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

[Berniece]

Clearly the Tour benefitted Remco, whose level at the Olympics was super. And yet, as we look ahead to the future the 9+ minutes down on Pogacar at the Tour, despite climbing and TTing so well, is a massive gap to close if he hopes to take yellow.

It is, but there’s room to grow still

 

[Karl Merckx]

Clearly the Tour benefitted Remco, whose level at the Olympics was super. And yet, as we look ahead to the future the 9+ minutes down on Pogacar at the Tour, despite climbing and TTing so well, is a massive gap to close if he hopes to take yellow.

Remco in this year's tour was maybe at the same level as Pogacar in last year's tour... So if Pog managed to improve that much idk why it would be impossible for Remco if we don't take into account reasons that belong to the clinic.

 

[seasidehiking]

Remco in this year's tour was maybe at the same level as Pogacar in last year's tour... So if Pog managed to improve that much idk why it would be impossible for Remco if we don't take into account reasons that belong to the clinic.

Better watch, cause soon someone on here will tell you Remco could never manage that. Only other riders can! Madness this forum.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Remco in this year's tour was maybe at the same level as Pogacar in last year's tour... So if Pog managed to improve that much idk why it would be impossible for Remco if we don't take into account reasons that belong to the clinic.

It really depends what is the source of this progress (in case of all guys that progressed this year). Remco needs a sharp progress: it's possible OFC but keep in mind that it can be correlated with Pogacar's or Vingo's further progress as well.

Speaking more generally, every year is different, time flies. Pogacar and Vingo won't be so strong forever, Remco in the future can be stronger than he is now (he's also the youngest) and at some point he can win the Tour.

 

[Berniece]

It really depends what is the source of this progress (in case of all guys that progressed this year). Remco needs a sharp progress: it's possible OFC but keep in mind that it can be correlated with Pogacar's or Vingo's further progress as well.

Speaking more generally, every year is different, time flies. Pogacar and Vingo won't be so strong forever, Remco in the future can be stronger than he is now (he's also the youngest) and at some point he can win the Tour.

I would rather have him compete at a similar level as those two. Would be lame to see him win a random Tour because the others aren’t there. How many people keep saying Nibali was lucky for example. Not me, I think Nibali would still have won that Tour.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I would rather have him compete at a similar level as those two. Would be lame to see him win a random Tour because the others aren’t there. How many people keep saying Nibali was lucky for example. Not me, I think Nibali would still have won that Tour.

I don't regard Remco to be as natural GT-er as Vingo or Pog (probably because of his weight, which isn't always easy to control). It is kinda expected that Remco, who is younger than those two and his development as a GT specialist was later compared to his one-day/TT excellence, will reach his best in stage-races later. At some point in the future he can simply become the strongest (but maybe Pog and Vingo will be past their best then).

 

[Unchained]

I speak for everyone here

You are like Al Sharpton or Greta Thornberg..my unelected spokesperson!! I back ec

Most people see red flags when riders do something out of the ordinary that doesn’t lay inline with how they used to ride

I think that you are confused about flag colors. Remco has had a consistent series of green flags in every aspect of his riding, pick a discipline and he is in a constant state of refinement, improvement. Including his body and dietary habits according to him. His climbing has progressed, his time trial abilities are second to none, not my opinion, there are metrics in place to measure it and medals and jerseys that recognize his accomplishments. Where he fits as an Olympic, European and world champion are pretty hard to compare to others. And there are easy access formats that show what Remco had on his resume and at what age, again tough to find many riders if any that are his equal. Green flags and checkered flags have been fairly consistent, red flags ,been a few but certainly not a majority.

 

[Berniece]

You are like Al Sharpton or Greta Thornberg..my unelected spokesperson!! I back ec
I think that you are confused about flag colors. Remco has had a consistent series of green flags in every aspect of his riding, pick a discipline and he is in a constant state of refinement, improvement. Including his body and dietary habits according to him. His climbing has progressed, his time trial abilities are second to none, not my opinion, there are metrics in place to measure it and medals and jerseys that recognize his accomplishments. Where he fits as an Olympic, European and world champion are pretty hard to compare to others. And there are easy access formats that show what Remco had on his resume and at what age, again tough to find many riders if any that are his equal. Green flags and checkered flags have been fairly consistent, red flags ,been a few but certainly not a majority.

Red flag wasn’t meant for Remco

 

[Extinction]

Politt spills the beans in the best podcast in ages: "Tadej said: if we win this one too, they’re going to get angry"

The cycling world is overflowing with podcasts, with

www.idlprocycling.com

 

[Berniece]

Politt spills the beans in the best podcast in ages: "Tadej said: if we win this one too, they’re going to get angry"

The cycling world is overflowing with podcasts, with

www.idlprocycling.com

For. Moment I thought he meant the Olympics 😂 luckily I read the article and he just meant his 5th stage win where SOQ closed the gap.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Politt said what we all could see: Roglic crashes a ton and the riders sometimes scrath their head and go "what, how?", no mercy for Jonas (they arent friends) and he really respects Remco cause he races like himself I'd assume.

 

[Red Rick]

Oi look it's more Visma being the arrogant team.

 

[Extinction]

Remco in this year's tour was maybe at the same level as Pogacar in last year's tour... So if Pog managed to improve that much idk why it would be impossible for Remco if we don't take into account reasons that belong to the clinic.

True, but Pog did so after having alteady won two Tours and got second twice. The mind-blowing thing that Vingegaard put up better numbers than last year when he won handsomely, only to lose by 6+ min this time. The Remco of this Tour would have already won one, but was literally just limiting his losses this time. So either he's got a large margin for improvement or else Pog (and Vingo) get worse for him to beat healthy versions of them.

 

[Cookster15]

Oi look it's more Visma being the arrogant team.

I hope this isn’t irony as this is why I don’t like them. I don’t dislike Vingegaard - just his arrogant team. IMO it was great to see Richard Plugge silenced during the Tour. Suddenly he didn’t have it all worked out as he assumed and told us.

I don’t get any sense of arrogance from Remco or Lefevere. They knew their best result in the Tour was likely 3rd. I guess perceived arrogance depends how confident you are.

I don't regard Remco to be as natural GT-er as Vingo or Pog (probably because of his weight, which isn't always easy to control)

Remco is quite short which helps CdA and when in top shape plenty light - 61Kg? He is also claimed to have a super high relative VO2 max (mL/(kg·min).

So on paper at least Remco should have great grand tour potential. He has already won the Vuelta when he was only 22 and seemed at his best ever level in the 2024 Tour. I think Remco has a lot of upside for grand tours.

 

[Berniece]

And when you say he will beat Pogacar in 4 years, it's based on logic.

Okay then.

He is 16 months younger, has endured a crash that set his development back by 6-12 months, and showed this year that he's better than Pogacar last year. So yeah, there's a logic to it.

You saying he will reach a lower ceiling neglects all those points, which I find illogical.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He is 16 months younger, has endured a crash that set his development back by 6-12 months, and showed this year that he's better than Pogacar last year. So yeah, there's a logic to it.

You saying he will reach a lower ceiling neglects all those points, which I find illogical.

Oh lord, stop with this nonsense.

 

[Berniece]

Oh lord, stop with this nonsense.

Could you disprove the LR numbers then? Or are you just going to say it's nonsense?

 

[Red Rick]

Could you disprove the LR numbers then? Or are you just going to say it's nonsense?

Beating the field of last year when the field makes a 10% jump in a year is pointless.

Like I'm not gonna sit here and like "If only Roglic had started cycling 10 years earlier we can move all his W/kg back 10 years in time and he would have won 7 Tours if we assume he crashes out 3 times"

 

[ManicJack]

Could you disprove the LR numbers then? Or are you just going to say it's nonsense?

It's nonsense

 

[mariosommelier]

He is 16 months younger, has endured a crash that set his development back by 6-12 months, and showed this year that he's better than Pogacar last year. So yeah, there's a logic to it.

You saying he will reach a lower ceiling neglects all those points, which I find illogical.

It's your opinion, not a logic.

The same way I said it was pretty simple FOR ME.
I think you lack text interpretation.

 

[Berniece]

Beating the field of last year when the field makes a 10% jump in a year is pointless.

Like I'm not gonna sit here and like "If only Roglic had started cycling 10 years earlier we can move all his W/kg back 10 years in time and he would have won 7 Tours if we assume he crashes out 3 times"

I don't care that he was better than the field last year, my point was more that there's room to grow for Evenepoel. Since he already grew as a GT rider from 2022 -> 2024.

It's your opinion, not a logic.

The same way I said it was pretty simple FOR ME.
I think you lack text interpretation.

Sure, but mine is actually based on Evenepoel improving YoY and you are just saying "now it ends" without any reason for it.

 

[houtdffan]

I don't care that he was better than the field last year, my point was more that there's room to grow for Evenepoel. Since he already grew as a GT rider from 2022 -> 2024.


Sure, but mine is actually based on Evenepoel improving YoY and you are just saying "now it ends" without any reason for it.

Remco Derangement Syndrome has become worse since he won double gold.

Imagine how bad it ill be after he wins a tour...

 

[mariosommelier]

I don't care that he was better than the field last year, my point was more that there's room to grow for Evenepoel. Since he already grew as a GT rider from 2022 -> 2024.


Sure, but mine is actually based on Evenepoel improving YoY and you are just saying "now it ends" without any reason for it.

Yes, your opinion, according to yourself, is based on logic.

It's just an opinion, without any logic.
In any GT until now, Remco was not on the same league. So until he can get closer, it's just your guess, no logic whatsoever.

 

[Berniece]

Yes, your opinion, according to yourself, is based on logic.

It's just an opinion, without any logic.
In any GT until now, Remco was not on the same league. So until he can get closer, it's just your guess, no logic whatsoever.

My logic is that he keeps improving YoY as he has been doing since he started riding a bike. Yours is that this will now suddenly stop. Which is more likely? That he keeps going on the current trend or that this just stops at the age of 24?

 

[ManicJack]

My logic is that he keeps improving YoY as he has been doing since he started riding a bike. Yours is that this will now suddenly stop. Which is more likely? That he keeps going on the current trend or that this just stops at the age of 24?

So....Pogacar stops improving at 25 but Remco will keep improving for an infinite number of years. Seems legit.