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

[Oldermanish]

I know, but i can't say it because it would get me banned.


We've now ended up at a point where people expect us to compare Evenepoel to Van der Poel to prove the point that it's possible for Evenepoel to be better at accelerating out of a slow corner than people who actually do bunch sprints (like Ganna in this discussion) in such a way that this course with few corners to begin with, was actually in his favor. You weren't the only catalyst in the discussion so far so my response what not directed at anyone specifically, but you did say, Evenepoel is at an advantage compared to Ganna, in accelerating out of a corner to full speed, to that extent, that he was 15s faster on a course with hardly any corners (this you implied by stating he was lucky it rained). "because the corners where being taking at very low speeds because of the rain, the quicker accelaration gave them a bigger edge." These were your words and the reason why he was "lucky it rained" (your initial statement). If you are now saying he won because he was actually stronger, then i wonder why you brought up him being lucky. So now you mean he was lucky he was stronger. Ok, i get that. Pogacar during the TDF was also lucky he was stronger, because if he weren't, he'd have been weaker! Drumrolls.


I have no idea what you are talking about or how it factors into the discussion at hand. As for your last point... you are claiming Girmay's acceleration is inferior to Evenepoel's? Because that was the question.

You appear to be blending comparisons unrelated to justify some higher analytical authority.

My contribution to celebrating Evenpoel's outcome is simple and not at all about sprinting out of corners [[deleted]]. Read what I said, the images that contributed to the opinion and decide if that's not correct. From what I saw he didn't need to get out of the saddle very much because he selected the correct arcs in most turns and got right back down to the power work. It's the best way to ride a wet solo effort. As for Girmay; you're free to judge how he rode it. My guess is you saw as much as I did which was none. Also could indicate pure sprinting power wasn't the primary means to win this, or any TT.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I think we should all remember that it’s not about the rain or no rain, luck or no luck. This is just another time that Remco won something because no one else peaked and no one else really cared. Is the Olympics a big deal at all?

Remember what that Daniel guy always say, Remco is a small dog.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

 

[frisenfruitig]

Lol, I have to say I didn't expect to see a discussion about taking corners and accelerating after taking corners when the race consisted mostly of long straights and barely any corners to speak of.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Great run by Remco! I really have started to like him and almost wish him to win the road race to become truly legendary. Not many must’ve won both the TT and the road event? Anyone?

 

[SafeBet]

I didn't think he had it in him after looking exhausted at the end of the Tour.
He beat Pippo fair and square in a time trial that suited the Italian more. Chapeau Remco.

 

[Monte Serra]

To be fair to Pippo he would like a longer TT. Still won fair and square.

You mean Ganna the bunch sprinter and 4 k track pursuit guy? I dont think there's much evidence that he currently would do significantly better than Evenepoel in a longer TT. The previous long TT had pretty much the same result as Saturday:
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/world-championship-itt/2023/result

 

[Monte Serra]

Never said I didn't think Remco still wouldn't win just that I think Pippo prefer more TT of that distance if he could chose. Remco is the best TT in the world its not hard to see he is pure art there.

Doesn't mean other don't have preferences. Tarling vs Ganna for instance Tarling prefer 30km over 50km vs Ganna im sure.

What is your evidence for these perceived preferences? Ganna has historically performed really well in shorter TTs (half his TT wins were shorter than 20 km). And proper long TTs are incredibly rare these days, longest ever won by Ganna was the WC in 2021: 43.3 km.

 

[Monte Serra]

Ganna has said himself he would prefer 40km + TT if he could chose over 30km [[deleted content]]

That's very friendly, thank you. It would be even nicer if you could cite your sources. It's not that I don't believe you, but I'm interested to know where Ganna said that.

 

[Monte Serra]

To go back to Evenepoel, Lefevere has said that Remco is likely to ride Milan Sanremo and Tour of Flanders next season.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1817866822999244901

View: https://x.com/laflammerouge16/status/1817866822999244901

 

[Netserk]

I think he said the same in spring, so it seems quite likely. I guess his only major stage race in the first part of the season would be Paris-Nice then.

 

[Peter von]

cool!

Quick-Step did the Quick Numbers and realized that if they want to make a dent in the classics, they need Remco to step up to the plate.

Maybe Remco is bored with winning LBL already

 

[KZD]

To go back to Evenepoel, Lefevere has said that Remco is likely to ride Milan Sanremo and Tour of Flanders next season.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1817866822999244901

View: https://x.com/laflammerouge16/status/1817866822999244901

Makes sense to me. I hope for a schedule similar to Pogačar 2022 and 2023 seasons with the option of doing the Vuelta after the Tour.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

You appear to be blending comparisons unrelated to justify some higher analytical authority.

My contribution to celebrating Evenpoel's outcome is simple and not at all about sprinting out of corners [[deleted]]. Read what I said, the images that contributed to the opinion and decide if that's not correct. From what I saw he didn't need to get out of the saddle very much because he selected the correct arcs in most turns and got right back down to the power work. It's the best way to ride a wet solo effort. As for Girmay; you're free to judge how he rode it. My guess is you saw as much as I did which was none. Also could indicate pure sprinting power wasn't the primary means to win this, or any TT.

OMFG. Please read the discussion or at least make the effort to reply to the correct person. Accelerating out of the corner being at Evenepoel's advantage was not MY argument. It was what Stekelegel was claiming and Red Rick and Netserk adding fuel to the fire. You saying he didn't even get out of the saddle proves my point further, that he did NOT win due to having superior acceleration.

Girmay was not even trying and being a lousy TT'er to boot means your comparison is moot. Their claim (again, NOT mine) was that riders who contest/win bunch sprints can have worse acceleration than Evenepoel. To which i asked an example. You then pointed towards Girmay, meaning you either think Girmay has worse acceleration than Evenepoel (in general, not just this TT which he put no effort into), or you simply didn't understand what the discussion was about.

 

[scribers]

To go back to Evenepoel, Lefevere has said that Remco is likely to ride Milan Sanremo and Tour of Flanders next season.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1817866822999244901

View: https://x.com/laflammerouge16/status/1817866822999244901

Trying to game these scenarios out with pogi in the mix. For Flanders I’m not sure remco can stay with pog’s accelerations. For msr, this might also be the case. But then remco brings back the chasers and at least breaks the wind around the followers kneecaps to do so.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Trying to game these scenarios out with pogi in the mix. For Flanders I’m not sure remco can stay with pog’s accelerations. For msr, this might also be the case. But then remco brings back the chasers and at least breaks the wind around the followers kneecaps to do so.

He's not bad on cobbles but it's not exactly his forte, and he is (ideally) also a bit lighter than Pog, so in case it rains that could be an issue. Otherwise, it doesn't have to be a problem per se. I don't think Pog will go with an 80k solo in Flanders, so he will likely again wait for the final Oude Kwaremont, and i don't think he will be able to drop Evenepoel for it to be impossible for Evenepoel to close it on the flat. The problem will be dropping Pog or outsprinting him, in case he wants to win. If Pog's ego takes over instead of his brain, him dropping Evenepoel and trying to stay away on the flat, might actually play into Evenepoel's hand if he leaves him dangling for a while and only slowly closes the gap. Maybe then he has a chance in the sprint.

I can't see him drop Pogacar on the climbs, so his only other option i think would be to go from far.

At MSR... things have changed a lot since 2019-2020. Back then i said Evenepoel would certainly win it. But as we saw this year, even an all-star team of UAE couldn't break the peloton before the Poggio. So Evenepoel going solo seems doomed. On the Poggio he won't be able to create a gap or not enough to hold it downhill. His only option is probably sneaking away after the Poggio with nobody wanting to chase him and killing his own chances. Only way that is going to happen is in case no domestiques survive imho. But i think if he gets a 20m gap there, nobody is going to reel him back.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

To go back to Evenepoel, Lefevere has said that Remco is likely to ride Milan Sanremo and Tour of Flanders next season.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1817866822999244901

View: https://x.com/laflammerouge16/status/1817866822999244901

This will definitively mean the return of Fatco! I’m guessing we’ll see a 66 kg Remco in Flanders!

 

[mrgmyers]

To see if I guessed correctly.

I do not see why it matters! surely getting the message across in the best manner is what matters.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

This will definitively mean the return of Fatco! I’m guessing we’ll see a 66 kg Remco in Flanders!

If a few kg more means crushing Teddy in Flandres then fans should celebrate this return!

 

[kingjr]

I do not see why it matters! surely getting the message across in the best manner is what matters.

About that:

Evenepoel is still very young and has ample time to develop and improve. He's already shown that he can compete with the best in the world, and with continued growth and experience, he could very well become a serious contender for Grand Tour victories in the future.


That's a very interesting message considering he already won one Grand Tour.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I do not see why it matters! surely getting the message across in the best manner is what matters.

Indeed. And having a bot write it, is not it.

 

[red_flanders]

Don’t see how Evenepoel has a chance at MSR unless his descending sees major, even transformational improvement. I think he’d be hard pressed to stay with a group descending into San Remo, let alone hold off the peloton after an attack on the Poggio.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It's a pedalling descent, being the best rouleur in the bunch he has a decent advantage outside of the hairpins

Still, a solo in the last 2-3 km (in case of multiple rivals in the group) looks like the most feasible scenario for Remco to win.

 

[mrgmyers]

Indeed. And having a bot write it, is not it.

The bot did not write it I did! the bot simply rearranged my own words!

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It's more feasible in that getting a gap on top of Poggio is very hard, cause I think if he got one he would hold it.

Guys crest Poggio super high in lactic acid and needing to clear it. That's where Evenepoel is gonna shine much more so than anyone other than even guys like MvdP and Van Aert.

The descent from Poggio isn't that easy though, with some tricky hairpins. Pogacar was clearly inferior to the chasing group this year. I don't know if Evenepoel can get better than that. He should have better chance in the last part of the descent/on flat.