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

[mlescanojr]

They raced like amateur Masters. No one wants to work with anyone else and give up the shot at second place. Or third....top ten...whatever.
Keeping domestiques that also have trade team affiliations has always been the wild card in WC. If they don't have a serious candidate for a placing on their national team and their trade team "leader" sucks; why ride at all?

Yes, it's easy for us from our chesterfield to say what they should do, but we're forgetting one thing:

The psychological factor after Pogacar attacking. It's not easy to deal with so much pressure, and they took some decisions, and they paid for that.

 

[houtdffan]

Idd, apart from Paris-Nice which he fumbled in stage 6, and despite the crash in Itzulia, he once again did deliver on his objectives. Hopefully Emilia or Lombardia become the cherry on the cake.

Iztulia cost Remco a LOT

Cost him the win there and likely at least 2 of the Ardennes

 

[Red Rick]

Iztulia cost Remco a LOT

Cost him the win there and likely at least 2 of the Ardennes

He's not a favorite for Fleche by any means.

 

[mlescanojr]

Regardless of Pogacar, this has still been a good season for Evenepoel despite the crash.

He'll have a storied career if he keeps this up even when eclipsed by Pogacar.

Curious to see how he'll be in Lombardia. I'd enjoy it if he shows that he can come back to win it and snatch a podium.

Yes he will have.

But in order to win GTs, he needs to take the next step.

And regarding Lombardia, I cannot see him winning, not when Pogacar is riding like that.

 

[Berniece]

Yes he will have.

But in order to win GTs, he needs to take the next step.

And regarding Lombardia, I cannot see him winning, not when Pogacar is riding like that.

He has the capabilities to win GT's, just not against Pogacar and Vingegaard yet.

 

[mlescanojr]

He has the capabilities to win GT's, just not against Pogacar and Vingegaard yet.

Yes, I agree with you.

But I am assuming they will be racing, that's why I said Remco needs to take the next step.

 

[houtdffan]

This must be trolling...

and which races would have he lost?

 

[houtdffan]

Vingo literally crashed out, and yes, he beats Rog

He also wins AGR and FW. The field in FW was rather weak this year. He would have likely lost the sprint to Pog in LBL

 

[pihi42]

He would have likely lost the sprint to Pog in LBL

What sprint? There was no sprint. Pogi won by 1:39.

 

[Oldermanish]

Yes, it's easy for us from our chesterfield to say what they should do, but we're forgetting one thing:

The psychological factor after Pogacar attacking. It's not easy to deal with so much pressure, and they took some decisions, and they paid for that.

You mean the entire peloton developed the yips at the same time when Pogacar attacked? Like it wasn't going to happen. Yeah....no. It was early enough they all decided they didn't want to put out the effort and then realized they better put out some effort or look totally foolish. But not enough effort to lose contact with the group they're in (Remco). Psychology is a big word for cyclists racing a one day event with one prime contender to cover. They're supposed to respond; not dither over their personal conflicts.

 

[houtdffan]

What sprint? There was no sprint. Pogi won by 1:39.

please

Remco and Pog would have sprinted for LBL

 

[Jan the Man]

He has the capabilities to win GT's, just not against Pogacar and Vingegaard yet.

A very fair assessment. He can obviously win GTs ( and multiples of them)and it is not a 'weakness' as sometimes portrayed. He would be the favourite for any GT which did not have Pog of Vingegaard on the startlist. It is also obvious that he's a step (or two)behind those two in GTs.

 

[stekelegel]

please

Remco and Pog would have sprinted for LBL

In 2023 yes.
In 2024 no.
Pog is just on another level, no shame in that.
There will be some races where Remco or another Vingegard can keep up, or where he makes a tactical mistake, but if Teddy keeps his current level, everybody is riding for second place.

 

[Berniece]

This must be trolling...

AGR is indeed not really in the ardennes

 

[Berniece]

We were spoiled past few years, but next year Evenepoel won’t be wearing a special jersey during road races. Only his golden stripes on the SOQ jersey

 

[peterfin]

We were spoiled past few years, but next year Evenepoel won’t be wearing a special jersey during road races. Only his golden stripes on the SOQ jersey

The sponsors can't be happier.

 

[Berniece]

The sponsors can't be happier.

Weren’t his other jerseys branded too?

 

[KoopaCycling]

Emilia, Bernocchi, Tre Valli Varesine & Lombardia coming up.
Of which 3 against pogacar. Lets hope Evenepoel can put up a fight.

 

[rghysens]

Emilia, Bernocchi, Tre Valli Varesine & Lombardia coming up.
Of which 3 against pogacar. Lets hope Evenepoel can put up a fight.

Is he riding all 3? Last time I checked, tvv wasn´t on his program.

 

[Berniece]

Don't think he'll do so well in Lombardia and Emilia. His performance at the Worlds was pretty suss to me regarding his climbing form.

Looked a bit like his form in Paris-Nice. With the best (ignoring Pogi), but not necessarily much better

 

[Berniece]

Is he riding all 3? Last time I checked, tvv wasn´t on his program.

He's riding all 4. Emilia, Bernocchi, TVV and Lombardia. At least that's what Belgian outlets were reporting after the WC.

PCS doesn't include TVV, but their startlist is very empty.

 

[Didinho]

He posted a schedule on his insta story. Yes all 3 + Lombardia.

 

[KoopaCycling]

His direct quote was a feature on front page, this website.

‘It’s obvious that he is now above me’ – Eddy Merckx hails Tadej Pogačar after Worlds exhibition​

Seems Merckx felt he was misquoted or something. Cause it seems he already put this out as well:

"Ik verwees naar wat hij deed op het WK, op dat specifieke parcours. Het was ongelooflijk, en ik zei het precies zoals ik dacht, maar nee, ik denk niet dat Pogacar beter is dan Eddy Merckx", zegt hij bij Revelo.

"Hij heeft slechts drie keer de Tour gewonnen. Pogacar is nog niet beter. Hij heeft nog een lange weg te gaan om beter te worden dan Eddy Merckx", stelt Merckx onomwonden. "Ik denk dat het niet al te bescheiden is om het zelf te zeggen, maar ik doe het toch: ik ben de beste."

Merckx stelt dat hij van januari tot december wedstrijden reed. "Ik had 190 koersdagen in een seizoen, nu zijn dat er 80. Pogacar doet een beetje van alles, dat is waar, maar weinigen doen wat wij deden, de klassiekers, de monumenten en de grote rondes. Ik denk dat er geen vergelijking mogelijk is."

So Eddy still thinks he is the best ever at the moment. And i don't disagree.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Evenepoel just DNF Emilia. Strange, i would think he would want the training km ahead of Lombardia. Given that his form isn't quite there apparantly. With him unable to hold on to the chasing group let alone follow Pogacar. Maybe we'll get more info later.

 

[Berniece]

If you aren’t in form than it doesn’t make sense to ride these races. Just take a longer break and focus on 2025. You already had a killer season