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

[Snake]

There is absolutely no way he will waste months of training next season only to finish 10 minutes behind the alien at TDF.

 

[KoopaCycling]

There is absolutely no way he will waste months of training next season only to finish 10 minutes behind the alien at TDF.

How so? If next year TdF is a repeat of this year TdF there ain't no shame in that.
Sure we would want more. But if he ends up third best again, then it is what it is. Pogacar just an another level atm, and Vingegaard closest thing to Pogacar in a GT. So i'm not asking more GT wise from Evenepoel tbh. I hope for more, but not asking for more. I just want to see him getting a PN, a Tirreno, Basque, walloon classic, Amstel Gold, A race like that on his palmares next. That and the EC Road Race .

It would also be nice if he could start a GT without Pogacar and Vingegaard on the startlist. As i want to see him able to dominate a GT from start to finish against everyone not named those 2. Dominate without a crash, extra stuff. Just dominate on the racing front. No weak moments, always in control. Solidify in his mind even further he is third best GT rider.

 

[theyoungest]

There is absolutely no way he will waste months of training next season only to finish 10 minutes behind the alien at TDF.

Evenepoel is no Pogacar. There's no shame in that. There's still enough to aim for at the TDF... and Pogi can also crash out, of course.

 

[Berniece]

There is absolutely no way he will waste months of training next season only to finish 10 minutes behind the alien at TDF.

I think he should start by training to be on TDF weight most of the season

 

[Rackham]

I'd be curious to hear the rationale behind his attack considering what happened afterwards.

I mean it's only Emilia so who cares really, but come on, Evenepoel was the one who initiated Pog's rampage.

It was like poking a tiger with a stick.

 

[AmRacer]

I think he should start by training to be on TDF weight most of the season

I would like him doing the spring classics, don't think TDF weight would be optimal then. But he could get a PN or TA instead. Or one of the two Spanish ones.

 

[peterfin]

I'd be curious to hear the rationale behind his attack considering what happened afterwards.

I mean it's only Emilia so who cares really, but come on, Evenepoel was the one who initiated Pog's rampage.

It was like poking a tiger with a stick.

The weather was not his friend. He suffers in the rain when it's not warm, especially when he is not peak form.

 

[Red Rick]

I'd be curious to hear the rationale behind his attack considering what happened afterwards.

There is none. Training ride before hoard some attention and quit.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I'd be curious to hear the rationale behind his attack considering what happened afterwards.

I mean it's only Emilia so who cares really, but come on, Evenepoel was the one who initiated Pog's rampage.

It was like poking a tiger with a stick.

Forcing Pogacar to attack and do a 40 km solo to tire him out before Lombardia.
4D Chess!

 

[Berniece]

There is none. Training ride before hoard some attention and quit.

I think he expected better form of himself. I think he went downhill since WC ITT, and even then wasn’t at his best.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Forcing Pogacar to attack and do a 40 km solo to tire him out before Lombardia.
4D Chess!

Awesome explanation! They should also provoke Pogi to attack with 12 laps to go at Tre Valli and then we might have an actual race in Lombardy.

 

[pihi42]

They should also provoke Pogi to attack with 12 laps to go at Tre Valli

Finally we are watching races where the breakaway wins a lot. Usually everybody's rooting for the break, no?

 

[James M]

Finally we are watching races where the breakaway wins a lot. Usually everybody's rooting for the break, no?

Exactly. If you dont like this well granted the suspension sure but this is literally history how can you not like cycling and not enjoy this. Unless ofc you got something against him and beeing emotional which is weird af but hey. But cycling are booming with so many huge talents and a era which are very very good which the ratings also shows, cycling with talents like Evenepoel, Mvdp, Vinge, WVA which are all historic great riders its awesome. (roglic could name him too but he is on his way down).

I hope Evenepoel can show a better showing in Lombardia I dont like that he always just wins vs the second best. Id like him to perform vs the best too like he did in the Tour granted but show it to me more here in 1 day classics too, so hoping for a awesome showing from Evenepoel at Lombardia. He is the prince in my eyes and most likely the only guy a few years down the road who can challenge Pogacar for real if anyone actually can, then it has to be him.

Also this Emilia race is nothing to write home about its all about Lombardia, Evenepoel knows that just like Pogacar have too in recent years, wouldnt take much stock into today. - the numbers are more important that their right going into Lombardia.

 

[ArnaudVDL]

I think he should start by training to be on TDF weight most of the season

Is remco that heavy. He looks less heavy then Pogacar to me.

 

[Berniece]

Is remco that heavy. He looks less heavy then Pogacar to me.

Well he is 5cm smaller than Pogacar, so he’ll weigh less, but his body type is more bulkier too.

I just wasn’t that impressed with him except in TDF and Olympics. During spring classics I would expect him to drop everyone in Paris-Nice, and now again in WC he clearly wasn’t in LBL ‘23 form. If he wants to compete with the best, more is expected. Obviously Pogacar won’t have a season like this one every year, but there’s still a gap he needs to close.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Remco, the man of the people, doing a forum "I'm done with this sport" today.

 

[Salvarani]

Finally we are watching races where the breakaway wins a lot. Usually everybody's rooting for the break, no?

It used to be applauded.

I remember race threads were people were screaming out for attacks. "Just do something".

A rider like this comes along once in a lifetime and does what everybody been wanting.

The tune changes quickly, I guess.

And Remco at least wants to attack and race as well. Just like Pog.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Well he is 5cm smaller than Pogacar, so he’ll weigh less, but his body type is more bulkier too.

I just wasn’t that impressed with him except in TDF and Olympics. During spring classics I would expect him to drop everyone in Paris-Nice, and now again in WC he clearly wasn’t in LBL ‘23 form. If he wants to compete with the best, more is expected. Obviously Pogacar won’t have a season like this one every year, but there’s still a gap he needs to close.

I think Remco had a good season. Cause of Olympics, TdF podium and TT WC combo. However without the olympics his season would have been nothing to write home about. At least not for a rider of his caliber. For most other riders yes, but not for remco. Olympics saved this season and made it memorable. Mind you. I def. saw him winning at least one of the spring classics he was sheduled to ride after Basque without his crash, and probably the dauphiné as well. Ifs and but don't change reality. I mean without his crashes WVA probably would have had a stellar season. Now not so much.

 

[AmRacer]

Next year, Remco must win our of the 7 big one-week stage races, at one classics and podium a GT.

 

[Jan the Man]

He’s had a good season - there is no doubt the crash in Basque was unhelpful but he’s made a step forward in GTs, albeit still a step or two behind Pog and Vigne. He’s not raced a lot of one day races so overall difficult to judge but current ‘peak’ post olympics is obviously nowhere near his best. That said even a best Remco probably struggles to live with the current best version of Pogi.

Hoping he is in peak form for LBL next year as that is the one day race which suits him the best and he is Pog’s only real protagonist in LBL. We’ve been robbed of a proper dual in LBL for different reasons. Hoping for one next year!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Forcing Pogacar to attack and do a 40 km solo to tire him out before Lombardia.
4D Chess!

So if they somehow provoke him to attack right out of the neutralised zone of MSR next year, they might have a chance to win a race or two during the rest of the season?

 

[AmRacer]

He’s had a good season - there is no doubt the crash in Basque was unhelpful but he’s made a step forward in GTs, albeit still a step or two behind Pog and Vigne. He’s not raced a lot of one day races so overall difficult to judge but current ‘peak’ post olympics is obviously nowhere near his best. That said even a best Remco probably struggles to live with the current best version of Pogi.

Hoping he is in peak form for LBL next year as that is the one day race which suits him the best and he is Pog’s only real protagonist in LBL. We’ve been robbed of a proper dual in LBL for different reasons. Hoping for one next year!

He should race Amstel

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

So if they somehow provoke him to attack right out of the neutralised zone of MSR next year, they might have a chance to win a race or two during the rest of the season?

Maybe during the period of the following 2 weeks.

 

[KenFiamingo]

I think Remco had a good season. Cause of Olympics, TdF podium and TT WC combo. However without the olympics his season would have been nothing to write home about.

Weird argument. It's like saying: "Without the cobbled classics, Van de Poel would have had a mediocre season". The point is that they set objectives and Remco was able to tick his off (as MvdP did).
And as said before: the Olympics kind of jeopardized the autumn races for him. Just like last year's focus on the WCTT in august did not allow for a decent preparation of the Vuelta.
I'd love him to have a more balanced (crashless) season in which he's 100% prepared for the WC & the Italian classics.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I don't buy the Olympics as an excuse for his poor form now at all.

Dont you know that when you win the Olympic Double you are obligated to celebrate for two weeks eating belgium chokolate and pommes?

@KoopaCycling Even without the Olympics Remco would've still been like 4th or 5th in the UCI rankings so far this season. 3rd in the Tour, WC TT, stage wins in the Tour, Dauphine and Paris-Nice wouldve been a great season for most cyclists when a crash is hindering you from taking part in the main goal of the spring season.