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

[Gratemans]

We are talking about 250+km one day races, not 150+km stages in a 3 week race.

I remember Evenepoel closing a 15s gap to Pogacar in the TDF on a flat section, just about a month ago.

So you are allowed to compare a classic to a Tour stage when it suits you, or what?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

@Gratemans thanks for proving my point even further. If Evenepoel can close a gap in a short stage, then he is even more at an advantage in a long race. Which, the numbers actually show.

 

[stekelegel]

The one race Evenepoel rode that was like Flanders was glasgow 2023. Not really a succes.
No doubt he could ride top 5 there, but still to early to say he can ride it like WVA, VDP and Pog.
In Paris he was nowhere when Vanderpoel stormed up Montmartre and got a lucky break with Pedersen missing out and the Danes bringing him back.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The one race Evenepoel rode that was like Flanders was glasgow 2023. Not really a succes.
No doubt he could ride top 5 there, but still to early to say he can ride it like WVA, VDP and Pog.
In Paris he was nowhere when Vanderpoel stormed up Montmartre and got a lucky break with Pedersen missing out and the Danes bringing him back.

He was at the team car getting his brakes fixed. And the only reason he did not try to close that gap himself (which he would have been perfectly capable of, seeing how he closed the gap to the group that MvdP and WvA weren't able to bridge to) is because Van Aert was in that break. But sure, he was lucky. He's always lucky, lol. The longer people keep actually believing he is always lucky, the better for him i guess.

I also think Leuven '21 was a lot more like Flanders than Glasgow was.

He also doesn't need to ride it like WvA, MvdP or Pog. He needs to ride it like Evenepoel.

 

[AmRacer]

We were discussing a scenario where Pogacar drops Evenepoel in RVV on Oude Kwaremont. Imho, this would be a lot less of a deciding factor with all the flat sections still to come, compared to Evenepoel getting a gap on one of the flat sections. The first does not mean race over, the second basically does.

If Remco can get a gap on the last flat. Same with how big the gap is for Pog after Oude. It can very well be game over.

 

[AmRacer]

He was at the team car getting his brakes fixed. And the only reason he did not try to close that gap himself (which he would have been perfectly capable of, seeing how he closed the gap to the group that MvdP and WvA weren't able to bridge to) is because Van Aert was in that break. But sure, he was lucky. He's always lucky, lol. The longer people keep actually believing he is always lucky, the better for him i guess.

I also think Leuven '21 was a lot more like Flanders than Glasgow was.

He also doesn't need to ride it like WvA, MvdP or Pog. He needs to ride it like Evenepoel.

Remco was done, he was on the wrong weight.

 

[Berniece]

The one race Evenepoel rode that was like Flanders was glasgow 2023.

In what way was that similar? Only due to the many corners and twists and turns?

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

The one race Evenepoel rode that was like Flanders was glasgow 2023. Not really a succes.
No doubt he could ride top 5 there, but still to early to say he can ride it like WVA, VDP and Pog.
In Paris he was nowhere when Vanderpoel stormed up Montmartre and got a lucky break with Pedersen missing out and the Danes bringing him back.

I understand people having questions about Remco's dominance in juniors translating to pro peleton, but it's his 6th year riding in pro peleton and he keeps winning by breaking away in long one day races. Sure luck plays a role in every race, but to say Remco got lucky in the Olympic Road race sounds like sour grapes.

Remco's advantage is that he is extremely difficult to follow, he seems to have the least amount of degradition over longer rides especially when they go over 250km.

The WC in Zurich will be a race of attrition. The variables are form, crashes, mechanicals etc.

Going into the WC the favorites will be the usual guys Remco and Pogacar with a side of Healy, Buitrago. MVDP, Wout, Mads, Yates Brothers, Carlos Rodriguez, Hirschi, Alaphillipe and a few others who are good climbers.

It's going to be hard to see past Remco or Pogacar in this race, but form is critical and of course one neer knows about crashes and mechanicals.

The Belgian selction should be interesting given the course I would assume we'll see Remco, Van Aert, Stuyvens, Benoot, Hermans as for the last few choices I could see Van Gils, Wellens and De Lie with De Plus, Van Wilder and Van Eetvelt in the mix as well depending on form, injuries and availability.

 

[stekelegel]

On a r

I understand people having questions about Remco's dominance in juniors translating to pro peleton, but it's his 6th year riding in pro peleton and he keeps winning by breaking away in long one day races. Sure luck plays a role in every race, but to say Remco got lucky in the Olympic Road race sounds like sour grapes.

Remco's advantage is that he is extremely difficult to follow, he seems to have the least amount of degradition over longer rides especially when they go over 250km.

The WC in Zurich will be a race of attrition. The variables are form, crashes, mechanicals etc.

Going into the WC the favorites will be the usual guys Remco and Pogacar with a side of Healy, Buitrago. MVDP, Wout, Mads, Yates Brothers, Carlos Rodriguez, Hirschi, Alaphillipe and a few others who are good climbers.

It's going to be hard to see past Remco or Pogacar in this race, but form is critical and of course one neer knows about crashes and mechanicals.

The Belgian selction should be interesting given the course I would assume we'll see Remco, Van Aert, Stuyvens, Benoot, Hermans as for the last few choices I could see Van Gils, Wellens and De Lie with De Plus, Van Wilder and Van Eetvelt in the mix as well depending on form, injuries and availability.

I did not say it was a fluke win or that he was not the best on the day. But you see it so often that the chasers start looking around and when you would have given those 5 guys a minute on that route, with the small teams, there is almost no coming back. Or that he had the flat tire only after his advantage was big enough. On that route, he got that little bit of luck and when the opportunity to attack was there, he killed it because he was the strongest on the day.

On topic, I just haven’t seen him dominate a race yet with those typical short power burst hills, cobbles, lots of turning almost to a standstill and launching again like he has done with medium to tough hill classics.
I don’t doubt that he could finish a scenario like Wollongong in Flanders to, giving him some space, but that will not happen very often. I just wonder if he can keep up when Vanderpoel or Pog explode on Kwaremont, Koppenberg, Pater… I think that race is very hard to win if you are distanced there a few times. Does following those guys on those climbs cost him more energy then others? Does he loose to much energy on al those short turns vs acrobats like Van Aert and Vanderpoel.

And probably not riding it in 2025.’’’

 

[Andre]

I understand people having questions about Remco's dominance in juniors translating to pro peleton, but it's his 6th year riding in pro peleton and he keeps winning by breaking away in long one day races. Sure luck plays a role in every race, but to say Remco got lucky in the Olympic Road race sounds like sour grapes.

Remco's advantage is that he is extremely difficult to follow, he seems to have the least amount of degradition over longer rides especially when they go over 250km.

The WC in Zurich will be a race of attrition. The variables are form, crashes, mechanicals etc.

Going into the WC the favorites will be the usual guys Remco and Pogacar with a side of Healy, Buitrago. MVDP, Wout, Mads, Yates Brothers, Carlos Rodriguez, Hirschi, Alaphillipe and a few others who are good climbers.

It's going to be hard to see past Remco or Pogacar in this race, but form is critical and of course one neer knows about crashes and mechanicals.

The Belgian selction should be interesting given the course I would assume we'll see Remco, Van Aert, Stuyvens, Benoot, Hermans as for the last few choices I could see Van Gils, Wellens and De Lie with De Plus, Van Wilder and Van Eetvelt in the mix as well depending on form, injuries and availability.

How a bout Nys? Can he be considered for the team?

 

[Berniece]

Or that he had the flat tire only after his advantage was big enough.

He was so lucky his flat happened later in the race, what a lucky guy

 

[Coffeeplanter]

How a bout Nys? Can he be considered for the team?

Sure, he can be considered, but in the past 24 hours Thibau said that his season is likely over after Plouay, whilst Vanthourenhout just this morning said Thibau can only fit in a secondary leadership role, which is covered by Van Aert.

 

[Berniece]

Sure, he can be considered, but in the past 24 hours Thibau said that his season is likely over after Plouay, whilst Vanthourenhout just this morning said Thibau can only fit in a secondary leadership role, which is covered by Van Aert.

It would also be a big gamble. Nys hasn't shown he's able to perform in hard +250km races. Big difference with what he's used to and wins.

Next year he'll ride some classics, so we'll know how he handles the distance.

 

[Karl Merckx]

something like remco, wva, benoot, de plus, mvg, lve, ivw, wellens

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The Belgian selction should be interesting given the course I would assume we'll see Remco, Van Aert, Stuyvens, Benoot, Hermans as for the last few choices I could see Van Gils, Wellens and De Lie with De Plus, Van Wilder and Van Eetvelt in the mix as well depending on form, injuries and availability.

I honestly can't see Stuyven, De Lie or Hermans here.

Benoot, Van Gils, Van Eetvelt, Van Wilder, De Plus, yes.

It would also be a big gamble. Nys hasn't shown he's able to perform in hard +250km races. Big difference with what he's used to and wins.

Next year he'll ride some classics, so we'll know how he handles the distance.

He'll do Bretagne, might be a first indicator on how he handles 250+km.

 

[KoopaCycling]

I saw someone compare Glasgow to Flanders. Can't agree with that. Very different races imo.

I agree that Nys atm would not be a good pick for WC. He does not yet have the biggest of engines. Which is in part why he loses form in cyclocross. And needs to pick and choose his races. Also Nys seems like a great puncher atm, but I've yet to see him perform in the mountains. And i think this WC will be to tough for pure punchers. It seems more suited to a guy like Roglic. Someone who can climb big mountains but also has a great uphill sprint. Hence why Evenepoel and Pogacar are the big favourites atm.

Given sporza article today with Jose de cauwer. It seems indeed confirmed that Evenepoel will not ride EC Road Race and will only do the EC TT. So he won't attempt to cross off that final item on his bingo card when it comes to nation racing. At least not this year.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

How a bout Nys? Can he be considered for the team?

It's not really an issue of consideration it's more an issue of the more veteran established riders and the type of course. It's not impossible but given that Belgium has such a strong grouping of riders that are more experienced It's hard to see him making the team unless the older riders aren't available.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

I honestly can't see Stuyven, De Lie or Hermans here.

Benoot, Van Gils, Van Eetvelt, Van Wilder, De Plus, yes.


He'll do Bretagne, might be a first indicator on how he handles 250+km.

I could see Stuyven given his experience and that he's completed lots of races greater than 250km. Van Gils for sure as he's had great results this year. Hermans was there in Wollongong and Olympic RR so that may be more of a comfort feel not to mention his second at Liege in 2022

De Lie was more of being the Belgian RR NC but he's only finished one race of 250km

The biggest issue is getting riders who can actually ride 250km+ or fulfill a specific role for Remco who along with Pogacar will be the two huge favorites for the race.

 

[Berniece]

De Lie was more of being the Belgian RR NC but he's only finished one race of 250km

De Lie is not good enough on a stage like this. Too many altitude meters

 

[stekelegel]

Belgian coach probably has made some plans with Remco and Wout in Paris, I think we will see a lot of the known and trusted names like Benoot, De plus, Wellens, Stuyven if he wants it, … van eetveld to if he keeps up the good work in Spain.
Nys way to early, De Lie not his route and not having a stellar year .
I expect most countries to attack Belgium and Slovenia from the start, so a guy like Campenaerts who will give his all the first 150-200 might come in handy…. And Vansevenant. Van gils had a rather ordinary Tdf and i don’t know how good he is when riding als 100% domestique.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Belgian coach probably has made some plans with Remco and Wout in Paris, I think we will see a lot of the known and trusted names like Benoot, De plus, Wellens, Stuyven if he wants it, … van eetveld to if he keeps up the good work in Spain.
Nys way to early, De Lie not his route and not having a stellar year .
I expect most countries to attack Belgium and Slovenia from the start, so a guy like Campenaerts who will give his all the first 150-200 might come in handy…. And Vansevenant. Van gils had a rather ordinary Tdf and i don’t know how good he is when riding als 100% domestique.

Vansevenant could be on the team, he's usually good in longer hilly races. Van Gils could act as a decoy in case he wouldn't be able to ride as a domestique. De Plus and Van Wilder are on good terms with Evenepoel, and surely his opinion (especially on this course) will be valued greater than Van Aert's, given their current status.

I could see Stuyven given his experience and that he's completed lots of races greater than 250km. Van Gils for sure as he's had great results this year. Hermans was there in Wollongong and Olympic RR so that may be more of a comfort feel not to mention his second at Liege in 2022

De Lie was more of being the Belgian RR NC but he's only finished one race of 250km

The biggest issue is getting riders who can actually ride 250km+ or fulfill a specific role for Remco who along with Pogacar will be the two huge favorites for the race.

Honestly, Hermans is way too hit or miss (with too many misses). He's been good for 3 days this year. He shouldn't even be in the conversation imho.
There are 4300 vertical meters, that's like Liège and Lombardia. I think there are good riders more suited for this terrain than Stuyven, who simply make more sense. But Stuyven on a good day can get over a hill very well, and he has a big engine and is a good friend of Van Aert, so from that perspective, it's possible.

 

[Berniece]

Belgian coach probably has made some plans with Remco and Wout in Paris, I think we will see a lot of the known and trusted names like Benoot, De plus, Wellens, Stuyven if he wants it, … van eetveld to if he keeps up the good work in Spain.
Nys way to early, De Lie not his route and not having a stellar year .
I expect most countries to attack Belgium and Slovenia from the start, so a guy like Campenaerts who will give his all the first 150-200 might come in handy…. And Vansevenant. Van gils had a rather ordinary Tdf and i don’t know how good he is when riding als 100% domestique.

Apparently Van Gils is seen as the 3rd leader, and Vanthourenhout also specifically mentioned Stuyven, Benoot, and Wellens as domestiques. So that’s 6 out of 9 riders already.

Campenaerts, Vansevenant, Van Wilder, El Tractor, Vervaeke, De Plus, Lampaert could fill those other 3 spots

 

[Karl Merckx]

Teuns could be a good domestique in this race.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Apparently Van Gils is seen as the 3rd leader, and Vanthourenhout also specifically mentioned Stuyven, Benoot, and Wellens as domestiques. So that’s 6 out of 9 riders already.

Campenaerts, Vansevenant, Van Wilder, El Tractor, Vervaeke, De Plus, Lampaert could fill those other 3 spots

It‘s only eight riders, though, since Evenepoel isn‘t defending World Champion.

 

[Berniece]

It‘s only eight riders, though, since Evenepoel isn‘t defending World Champion.

Oh right, in that case I would take Campenaerts and Van Wilder or De Plus, or Van Eetvelt. Not sure, it's a difficult puzzle, and I don't really understand why they would bring Stuyven unless you want him to work with Campenaerts at the start.