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

[KoopaCycling]

Yes Bora. It's "cheaper" to buy out Evenepoel out of his contract compared to Pogacar and Vingegaard. Also those two are less likely to change teams because they have an amazing environment and great teammates, while SOQ isn't at that level. I think Evenepoel from the start made the mistake to make his father his manager, and secondly to sign a contract for so long. Has a lot to do with his arrogance when he was younger thinking he would roll up everyone and wouldn't need the same environment as a Visma could give him.

Didn't Evenepoel sign his first contract cause Lefevre team rode/rides with specialized. And signed his current extention after Lombardi crash? Pretty sure he was happy with that contract then, not knowing how he'd comeback after that, and getting top dollar from the team. (at least given what the team could afford). Or am i remembering it all wrong?

 

[Oldermanish]

Didn't Evenepoel sign his first contract cause Lefevre team rode/rides with specialized. And signed his current extention after Lombardi crash? Pretty sure he was happy with that contract then, not knowing how he'd comeback after that, and getting top dollar from the team. (at least given what the team could afford). Or am i remembering it all wrong?

I think you're correct. He had plenty of fan support as well. I'm not sure that would translate into the same benefits to be an overpaid Tour designate on another team, particularly if he wasn't successful. Haters love a losing effort.

 

[Berniece]

Didn't Evenepoel sign his first contract cause Lefevre team rode/rides with specialized. And signed his current extention after Lombardi crash? Pretty sure he was happy with that contract then, not knowing how he'd comeback after that, and getting top dollar from the team. (at least given what the team could afford). Or am i remembering it all wrong?

I don't remember how it went down anymore. But Lombardia was 2020, I find it weird that you sign a 5 year contract in general.

 

[Berniece]

Evenepoel won the Flandrien trophy in Belgium, which is basically being voted as the best rider in Belgium, from Belgium (obviously).

Remco Evenepoel schiet opnieuw hoofdvogel af, Lotte Kopecky al voor 5e jaar op rij Flandrien(ne) | sporza

Zouden ze nog plek hebben in hun prijzenkast? Remco Evenepoel en Lotte Kopecky hebben een zoveelste individuele prijs op zak gestoken. De Aerokogel van Schepdaal zag zijn wonderjaar afgesloten worden met zijn 2e erkenning als Flandrien van het Jaar. Lotte Kopecky - die voor het eerst...

sporza.be

 

[Berflamand]

Some quotes from his Flandrien interview:

"My best day on the bike in 2024, in terms of feeling, was stage 17 of the Tour to Superdévoluy when I took some time on Pogacar and Vingegaard. The feeling that day was even better than at the Olympics but I was afraid to make a move. When I eventually rode away from Pogacar and Vingegaard and saw they weren't following that was a new situation for me and I panicked a little. I couldn't decide at that point if I should ride all out or keep some reserves. More could have been possible that day. If I find myself in that situation next year, I know I just have to give it my all. "

"I hope Pogacar does not make any more progress next year. If that isn't the case I think it's realistic to close the gap of 9 minutes from this year to around 5 minutes with a perfect preparation. That would be a good start. After that we'll see what's possible. But I will have to work very hard for it."

"Yes, I was surprised at the level of Pogacar at some points. At Plateau de Beille I rode the same numbers as on every other final climb but I still finished at 3 minutes. He was crazy that day. Also Lombardy was very impressive. After his attack on the climb he had a minute at the top. After the descent he still had a minute. But then in the valley, which should have been a good part for me, he took an additional two minutes. At moments like that you realise he's the best rider in the world and he's on his way to become the best rider ever."

"The past year the combination Giro - Tour wasn't possible if I wanted to be top at the Olympic Games. Next year it is an option but we'll wait to see the route. If I ride the Giro I won't ride Flèche Wallone and Amstel. Liège I'll always ride as long as I'm healthy."

"I won't ride the Ronde next year. Milan-Sanremo is an option depending on the choice between Tirreno or Paris-Nice. But we haven't really talked about concrete planning yet, only about ideas and goals."

"My third place in the Tour has motivated me to do better in a Grand Tour. I really want to experience the feeling of winning a Grand Tour again like in 2022. So that will be the focus. Everybody knows my big goals are to win the Giro and the Tour so I want to fully invest in those goals. How much energy I'll still spend towards time trialing will depend on the routes of the Grand Tours but the main focus will be on climbing from now on."

"I'm not going to adjust my season planning to Pogacar's planning to try to avoid him. I like competing with/against Pogacar. Not only is he a great champion, he's also simply a nice guy. I think it's an honor to be able to compete against him and ride with him. I see it as a challenge to try to beat him. In the past I've already won races where he started. I hope there will be some moments like that next season."

 

[RedheadDane]

Yes Bora. It's "cheaper" to buy out Evenepoel out of his contract compared to Pogacar and Vingegaard. Also those two are less likely to change teams because they have an amazing environment and great teammates, while SOQ isn't at that level.

But it's still disrespectful when he has been pretty clear that he's staying.
Also, considering that his current contract doesn't just cover next year, but 2026 as well, are people expecting him to make the same kind of announcements at this time next year?

 

[Berniece]

But it's still disrespectful when he has been pretty clear that he's staying.
Also, considering that his current contract doesn't just cover next year, but 2026 as well, are people expecting him to make the same kind of announcements at this time next year?

They've been trying to do this every year. Must be very distracting too for Evenepoel. A bit his own fault of course, his dad/manager could just say No to other teams, and don't have these talks until 2026.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Some quotes from his Flandrien interview:

"My best day on the bike in 2024, in terms of feeling, was stage 17 of the Tour to Superdévoluy when I took some time on Pogacar and Vingegaard. The feeling that day was even better than at the Olympics but I was afraid to make a move. When I eventually rode away from Pogacar and Vingegaard and saw they weren't following that was a new situation for me and I panicked a little. I couldn't decide at that point if I should ride all out or keep some reserves. More could have been possible that day. If I find myself in that situation next year, I know I just have to give it my all. "

"I hope Pogacar does not make any more progress next year. If that isn't the case I think it's realistic to close the gap of 9 minutes from this year to around 5 minutes with a perfect preparation. That would be a good start. After that we'll see what's possible. But I will have to work very hard for it."

"Yes, I was surprised at the level of Pogacar at some points. At Plateau de Beille I rode the same numbers as on every other final climb but I still finished at 3 minutes. He was crazy that day. Also Lombardy was very impressive. After his attack on the climb he had a minute at the top. After the descent he still had a minute. But then in the valley, which should have been a good part for me, he took an additional two minutes. At moments like that you realise he's the best rider in the world and he's on his way to become the best rider ever."

"The past year the combination Giro - Tour wasn't possible if I wanted to be top at the Olympic Games. Next year it is an option but we'll wait to see the route. If I ride the Giro I won't ride Flèche Wallone and Amstel. Liège I'll always ride as long as I'm healthy."

"I won't ride the Ronde next year. Milan-Sanremo is an option depending on the choice between Tirreno or Paris-Nice. But we haven't really talked about concrete planning yet, only about ideas and goals."

"My third place in the Tour has motivated me to do better in a Grand Tour. I really want to experience the feeling of winning a Grand Tour again like in 2022. So that will be the focus. Everybody knows my big goals are to win the Giro and the Tour so I want to fully invest in those goals. How much energy I'll still spend towards time trialing will depend on the routes of the Grand Tours but the main focus will be on climbing from now on."

"I'm not going to adjust my season planning to Pogacar's planning to try to avoid him. I like competing with/against Pogacar. Not only is he a great champion, he's also simply a nice guy. I think it's an honor to be able to compete against him and ride with him. I see it as a challenge to try to beat him. In the past I've already won races where he started. I hope there will be some moments like that next season."

And some guys say he would be 2-3 minutes behind without his crash. Even Remco says he will be happy if Pogacar doesn't improve and in that case, he can be 5 minutes behind him in the GC.

 

[Berniece]

And some guys say he would be 2-3 minutes behind without his crash. Even Remco says he will be happy if Pogacar doesn't improve and in that case, he can be 5 minutes behind him in the GC.

5min with proper preparation, like I said. If indeed Pogacar doesn't get much better while Evenepoel improves the gap will get smaller.

 

[Andre]

I'm not happy that he won't ride in Ronde. Also, to lose by 5 minutes next year does nothing for me; I'll be hoping for better; but then again that's how I am. I would rather he try the Giro and La Vuelta instead of Le Tour. Go Remco Go!

 

[Extinction]

I'm not happy that he won't ride in Ronde. Also, to lose by 5 minutes next year does nothing for me; I'll be hoping for better; but then again that's how I am. I would rather he try the Giro and La Vuelta instead of Le Tour. Go Remco Go!

But he can't win the Tour if he doesn't ride it. The Giro-Tour next year is the way to go. Today you can't ride RVV and hope to be competative at the Giro. He could do it, however, skip the Giro and do the Tour-Vuelta.

 

[Andre]

But he can't win the Tour if he doesn't ride it. The Giro-Tour next year is the way to go. Today you can't ride RVV and hope to be competative at the Giro. He could do it, however, skip the Giro and do the Tour-Vuelta.

I understand what you mean. The rhythm of training would not be beneficial for other races. But still I at least hop that he wins the Rode; I feel Belgium needs it. Plus he has already conceded defeat in the Tour.

 

[Berniece]

I'm not happy that he won't ride in Ronde. Also, to lose by 5 minutes next year does nothing for me; I'll be hoping for better; but then again that's how I am. I would rather he try the Giro and La Vuelta instead of Le Tour. Go Remco Go!

He expects that he would've lost this year by 5min if he had proper preparation. Evenepoel expects he has more margin to improve since he's younger, still has some weight to lose, etc, so he should be closer than 5min.

 

[red_flanders]

He's an athlete and a champion. He's not going to just give up. Of course he should ride the Tour.

 

[AmRacer]

He expects that he would've lost this year by 5min if he had proper preparation. Evenepoel expects he has more margin to improve since he's younger, still has some weight to lose, etc, so he should be closer than 5min.

But what if Pog hadn't the Giro i his legs......

 

[Berniece]

But what if Pog hadn't the Giro i his legs......

I understood during the season that this had no effect on him at all, so nothing

 

[Berniece]

When riders reach career best level of performance, especially in relative level, I find it quite hard to argue they didn't hit their best level.

Evenepoels comments, which act as if it's some new found insight that he needs to be a better climber, and who emphasizes collective performance as some sort of excuse when Landa was literally 5th and always there when needed, don't sit particularly well with me.

But he just to focus a lot on ITT too, he already said he can lose another 1-2kg. You don’t think this will influence his climbing and performance uphill?

 

[Extinction]

I understand what you mean. The rhythm of training would not be beneficial for other races. But still I at least hop that he wins the Rode; I feel Belgium needs it. Plus he has already conceded defeat in the Tour.

I understand Belgium needs another Ronde champion, but we don't even know if Remco has the stuff for it. It is remarkable, in this day an age, that a GT champion such as Pogacar beat a specialist such as MvdP on a preferred hunting ground in Flanders. Remco is an unknown and he still wants the Giro, which is impossible with a cobbled monument in the same season. Remco should ride Flanders, but for noe he prioritizes his GT season and there are still the Giro and Tour to win.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I understand what you mean. The rhythm of training would not be beneficial for other races. But still I at least hop that he wins the Rode; I feel Belgium needs it. Plus he has already conceded defeat in the Tour.

You talk like Remco could win Ronde if he raced it. He would be destroyed by MVP or Pogacar. Quickstep is no longer the best team in classics too so he couldn't play numbers card

 

[Oldermanish]

I understand what you mean. The rhythm of training would not be beneficial for other races. But still I at least hop that he wins the Rode; I feel Belgium needs it. Plus he has already conceded defeat in the Tour.

I'm not sure he's conceding anything. Every Tour gets some drama and he's well placed to take advantage of missteps and fixation between the 2 prime contenders.

 

[Berniece]

When? I thought he lost the weight before the Tour, and subsequently he won the Olympics ITT on his climbing weight.

To me it just seems Evenepoel doesn't hit his climbing weight as easily as Pogacar, Vingegaard or Roglic, and that's why he's not done as well in 2nd GTs or lesser stage races.

I find that more plausible than "Evenepoel is in his 6th year on the WT and they still don't know what weight he should be at"

The specificity argument to me only really makes sense in relation to the WC ITT and road race, where it was quite obvious to me it wasn't Evenepoels best one day performance.

When he said that? In October he said that due to his fall he still had too much muscles at the Tour, he could lose another kilo there. Also his training methods aren't purely focused on climbing, and still focuses a lot on endurance and TT. So that's why he says he can become a better climber.

 

[Extinction]

When? I thought he lost the weight before the Tour, and subsequently he won the Olympics ITT on his climbing weight.

To me it just seems Evenepoel doesn't hit his climbing weight as easily as Pogacar, Vingegaard or Roglic, and that's why he's not done as well in 2nd GTs or lesser stage races.

I find that more plausible than "Evenepoel is in his 6th year on the WT and they still don't know what weight he should be at"

The specificity argument to me only really makes sense in relation to the WC ITT and road race, where it was quite obvious to me it wasn't Evenepoels best one day performance.

Evenepoel needs to go 2/3 kg lighter, without sacrificing his TT prowess, to climb with Pogacar/Vingegaard. Let's say his Tour weight was 63, then 61/60 at the same power would be formidable.

 

[AmRacer]

without sacrificing his TT prowess

These are the magic words.

 

[red_flanders]

I wonder why they just didn't think of that

They don't seem to be at the tip of the spear when it comes to rider training TBH.

Lots of noises over the years about how losing weight might hurt his TT. To your points, seems not to have been an issue at the Olympics.

He also cares a LOT less about the TT at this point, he's won everything. He'll zero in on climbing weight. Again, to your point I'm not convinced that was ever actually an issue, but SQS seem not to have gotten the most out of him so far.

 

[AmRacer]

They don't seem to be at the tip of the spear when it comes to rider training TBH.

Lots of noises over the years about how losing weight might hurt his TT. To your points, seems not to have been an issue at the Olympics.

He also cares a LOT less about the TT at this point, he's won everything. He'll zero in on climbing weight. Again, to your point I'm not convinced that was ever actually an issue, but SQS seem not to have gotten the most out of him so far.

Yeah, he has every big TT race. I'm thinking, if Remco can climb better in the big mountains. It might hurt his ambitions in RVV for example.