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

[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.

 

[Extinction]

I wonder why they just didn't think of that

At that level it's a hard balance to be worked out. Until now his staff has seemed to think, as per Belgian excellence, that too low a weight would sacrifice power. But he's not racing Flanders or Roubaix, while they haven't had a potential Tour winner in generations and the sport has totally changed. Listen, when he loses the Tour by 9 minutes, then it's worth the risk to decrease the weight. See what happens and then take notes.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I wonder why they just didn't think of that

There is a saying very interesting: "the higher you go, greater the fall". They keep dreaming about Remco getting closer to Vingegaard or Pogacar but he will never reach them. It's notorious he doesn't have and will never have Pogacar's ceilling

 

[Oldermanish]

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.

Excellent point on the Olympics Itt and, to some extent the RR. He could be lighter for the TT as it was as much a momentum management effort on slick, narrow roads as an outright power effort for him. He did it well. The RR was a demanding powerfest, by contrast on sh*tty roads. He didn't seem to lose any climbing ability at all and that might have been a bit of a revelation. It was tactical too. IMO he probably doesn't lose that much gas by being slightly lighter.
The WRR was a tactical nightmare and he spent alot of energy trying to get gaps and then give them up when he didn't have help. That was more of a mixed bag and he was at the end of demanding, injury-recovery season. Two gold medals in Paris probably felt very, very good!

 

[Oldermanish]

There is a saying very interesting: "the higher you go, greater the fall". They keep dreaming about Remco getting closer to Vingegaard or Pogacar but he will never reach them. It's notorious he doesn't have and will never have Pogacar's ceilling

Why is it notorious? He never has had it when Pogi's on. He's not alone.

 

[Andre]

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

"destroyed"...that would be impossible, haven't you been following him?

 

[red_flanders]

"destroyed"...that would be impossible, haven't you been following him?

On occasion, one may run across hyperbole in this thread...

 

[Berniece]

I wonder why they just didn't think of that

Again, due to his fall he gained to much muscles.

 

[Berniece]

There is a saying very interesting: "the higher you go, greater the fall". They keep dreaming about Remco getting closer to Vingegaard or Pogacar but he will never reach them. It's notorious he doesn't have and will never have Pogacar's ceilling

And why will he never reach that? It’s ridiculous to write in absolutes in cycling. He already rode better in 2024 than those two in 2023…

Also I have no clue what you mean with your saying. It has nothing to do with aspiring for higher results and not achieving them.

 

[KoopaCycling]

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.

If i'm Remco i would want 1 chono des nations as well. But i understand that race has become not so important in modern cycling.

 

[red_flanders]

If i'm Remco i would want 1 chono des nations as well. But i understand that race has become not so important in modern cycling.

I think reasonable folks could debate the importance, but seems to me that Remco doesn't care about it, so I think it's a bit moot. I would agree with him. How would this compare to the things he's already won? No comparison IMO.

 

[peterfin]

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.

The only thing Belgium really wants is a Belgian in the yellow jersey in Paris.

 

[Berniece]

The only thing Belgium really wants is a Belgian in the yellow jersey in Paris.

Or Belgian’s sweetheart WVA winning De Ronde

 

[houtdffan]

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."

That's a bit alarming that when he had the form to drop Pog and Vingo, he did not give it his all.

Just like he was afraid of blowing up on stage 11, when he was able to do the final 2 climbs quicker than those two.

Don't think he would have got second, but he could have won stage 11 had he not raced scared

 

[Peyroteo94]

That's a bit alarming that when he had the form to drop Pog and Vingo, he did not give it his all.

Just like he was afraid of blowing up on stage 11, when he was able to do the final 2 climbs quicker than those two.

Don't think he would have got second, but he could have won stage 11 had he not raced scared

What? He was dropped by Pogacar. When did he have the "form" to drop Pogacar in stage 17?

 

[James M]

Lets all take a moment and appriciate the great Evenepoel own opinion, seems most sensible afterall.
As great as Evenepoel is, and he truly is and others with him, he up against a unhuman task, literally a more monumental task in cycling couldnt have been found ever.

Although the best time trialist in the world, Evenepoel couldn't bring back any time on Pogacar over the subsequent flat.

"But in the valley, actually a bit ahead of me, he rode away another two minutes. At such moments you realise that he is the best rider in the world and that he is slowly becoming the best ever."

"I sent him: I want to know what you really pedalled" - Remco Evenepoel didn't believe Tadej Pogacar's reported wattages were real at Il Lombardia

Tadej Pogacar finished his historic 2024 season in typically scintillating style at Il Lombardia, picking up his second monument victory of the campaign ahead of Remco Evenepoel. Afterwards, the Belgi...

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[Berniece]

Lets all take a moment and appriciate the great Evenepoel own opinion, seems most sensible afterall.
As great as Evenepoel is, and he truly is and others with him, he up against a unhuman task, literally a more monumental task in cycling couldnt have been found ever.

Although the best time trialist in the world, Evenepoel couldn't bring back any time on Pogacar over the subsequent flat.

"But in the valley, actually a bit ahead of me, he rode away another two minutes. At such moments you realise that he is the best rider in the world and that he is slowly becoming the best ever."

"I sent him: I want to know what you really pedalled" - Remco Evenepoel didn't believe Tadej Pogacar's reported wattages were real at Il Lombardia

Tadej Pogacar finished his historic 2024 season in typically scintillating style at Il Lombardia, picking up his second monument victory of the campaign ahead of Remco Evenepoel. Afterwards, the Belgi...

cyclinguptodate.com

Is someone saying he isn’t?

 

[Berniece]

What? He was dropped by Pogacar. When did he have the "form" to drop Pogacar in stage 17?

When he finished 10s before him?

 

[Berniece]

Its just all hilarious cope

Cope by who?

 

[Berniece]

Evenepoel. His own assessments of races he loses rarely cease to amaze me

I think it was more of a misinterpretation by @houtdffan, since I didn't read it as Evenepoel saying he could've dropped Pogacar/Vingegaard. I read it as, the moment I was able to get away, I should have gone all out, and maybe I would've gained a bit more time. Not sure why that's coping.

The quote:
"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. "

 

[Berflamand]

Evenepoel. His own assessments of races he loses rarely cease to amaze me

It amazes me how much negativity you can find in an - at least in my opinion - very levelheaded interview.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Well I would stop if he just stopped saying things like "I could have dropped Ppgacar but chose not to" referring to a stage where Pogacar cleaned him off the wheel earlier.

That is not level headed. That is the opposite

But that’s not at all what he’s saying if Bernice has posted the right translation?

“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.”

This isn’t at all the same as you propose. He’s talking about the kilometers he was alone ahead of them that he probably could’ve ridden faster, not that he could’ve dropped Pogacar earlier??

 

[Berflamand]

Well I would stop if he just stopped saying things like "I could have dropped Ppgacar but chose not to" referring to a stage where Pogacar cleaned him off the wheel earlier.

That is not level headed. That is the opposite

That is also not even close to what he actually said. I really don't even understand how you can twist words that much to come to such a conclusion.