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

[peterfin]

I'm sorry, but i really want a link to that eddy merckx interview. a quick search has only brought me the article off le Parisien. And in that he clearly states that he thinks Pogacar is the best of his generation. Not that he believes Pogacar is better than him. Closest it comes to that, is him stating he would not have dared to attack from 100 km out like that.

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

Belgian suggests Pogačar is now the greatest cyclist of all time

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[ArnaudVDL]

Earpieces? Slovenia managed to tell Tratnik to wait pretty well. Without earpieces. I don't suppose Belgium had less people standing on the roadside than Slovenia.

I think I read somewhere that it was a motorbike with a chalk board that communicated it. Still, your point stands.

 

[KoopaCycling]

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

Belgian suggests Pogačar is now the greatest cyclist of all time

www.cyclingnews.com

Oh wow, have to admit, it surprises me to see that. I know Merckx handed people their flowers, but would have never guessed such a competitive person would make quite a statement like that. I kindly disagree with him (for now).

Don't get me wrong, Pogacar can become the goat. But he ain't there yet for me.
For me I still got eddy merckx and hinault in front of Pogacar. I mean if he continues this momentum, he'll become the goat. But Merckx and Hinault careers still hold the edge for me.

A couple of more wins and he surpasses the badger for me. But Eddy still some ways off imo. Pogacar gonna have his work cut out to put him ahead of merckx in my mind.

 

[mlescanojr]

Oh wow, have to admit, it surprises me to see that. I know Merckx handed people their flowers, but would have never guessed such a competitive person would make quite a statement like that. I kindly disagree with him (for now).

Don't get me wrong, Pogacar can become the goat. But he ain't there yet for me.
For me I still got eddy merckx and hinault in front of Pogacar. I mean if he continues this momentum, he'll become the goat. But Merckx and Hinault careers still hold the edge for me.

I think, for Merckx, what he tried to say is: Pogacar at the peak of his powers, is better than me.

Everyone can agree that Pogi needs to win a lot more to be considered the GOAT.

 

[Oldermanish]

I'm sorry, but i really want a link to that eddy merckx interview. a quick search has only brought me the article off le Parisien. And in that he clearly states that he thinks Pogacar is the best of his generation. Not that he believes Pogacar is better than him. Closest it comes to that, is him stating he would not have dared to attack from 100 km out like that.

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​

 

[Oldermanish]

Oh wow, have to admit, it surprises me to see that. I know Merckx handed people their flowers, but would have never guessed such a competitive person would make quite a statement like that. I kindly disagree with him (for now).

Don't get me wrong, Pogacar can become the goat. But he ain't there yet for me.
For me I still got eddy merckx and hinault in front of Pogacar. I mean if he continues this momentum, he'll become the goat. But Merckx and Hinault careers still hold the edge for me.

A couple of more wins and he surpasses the badger for me. But Eddy still some ways off imo. Pogacar gonna have his work cut out to put him ahead of merckx in my mind.

It's good to have an interest.
But when you disagree with Eddy about who is better than him you'll understand why most would take him at his word. Most every competitor exposed to Pogacar has said the same thing but time is fluid and things can change....

 

[KoopaCycling]

It's good to have an interest.
But when you disagree with Eddy about who is better than him you'll understand why most would take him at his word. Most every competitor exposed to Pogacar has said the same thing but time is fluid and things can change....

I'm sorry, but Merckx career achievements at the moment still surpass Pogacar. And that is what i'll judge him on. As everyone is a child of their time.

Merckx: 11 GT, 3 WC, 19 monuments and a slew of other races.
Pogacar: 4 GT, 1 WC, 6 monuments and a slew of other races.

Pogacar only 26, so he got time. But clearly he ain't there yet. At least not for me.

(Also i tend to just go to the forum, not the actual website.)

 

[Salvarani]

Actually I thought VdP was very gracious in defeat, and it seems Pogacar likes him a lot.

They interacting and seems to have shared admiration for each other by all accounts. Pog is good friends with Philipsen as well. Bling. He seems to have a good relationship with many riders.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Bunch of accusations and denials moved to clinic

 

[Panda Claws]

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.

 

[KenFiamingo]

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.

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.

 

[Berniece]

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.

People have short memories, his season was already successful after finishing on the podium in the Tour and winning the double at the Olympics

 

[Red Rick]

No, they could not.

VdP told in the interview they were on the limit, that's why they could not bring Pogacar back.

And let's not fool ourselves, Pogacar relaxed in the last km, that's why the 35s difference.

But you can try to diminish Pogacar feat.

He controlled the difference for almost 80 km, when he attacked after Tratnik pull.

Why were they on the limit?

Because the started attacking behind Pogacar at just under 3 laps to go. They should've kept domestiques on board the extra lap

 

[mlescanojr]

Why were they on the limit?

Because the started attacking behind Pogacar at just under 3 laps to go. They should've kept domestiques on board the extra lap

Yes, I agree with you.

Pogacar attack caused mayhem in the peloton.

It's easy for us to tell now the best course of action, but in the middle of war, Remco did what he thought it was correct, he burnt his domestiques and he was left alone.

 

[Oldermanish]

Why were they on the limit?

Because the started attacking behind Pogacar at just under 3 laps to go. They should've kept domestiques on board the extra lap

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?

 

[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.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Iztulia cost Remco a LOT

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

This must be trolling...

 

[houtdffan]

This must be trolling...

and which races would have he lost?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Do you really think he would beat Roglic and specially Vingegaard in Pais Vasco? And 2 Ardennes races? He just got spanked by Pogacar and you really think he would be able to beat Pogacar in LBL? And what is the other race? FW or AGR?

 

[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