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

[Extinction]

It must be said now that Tadej is unreachable. 100 km out is from another planet.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm probably going to be ridiculed by the Pog fanclub (and I would actually understand it) but I don't think this was Remco at his best and I think if Remco was at his best it would have been a suicide attack by Pog and Remco would have caught him eventually.

I don't mean to say Remco at his best would have beaten Pog if it was a straight up duel in the last 50k but I do think that Pog attacking at 100km would have made sure Remco could catch him.

Also Team Belgium being a bit (or a lot) stronger would have been nice.

He clearly wasn't at his best.

Looked to me like he gained too much weight after the Olympics cause he gets worse the more it goes uphill

 

[mlescanojr]

He definitely might. There’s no reason to think Pogacar is better than Evenepoel in such long races

Yes, he is. And so much better.

 

[mlescanojr]

Remco also competes in the Alien Division

Nope, definitely not.

 

[mlescanojr]

Remco got his arse kikked today.

And it was glorious to watch he losing his demeanor haha

 

[mlescanojr]

I'm probably going to be ridiculed by the Pog fanclub (and I would actually understand it) but I don't think this was Remco at his best and I think if Remco was at his best it would have been a suicide attack by Pog and Remco would have caught him eventually.

I don't mean to say Remco at his best would have beaten Pog if it was a straight up duel in the last 50k but I do think that Pog attacking at 100km would have made sure Remco could catch him.

Also Team Belgium being a bit (or a lot) stronger would have been nice.

You can think whatever you want, it's your opinion.

But the fact is: Pogi destroyed Remco's ass today. 100k masterclass, what a spectacle.

 

[Netserk]

It's a 1.9k climb at 6.2% on a 27km loop. How much time can he take on the climb (assuming Evenepoel is in peak shape), that it would be "done" for someone like Evenepoel not able to close it on the remainder of the loop? EDIT: The entire loop has about 3km of climbing, averaging ~6.5%. If Pogacar is certain to get a gap at those climbs, he might be better off waiting for the last lap, since it gives his opponents less time to orchestrate a chase. He doesn't need a long solo in a 250+k race, it only plays into the hands of someone like Evenepoel imho. Again, assuming both are at peak form.

So today was the perfect scenario for Evenepoel?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

It’s no shame to be crushed by Pogacar.

 

[Red Rick]

So today was the perfect scenario for Evenepoel?

Pogacar attacking at 100km to go actually really was the best case scenario.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Remco is also a hors categorie rider, so you can't put it past him. I look forward to an epic battle.

Cat 2

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Pogacar attacking at 100km to go actually really was the best case scenario.

I think Pogačar doing a half-assed attack to open the finale would have been better, but that was Evenepoel‘s thing today. Then Remco could have tried to get Pogačar and Van der Poel to look at each other.

 

[Netserk]

Pogacar attacking at 100km to go actually really was the best case scenario.

Too bad that Evenepoel didn't realise that he could have bridged across to Pogi on the same lap. Weird that he didn't make it a solo vs. solo, as he is so much better than Pogi in that.

 

[Red Rick]

Too bad that Evenepoel didn't realise that he could have bridged across to Pogi on the same lap. Weird that he didn't make it a solo vs. solo, as he is so much better than Pogi in that.

I think we've pretty confidently established Evenepoel wasn't on his best day today.

 

[snipeheem]

Remco is much better than Pog , he proved it today.

 

[Oldermanish]

Pogacar attacking at 100km to go actually really was the best case scenario.

He certainly planned for some companions along the way. That no one could hang with him or dent his lead to any extent probably confirmed he could just ride to his favorite pulse rate. He did that with no excess strain. Reminds a few of Remco's World title, doesn't it? Except this time everyone attempted to join him and failed completely.

 

[Forever The Best]

I think we've pretty confidently established Evenepoel wasn't on his best day today.

He also probably does not have the sprint against Pogacar. But yes, he looked far weaker than I expected.

 

[Oldermanish]

Whatever the outcome today, once again it is total chaos without communication. The current generation lack any tactical awareness when there is no sporting director yelling in their ears what to do. Evenepoel has benefitted from this in worlds and Olympics, now it’s Pog. Not taking away anything from their victories, but racing once a year with different rules is weird.

It's how it used to be and the Greats of Old dealt with it just fine. Pogacar had a moto near him to give him splits, feeders on the side to provide information as did every other rider. No lack of parity; just lack of legs.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

I think we've pretty confidently established Evenepoel wasn't on his best day today.

Never is when he loses

 

[houtdffan]

Remco also rode like a total IDIOT

He wasted minutes by his waiting for others to ride. Had he just rode, Pog was not staying away as shown by how the gap remained steady

Not saying he would have won

 

[Oldermanish]

He also probably does not have the sprint against Pogacar. But yes, he looked far weaker than I expected.

I haven't seen any video yet, dammit. The race report here kept it simple: MvP didn't attempt to follow, Remco waited and then they killed themselves trying to retrieve Pogacar. They finished within a minute so, yeah; I'm thinking they were at their best but used reserves foolishly against one another. Pogacar got into a rythm that suited him with little wasted effort.
Isn't that how Remco likes to win?

 

[Wvv]

Remco and everyone got their arse kicked today, from 100 km out, not even Merckx... I've never seen anything like this.

Wrong.

 

[Wvv]

Dissapointed in the belgium team. I was expecting a Team Time Trial alongside the Dutch after Pogacar went. I know it was 180 km in, but i felt like they should have been able to ride as a team for longer, bringing the gap down more.

That said, the belgian squad at least tried. Once they were gone the rest just started solo riding after Pogacar. Which is mind-boggling. Had they worked together the peloton would have had a small chance. Now they had none. If 15 riders ride as a team after Pogacar this could have ended differently. In their bullheaded thinking of not wanting to give up their own chance, they basically were giving up their own chance...

As for Evenepoel, he rode a solid race, finishing 5th but could never take up arms against Pogacar in this race. I genuinely hope today's effort will help his form. Give him a slight boost. Whilst Pogacar instead of going into a ruse from winning the WC gets a slight dip from decompression. Otherwise the upcoming italian races won't be exciting to watch. Here's hoping Evenepoel can compete (&win) in Lombardia. But the odds are def. against him after today.

Fair analysis.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Remco also rode like a total IDIOT

He wasted minutes by his waiting for others to ride. Had he just rode, Pog was not staying away as shown by how the gap remained steady

Not saying he would have won

I was thinking that as well, but with the level he showed here, guys like Hirschi, Healy or Skujins would have just said thank you and left him behind uphill. Granted, he may come back a few times on the flat, but by the time they would‘ve gotten to Pogi, he would have had just as much wind in his face as Pogi and would probably not win either.

 

[Netserk]

I think we've pretty confidently established Evenepoel wasn't on his best day today.

I don't think that is clear at all. Jorgenson couldn't hold the wheel on his first attack, only Van der Poel could close him down. Then he used a lot of energy (but of course much less than Pogi did in front) in a dumb way afterwards.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He definitely might. There’s no reason to think Pogacar is better than Evenepoel in such long races

Sorry but what a joke