacking today for example. He won't force it himself knowing what is coming the following days.

Welp, he showed he wants to try and Jonas is showing his limits. He can continue doing this with Pogacar's permission every day until the TT.

 

[perico]

Great ride today

 

[Oldermanish]

Really exciting that he’s getting better as the race goes on.

He's improving as fast as Vindegaard is fading. It's the scenario that will see him in 2nd, IMO>

 

[Oldermanish]

Nice try today. He gained a bit of time while the mutants visibly didn't want to cooperate. JV doms did their job as well.

He did well and he had Tadej's clearance to do this. Pogacar wants Jonas and his team to be completely beyond the top step before he'll respond to Remco. It's an obvious strategy.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He's improving as fast as Vindegaard is fading. It's the scenario that will see him in 2nd, IMO>

Not bad for a rider who is not built for GT's in his first TDF, aye Oldermanish?

 

[Oldermanish]

Not bad for a rider who is not built for GT's in his first TDF, aye Oldermanish?

Everything I've suggested he could do. But let's be honest; Vingegaard is also showing the signs of his abbreviated preparation and Remco is taking appropriate advantage of it. He's also getting help from the guy in Yellow who continues to show he's the Boss.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He did well and he had Tadej's clearance to do this. Pogacar wants Jonas and his team to be completely beyond the top step before he'll respond to Remco. It's an obvious strategy.

No more room for such attacks though. At the weekend Visma-LAB will attack no matter what. Even if Vingo doesn't feel too well they will go for it (I don't think it matters for them if he's #2 or #3, only victory matters). Remco may capitalize if Vingo goes with a long range attack while not in top form.

 

[Didinho]

He’s always boxed in when Pogi attacks. On his wheel he maybe could get really close or even stay with him today. Now he did the same effort as Pogi but from couple seconds down already.
He’s finding himself this Tour. Said he didn’t dare to attack (as it’s his first Tour) but the team said Hirt was close in front so he could attack.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He’s always boxed in when Pogi attacks. On his wheel he maybe could get really close or even stay with him today. Now he did the same effort as Pogi but from couple seconds down already.
He’s finding himself this Tour. Said he didn’t dare to attack (as it’s his first Tour) but the team said Hirt was close in front so he could attack.

He was probably thinking "f*ck" as he passed Benoot and Van Aert, realizing Vingegaard also had teammates up the road.

 

[Oldermanish]

He’s always boxed in when Pogi attacks. On his wheel he maybe could get really close or even stay with him today. Now he did the same effort as Pogi but from couple seconds down already.
He’s finding himself this Tour. Said he didn’t dare to attack (as it’s his first Tour) but the team said Hirt was close in front so he could attack.

Maybe he could respond but Tadej's finish sprint today showed how responsive Remco would need to be.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Maybe he could respond but Tadej's finish sprint today showed how responsive Remco would need to be.

Evenepoel is more punchy than Vingegaard. But throughout the entire Tour so far, somehow he has managed, each and every time, to be gapped by Vingegaard after Pogacar attacks. Either he's picking his nose or his positioning sucks.

 

[Oldermanish]

No more room for such attacks though. At the weekend Visma-LAB will attack no matter what. Even if Vingo doesn't feel too well they will go for it (I don't think it matters for them if he's #2 or #3, only victory matters). Remco may capitalize if Vingo goes with a long range attack while not in top form.

I wouldn't be surprised if Remco has an attack in him when it's unexpected. Jonas has been so glued to Tadej's wheel that sort of attack would require serious work to reel in. Much more so if he waits too long for UAE to do something when it's not in their interest to pursue. If "only victory matters" sounds more like a PR slogan when realistically staying as close to Tadej is the prime goal. This race has been a victory for Visma even if it ended today, considering where they started.

 

[Didinho]

Maybe he could respond but Tadej's finish sprint today showed how responsive Remco would need to be.

He’s just looking too much on his Garmin. Didn’t expect the attack there I guess, if he responds better today he could’ve stayed the first minute with Pogi and then he maybe takes Remco with him. He was really close after the turn where Remco passed Vingo.
Has to be more alert and maybe get in Pogi’s wheel from now, make sure you can respond.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

If "only victory matters" sounds more like a PR slogan when realistically staying as close to Tadej is the prime goal. This race has been a victory for Visma even if it ended today, considering where they started.

Not really, Visma won all 3 GTs last year. This year they win less and are hungry of a prestigious victory. They miraculously upped Vingo's threshold from an absolute bottom to unbelievable value in just 6 weeks: to win the Tour, not to watch their nemezis winning.

 

[Berniece]

Evenepoel is more punchy than Vingegaard. But throughout the entire Tour so far, somehow he has managed, each and every time, to be gapped by Vingegaard after Pogacar attacks. Either he's picking his nose or his positioning sucks.

He’s boxed in a lot of the times. Today again by Almeida and Landa, so he has to drop back a bit more and then go around

 

[houtdffan]

Maybe he could respond but Tadej's finish sprint today showed how responsive Remco would need to be.

Or Remco needs to do what he did today and INITIATE

That's how he won the Vuelta, but initiating, not responding. Make Vingo follow his pace, the one Vingo does not like to follow

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He’s boxed in a lot of the times. Today again by Almeida and Landa, so he has to drop back a bit more and then go around

Such a shame he had never heard of Pogacar or Vingegaard before this Tour. Otherwise he might have known on San Luca... and Galibier.... and on the gravel stage... and on Pla D'Adet... and Plateau de Beille and today, that those were the two riders he needs to keep an eye on.

So far Landa's been blocking him more than helping him.

 

[proffate]

Everything I've suggested he could do. But let's be honest; Vingegaard is also showing the signs of his abbreviated preparation and Remco is taking appropriate advantage of it. He's also getting help from the guy in Yellow who continues to show he's the Boss.

Ving is honestly not showing signs of abbreviated preparation, instead turning in some career best performances. If it weren't for Pog taking it to another level and the fact we know that Ving crashed in April, then just based on the performances at this tour we would be calling this vintage Ving.

What I want to know is where are all the Remco detractors who claimed he had to sit in the GC group and try to win the Angliru at last year's vuelta if he ever wants to contend another GT. I'm beginning to think they were mistaken.

 

[proffate]

Such a shame he had never heard of Pogacar or Vingegaard before this Tour. Otherwise he might have known on San Luca... and Galibier.... and on the gravel stage... and on Pla D'Adet... and Plateau de Beille and today, that those were the two riders he needs to keep an eye on.

So far Landa's been blocking him more than helping him.

I don't really blame him for being asleep at the wheel today since it was a surprise and somewhat pointless attack from Pog. The lack of team certainly doesn't help with positioning in general. And in contrast if Ving didn't have a team he probably loses more time today. To some event Remco probably never learns to work on positioning just because his power makes up for it 99% of the time.

Hopefully his performance at this year's tour convinces Pat or whoever to build a real team around him.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I don't really blame him for being asleep at the wheel today since it was a surprise and somewhat pointless attack from Pog. The lack of team certainly doesn't help with positioning in general. And in contrast if Ving didn't have a team he probably loses more time today. To some event Remco probably never learns to work on positioning just because his power makes up for it 99% of the time.

Hopefully his performance at this year's tour convinces Pat or whoever to build a real team around him.

Two minutes before he attacks, Pog drops from behind Almeida back to behind Vingegaard. It wasn't a surprise, it could hardly have been more announced.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He just didn't have the legs to follow Pogacar. At least he could beat Vingegaard and this is a good indicator for the next stages.