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

[AmRacer]

How so? Pogacar didn't race after the Tour. Evenepoel raced the Olympics, so that is 2 extra weeks, and the WCC ITT isn't a goal for Pogacar, so that gives him an extra week as well. That means between TDF and WCC, Pog gets 3 extra weeks.


I disagree.

Pog is in Canada to win the race he hasn't won. So 2 build up races, jet lag and travel time.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

Pog is in Canada to win the race he hasn't won. So 2 build up races, jet lag and travel time.

Jet lag is a completely non-issue over a period of two weeks.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Who would you drop and add?

I think this is a course that should suit Vansevenant and Van Wilder. I'm not a big believer in Hermans, who has 2 good days per year and isn't exactly known to be a big workhorse or domestique. I don't know why Stuyven is here now that Van Aert isn't going.

 

[hayneplane]

I think this is a course that should suit Vansevenant and Van Wilder. I'm not a big believer in Hermans, who has 2 good days per year and isn't exactly known to be a big workhorse or domestique. I don't know why Stuyven is here now that Van Aert isn't going.

Stuyven was climbing really strongly for a big classics guy in the final road stage of the Tour. If you are Remco and want to move from a long way out then I think Stuyven can get in that move and do some grunt work on the work to create a strong group for Remco to attack later on from.

I reckon that the WVA crash has changed things quite dramatically as they have no high calibre alternative leader now for different tactical plays so selection has swing fully behind how to support Remco and control the race more than cause chaos.

 

[Berniece]

I think this is a course that should suit Vansevenant and Van Wilder. I'm not a big believer in Hermans, who has 2 good days per year and isn't exactly known to be a big workhorse or domestique. I don't know why Stuyven is here now that Van Aert isn't going.

Stuyven has shown many times he can be a great domestique for Evenepoel. He's great on flat sections as well as in the hills. I would rather have him than Vansevenant.

Van Wilder in great form would be better than Hermans, but Van Wilder didn't show much form this season, and not really in Renewi Tour. While Hermans almost won a stage in the Vuelta, and also showed he can be a domestique like he did in Wollongong.

 

[KenFiamingo]

The most important thing is having Van Gils back in spring form. He's the only guy that'll allow the team to set up a tactical play around REV with a possibility of being a successful alternative. All the other guys are purely there for domestique duty IMO.

 

[Berniece]

The most important thing is having Van Gils back in spring form. He's the only guy that'll allow the team to set up a tactical play around REV with a possibility of being a successful alternative. All the other guys are purely there for domestique duty IMO.

He's riding Canada, so that will give us a good indication if Van Gils is back into spring form

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Stuyven has shown many times he can be a great domestique for Evenepoel. He's great on flat sections as well as in the hills. I would rather have him than Vansevenant.

Van Wilder in great form would be better than Hermans, but Van Wilder didn't show much form this season, and not really in Renewi Tour. While Hermans almost won a stage in the Vuelta, and also showed he can be a domestique like he did in Wollongong.

Van Wilder seemed to me to be in great shape in Renewi.

 

[Berniece]

Van Wilder seemed to me to be in great shape in Renewi.

That didn't look like great shape to me. What action gave you the impression that he is in great shape?

 

[Extinction]

Rogla has won multiple Vueltas after crashing out of the Tour, not the best prep. Wright?

Each rider is different. In my view, Remco was too much ready for that Giro TT, but not the mountains and Covid sealed his fate. The WTT victory, again in my view, came at the expense of the Vuelta climbs as was evident. But then an untimely crash led to a proper approach to the Tour, where he was both good in the TT and mountains. By contrast, despite his travails, Roglic seems to get ready for the next big appointment with admirable aplumb. Everybody has his own head, dietary habits, etc. I think Remco has finally learned where he needs to be weight-power wise to perform. For others like Roglic it comes naturally, because he is wise and carefree, whereas Remco is young and reckless and thus needs direction/discipline.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

That didn't look like great shape to me. What action gave you the impression that he is in great shape?

I assume you watched the race. First of all his TT was on point, considering it was a short flat TT, he finished ahead riders that are much better suited to that type of stuff. He finished ahead of Lampaert, Van der Poel, Milan, Bjerg, Mohoric... And if you watched the "queen stage" you should have noticed he was always at the front, was among the better riders of the big group over De Muur and closed a lot of gaps. His form was very good. What was not very good, was that he once again proved to be far too passive. Instead of bridging and closing gaps, he should be more proactive and attack and follow attacks. But that has nothing to do with his form.

He also was the only one able to respond and follow De Lie in a late attack in Bretagne, which was only a few days before Renewi. His shape is good.

 

[AmRacer]

Each rider is different. In my view, Remco was too much ready for that Giro TT, but not the mountains and Covid sealed his fate. The WTT victory, again in my view, came at the expense of the Vuelta climbs as was evident. But then an untimely crash led to a proper approach to the Tour, where he was both good in the TT and mountains. By contrast, despite his travails, Roglic seems to get ready for the next big appointment with admirable aplumb. Everybody has his own head, dietary habits, etc. I think Remco has finally learned where he needs to be weight-power wise to perform. For others like Roglic it comes naturally, because he is wise and carefree, whereas Remco is young and reckless and thus needs direction/discipline.

Rogla had his fare share of issues before his first Vuelta?

 

[Extinction]

Rogla had his fare share of issues before his first Vuelta?

Not sure what you mean.

 

[Berniece]

I assume you watched the race. First of all his TT was on point, considering it was a short flat TT, he finished ahead riders that are much better suited to that type of stuff. He finished ahead of Lampaert, Van der Poel, Milan, Bjerg, Mohoric... And if you watched the "queen stage" you should have noticed he was always at the front, was among the better riders of the big group over De Muur and closed a lot of gaps. His form was very good. What was not very good, was that he once again proved to be far too passive. Instead of bridging and closing gaps, he should be more proactive and attack and follow attacks. But that has nothing to do with his form.

He also was the only one able to respond and follow De Lie in a late attack in Bretagne, which was only a few days before Renewi. His shape is good.

I didn't find him to show he was better than Hermans though. Also you in the end it's about results, and it's not because you weren't racing intelligently that you deserve that spot. What if Evenepoel falls in the first 10km and is out? Then Hermans is a more logical choice if Van Wilder rides too defensively.

 

[Didinho]

I would've put Van Eetvelt in. Was peaking for the Vuelta, looked really good untill he got sick. I think he can be the last man for Remco in Zürich, with those climbs. Don't know how he's recovering but to me it was a surprise he didn't make the selection.
He's not in Canada so I guess all in for Lombardia now.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I didn't find him to show he was better than Hermans though. Also you in the end it's about results, and it's not because you weren't racing intelligently that you deserve that spot. What if Evenepoel falls in the first 10km and is out? Then Hermans is a more logical choice if Van Wilder rides too defensively.

If Evenepoel crashes and you want to put your eggs in Herman's basket... When exactly has Hermans beaten a top tier field? Van Wilder may not win much, but at least he won by riding O'Connor out of his wheel and keeping a chasing group with Pogacar, Roglic, Carapaz, Woods, Rodriguez, Mas behind him. Nah man, you're way off here.

 

[proffate]

I didn't find him to show he was better than Hermans though. Also you in the end it's about results, and it's not because you weren't racing intelligently that you deserve that spot. What if Evenepoel falls in the first 10km and is out? Then Hermans is a more logical choice if Van Wilder rides too defensively.

Hermans is 38 and hasn't won a race in 3 years. Career best year in PCS points was 52nd, in 2015.

Meanwhile Van Wilder won 2 races last year and finished 33rd in rankings.

What were you saying about results?

 

[Wvv]

Hermans is 38 and hasn't won a race in 3 years. Career best year in PCS points was 52nd, in 2015.

Meanwhile Van Wilder won 2 races last year and finished 33rd in rankings.

What were you saying about results?

Not the right Hermans, buddy.

 

[proffate]

Not the right Hermans, buddy.

my post almost works just as well for Q Hermans. Granted 2nd in Liege is a better thing than Ben ever did.

 

[Berniece]

If Evenepoel crashes and you want to put your eggs in Herman's basket... When exactly has Hermans beaten a top tier field? Van Wilder may not win much, but at least he won by riding O'Connor out of his wheel and keeping a chasing group with Pogacar, Roglic, Carapaz, Woods, Rodriguez, Mas behind him. Nah man, you're way off here.

I’m basing myself on your post when you say he rides too conservatively at the moment. And I don’t have the feeling he’s in the same form as during italian fall classics last year

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I’m basing myself on your post when you say he rides too conservatively at the moment. And I don’t have the feeling he’s in the same form as during italian fall classics last year

We are looking for a domestique to help Evenepoel. Not a useless rider who might sprint his way to a top 10 spot in case Evenepoel crashes.

 

[Berniece]

We are looking for a domestique to help Evenepoel. Not a useless rider who might sprint his way to a top 10 spot in case Evenepoel crashes.

Hermans showed he can play domestique role too.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Hermans showed he can play domestique role too.

Sure, just not very good. Especially on this parcours. He is not good enough a climber to put the hurt on these climbs, he is not good enough a rouleur on the flat. Both on the flat and on the climbs, Van Wilder is far superior, it's not even funny. The only role he will be playing is that of going in the break, but even that Van Wilder could do just as well, because there is no way a break with Hermans goes to the line. Van Wilder could even work after the break would get caught.

It's a good thing Vanthourenhout quits as NC, because he gets credit for things he has no control over, while making ridiculous selections and tactical plays. The only reason the team has been successful is because Evenepoel is a generational talent. He left Thibau Nys at home two years ago "because reasons", he made a fool of himself during the WCC in Leuven because he couldn't allow anyone but Van Aert to be top dog. Now again he is taking riders who would not even get selected by their own trade team in a race like Liège (i'm talking about Stuyven) and a crosser who gets two good results per year.

Not to mention the screw up of sending Segaert to the UCC ITT u23 which he already won 2 times, even after Van Aert, Evenepoel, and finally Lampaert all forfeited going. What does he do? He calls some dude nobody ever heard of to ride with the pros, sending Segaert to the U23, again. While the dude he called to replace Lampaert, was still young enough to swap places with Segaert and go to the U23 instead. You can't make this *** up. And of course, Segaert wins the U23 race, with a time that would have given him gold with the pros, lol.

 

[Berniece]

Sure, just not very good. Especially on this parcours. He is not good enough a climber to put the hurt on these climbs, he is not good enough a rouleur on the flat. Both on the flat and on the climbs, Van Wilder is far superior, it's not even funny. The only role he will be playing is that of going in the break, but even that Van Wilder could do just as well, because there is no way a break with Hermans goes to the line. Van Wilder could even work after the break would get caught.

It's a good thing Vanthourenhout quits as NC, because he gets credit for things he has no control over, while making ridiculous selections and tactical plays. The only reason the team has been successful is because Evenepoel is a generational talent. He left Thibau Nys at home two years ago "because reasons", he made a fool of himself during the WCC in Leuven because he couldn't allow anyone but Van Aert to be top dog. Now again he is taking riders who would not even get selected by their own trade team in a race like Liège (i'm talking about Stuyven) and a crosser who gets two good results per year.

Not to mention the screw up of sending Segaert to the UCC ITT u23 which he already won 2 times, even after Van Aert, Evenepoel, and finally Lampaert all forfeited going. What does he do? He calls some dude nobody ever heard of to ride with the pros, sending Segaert to the U23, again. While the dude he called to replace Lampaert, was still young enough to swap places with Segaert and go to the U23 instead. You can't make this *** up. And of course, Segaert wins the U23 race, with a time that would have given him gold with the pros, lol.

It's clear Vanthourenhout mostly looks at how people performed this season, and honestly Hermans did better than Van Wilder. Just because Van Wilder at his best, is better than Hermans at his best doesn't mean he should be picked, because he didn't show that. So I agree that Van Wilder is the better rider, but I understand they went for Hermans.

I also disagree about your remarks about Vanthourenhout. Clear case of hindsight is 20-20. WCC in Leuven was in 2021, the season Evenepoel blew himself up due to bad SOQ management in the Giro. He was very *** at the Olympics, which was the first race with the National team that year, and they didn't appreciate that. Based on that they decided to go all-in on WVA, who destroyed the TDF. They could've given Remco a free role after his result in the EC, but pretty sure they were still pissed about the Olympics, and that Remco didn't show much improvement besides at the EC. On top of it, the course was seen as a great course for WVA, it was designed for him, and a WVA in TDF form would've won that. It's just that he gets squeezed out completely by Visma for the TDF. Pretty sure Evenepoel would've won that WC if he had a free role or was the leader, but he listened to the leaders, who had reasons not to give him that role, which I understand.

I don't see an issue with Stuyven being part of the team. If there is anyone that has always shown to be a great domestique for the team, it's him. Also he showed in TDF that he's able to get over a hill, he improved a lot in that regard.

On Segaert, it was his own decision. Segaert wanted to ride U23, I don't know why, I find it ridiculous. But I also didn't expect him to get the best time of the day (no rain though), and neither did anyone here on the forum. Because I didn't hear anyone complain about it beforehand. Vanthourenhout probably discussed this with him, and if Segaert wanted a definite win in U23, instead of top 10 at elites he probably said fine.

I find it very easy of you to say what went wrong after it happened. Also just saying everything is thanks to Evenepoel is ignoring all the effort everyone and the staff puts into it. There's a reason why Evenepoel thanks everyone, and also Vanthourenhout. You act as if it's an easy job and it's just selecting people and see how it unfolds.

 

[stekelegel]

In 2021 Leuven, everybody feared that Evenepoel would cause another EC scenario: being good enough to make the breakaway succeed but not winning. Everybody thought that getting Van Aert to the final should do it. Only Wout was not good enough on the day. So the race went als the coach, all fans and pundits wanted, bit WVA could not finish it.
In hindsight, they could have used Evenepoel better, he probably was the best Belgian rider that day. And being forced to play domestique, he rode so hard he killed Van Aerts legs.
Stuyven has always doen was what asked and more. Would be on my team anytime.

Segaert wants the U23 world title and thought it weird to ride the EC with the pro's and the WC with the U23.