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

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Keldergoat

Sep 6, 2023
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Logic-is-your-friend said:
Imho, the fact that it is a very small peloton, with very small teams (very few domestiques across all nations), the race is hard to control and favorites will need to get their hands dirty very quickly, makes Evenepoel (to me) the clear favorite for saturday. Those circumstances to me seem far more important than the parcours not being hard enough (as if the WCC and OG TT champ on flat courses needs that anyway) or the final being on a city circuit with some cobbles. It's 275km where big names can't stay out of the wind for very long because there aren't enough wheels to hide in.
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Based on previous experiences: I think the small teams mostly favours outsiders, not the favourites. The previous OS were often won by riders far from being the favourite (Carapaz, Vino, Samu Sanchez). I think riders like Evenepoel and Van der Poel will be marked heavily and this allows for 'second tier' riders to slip away.

And for people saying, wasn't Vino a favourite? The 2012 Vino wasn't the 2004 Vino, a mediocre rider at best, with his best result being a 31st spot at the Tour that year.
 
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red_flanders

red_flanders

Apr 3, 2009
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Krzysztof_O said:
If Evenepoel gets a gap then they probably won't see him before the medal ceremony. That being said, every big favourite knows it so he will be marked heavily and top favourites won't hesitate to jump on his wheel without playing waiting games (if they can = have power to do it of course), the way Pog marked him a few times last year.
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This all sounds right to me. The Belgian team is going to have to work as a team for any of them to win vs MVDP IMO. Make him chase down attack after attack until one gets away, doesn't matter which one.

The fact that Remco already has gold in his pocket I think helps, I think he'll be more likely to fully work with the team. He and Wout do not appear to be carrying the same baggage as they were a couple of years ago in the Worlds. I'm hopeful they'll work well together. They really have the team to win this if they ride selflessly.
 
red_flanders

red_flanders

Apr 3, 2009
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Don't know why, but this made me laugh.

GT5jfWzW0AA3CsQ
 
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Carrick-On-Seine

Carrick-On-Seine

Sep 14, 2020
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Keldergoat said:
Based on previous experiences: I think the small teams mostly favours outsiders, not the favourites. The previous OS were often won by riders far from being the favourite (Carapaz, Vino, Samu Sanchez). I think riders like Evenepoel and Van der Poel will be marked heavily and this allows for 'second tier' riders to slip away.

And for people saying, wasn't Vino a favourite? The 2012 Vino wasn't the 2004 Vino, a mediocre rider at best, with his best result being a 31st spot at the Tour that year.
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That's why I took a punt on Bettiol. But hope Remco wins.
 
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SHAD0W93

SHAD0W93

Aug 13, 2011
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ManicJack said:
I wonder if Stuyven is up the road late in a good move, does Remco get selfish or let him ride?
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Belgium has shown to work better as a team vs Spain in the past with Contador, Samu, Purito, and Valverde. I don’t see any reason why Evenepoel wouldn’t support his teammate especially if Stuyven is on a good day. If there’s someone in the group Stuyven can’t beat then that changes Belgium’s tactics. What’s in Belgium’s favor is WVA and Evenepoel can go solo and three of their riders have a chance in a small group sprint. Whats not in their and other teams favors is how random the race can end up. There’s many countries that can go on a flier and mess things up and there’s multiple that have a rider who can attack from afar and another that can sprint for the win.
 
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Keldergoat

Sep 6, 2023
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Sciatic said:
Gets more complicated if there is a good Dutch rider in the break.
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Kinda the scenario of Leuven 2021 with Stuyven and DvB being the satelite rider for WvA and MvdP and then both ending up on the podium (or did Stuyven get fourth?). Could might as well be a scenario for Saturday, also with some strong Danes behind Pedersen (I expect a strong Skjellmose).
 
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KoopaCycling

KoopaCycling

Jul 31, 2024
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Stuyven is a good rider. He has the capabilities to win.
He won Kuurne, Omloop and San-Remo.

Despite this. I could never bet on Stuyven to win it all.
Good enough to send in with a breakaway. To mark second tier riders beneath VDP & co. But not good enough to bet the farm on him imo.
 
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