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

[Berniece]

Remco's back in Belgium. Just saw him in Geraardsbergen.
I kept my car doors closed.

Few days with the family before going to altitude camp

 

[KoopaCycling]

Het voorjaar in het wielrennen staat bol van de sportieve ambities, maar voor de familie Evenepoel wordt deze periode overschaduwd door intens verdriet. Pascal Vanherberghen, een man die als stille kracht jarenlang meeliep in het spoor van Remco, is onverwacht overleden.

Remco not having the best start to 2025 on all kinds of levels

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Remco not having the best start to 2025 on all kinds of levels

Cited text translates (per Firefox) as:

The spring in cycling is full of sporting ambitions, but for the Evenepoel family this period is overshadowed by intense sadness. Pascal Vanherberghen, a man who walked for years as quiet strength in the track of Remco, has died unexpectedly.

and seems to come from https://www.voetbal24.be/news/100430/dramatisch-nieuws-treft-remco-evenepoel

Please provide sources and translations on such posts

 

[Berniece]

I came upon an article from a couple of days ago, where the greatest cyclist of all time, Eddy Merckx, discussed cycling in general but also Pogacar and Evenepoel in an interview together with his son. Nothing much was said on Remco, just that they are looking forward to see him race again.

Eddy: “It’s also time for Remco Evenepoel to return. That collision during training was a serious blow.”

Axel: “In terms of pure talent, Remco is perhaps the best together with Pogacar. Pogacar is better as a climber, Remco as a time trialist.”

Eddy: “Pogacar is more complete, but the engine of those two is the same.”

https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20250328_95942478

 

[Berniece]

It's official, he's riding Tour de Romandie. Now hopefully Vingegaard joins too.

 

[houtdffan]

Remco at altitude training

 

[Lequack]

Remco at altitude training

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[Krzysztof_O]

Any chance for Remco to be competitive right after his comeback and for Liege not to be a foregone conclusion? Or is it asking too much? We haven't see a proper duel with Pogacar there yet (twice due to Pogi, twice due to Remco if 2021 is included).

 

[Berniece]

Any chance for Remco to be competitive right after his comeback and for Liege not to be a foregone conclusion? Or is it asking too much? We haven't see a proper duel with Pogacar there yet (twice due to Pogi, twice due to Remco if 2021 is included).

No, clue. We’ll know more after Amstel. I think he’ll be competitive, but Liege… not so sure, different ball game

 

[KenFiamingo]

No, clue. We’ll know more after Amstel. I think he’ll be competitive, but Liege… not so sure, different ball game

Competitive (read top-8) against the peleton of mere mortals? Sure.
Competitive against Pogacar? Definitely not.

 

[Berniece]

Competitive (read top-8) against the peleton of mere mortals? Sure.
Competitive against Pogacar? Definitely not.

Why not?

 

[Red Rick]

Any chance for Remco to be competitive right after his comeback and for Liege not to be a foregone conclusion? Or is it asking too much? We haven't see a proper duel with Pogacar there yet (twice due to Pogi, twice due to Remco if 2021 is included).

Small, but not 0 I think

 

[KenFiamingo]

Why not?

In order to compete against Pogacar who is his best shape ever, Remco needs to be in his best shape ever. I doubt the already is now given that his preparation of the 2025 season also largely consisted of physical recovery.

 

[Berniece]

In order to compete against Pogacar who is his best shape ever, Remco needs to be in his best shape ever. I doubt the already is now given that his preparation of the 2025 season also largely consisted of physical recovery.

That's true, but I still expect a lot of him due to the altitude training. I'm not sure if the altitude training is to compensate the missed training days and his level will just be whatever it would've been without a crash and no altitude, or if he's actually at a level as when he descents from altitude and does Classica San Sebastian.

I hope the latter, since that would make for a more interesting AGR and LBL.

 

[Jan the Man]

Any chance for Remco to be competitive right after his comeback and for Liege not to be a foregone conclusion? Or is it asking too much? We haven't see a proper duel with Pogacar there yet (twice due to Pogi, twice due to Remco

That's true, but I still expect a lot of him due to the altitude training. I'm not sure if the altitude training is to compensate the missed training days and his level will just be whatever it would've been without a crash and no altitude, or if he's actually at a level as when he descents from altitude and does Classica San Sebastian.

I hope the latter, since that would make for a more interesting AGR and LBL.

He is almost certainly going to be very competitive because he’s a cut above all the rest other than Pog.

I would be surprised if he could live with Pog in Liege (albeit it does suit Remco much more than Lombardia) simply because of the different build up (assuming Pog does not crash in Roubaix for example) and realistically he probably needs to be at a level where he can drop Pog not just live with him because ordinarily you back Pog in a sprint

 

[Red Rick]

The main "chance" for Evenepoel is actually Pogacar underperforming after the doing all the other major classics.

So in other words, who am I kidding.

 

[Berniece]

He is almost certainly going to be very competitive because he’s a cut above all the rest other than Pog.

I would be surprised if he could live with Pog in Liege (albeit it does suit Remco much more than Lombardia) simply because of the different build up (assuming Pog does not crash in Roubaix for example) and realistically he probably needs to be at a level where he can drop Pog not just live with him because ordinarily you back Pog in a sprint

I can live with him losing the sprint in Liege to Pogacar, but I doubt he'll be able to follow. Wouldn't be surprised if we get into a Lombardia '24 scenario where Pogacar drops everyone, as does Evenepoel, and both finish before the bunch but not together.

 

[hayneplane]

That's true, but I still expect a lot of him due to the altitude training. I'm not sure if the altitude training is to compensate the missed training days and his level will just be whatever it would've been without a crash and no altitude, or if he's actually at a level as when he descents from altitude and does Classica San Sebastian.

I hope the latter, since that would make for a more interesting AGR and LBL.

I hope he is in excellent shape as he is a fantastic attacking rider who brings quality and drama and is good for the sport.

I feel it’s likely he can be in strong shape and get results like Lombardia last year where clearly best of the rest but unable to hang with Pogacar at the crunch point.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Alright Evenepoel riding the BK TT. Nice news.
Comeback is getting closer. getting stoked.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The only time Pogacar became vulnerable was after he broke his wrist which messed up his prep. But when other riders crash and break more bones, losing more prep time, people seem to discard the idea. Last year Evenepoel had to rush to get ready for the TDF as was evident by his Dauphiné showing. After the Olympics (where he casually took double gold) he had nearly 3 weeks less recovery than Pogacar after a longer intensive period than Pogacar in order to get ready for worlds and Lombardia. But let's pretend this is the order of things.

 

[Red Rick]

The only time Pogacar became vulnerable was after he broke his wrist which messed up his prep. But when other riders crash and break more bones, losing more prep time, people seem to discard the idea. Last year Evenepoel had to rush to get ready for the TDF as was evident by his Dauphiné showing. After the Olympics (where he casually took double gold) he had nearly 3 weeks less recovery than Pogacar after a longer intensive period than Pogacar in order to get ready for worlds and Lombardia. But let's pretend this is the order of things.

Don't disagree Evenepoel wasn't at his highest level at the WC, yet at the same time I think the burden of proof that he's at Pogacar's level in a race such as Liege is absolutely on him.

 

[AmRacer]

The only time Pogacar became vulnerable was after he broke his wrist which messed up his prep. But when other riders crash and break more bones, losing more prep time, people seem to discard the idea. Last year Evenepoel had to rush to get ready for the TDF as was evident by his Dauphiné showing. After the Olympics (where he casually took double gold) he had nearly 3 weeks less recovery than Pogacar after a longer intensive period than Pogacar in order to get ready for worlds and Lombardia. But let's pretend this is the order of things.

I'm not pretending, Pogi is the 🐐. Jonas had even less prep time for the Tour, just saying.

 

[AmRacer]

Don't disagree Evenepoel wasn't at his highest level at the WC, yet at the same time I think the burden of proof that he's at Pogacar's level in a race such as Liege is absolutely on him.

Remco should've dropped Mathieu, who wasn't at his best either, at the WC.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Don't disagree Evenepoel wasn't at his highest level at the WC, yet at the same time I think the burden of proof that he's at Pogacar's level in a race such as Liege is absolutely on him.

I have no issue with that take. I simply think we haven't seen them 1v1 both in top shape in order to predict how close he can get and dismissing his chances off the cuff.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

The only time Pogacar became vulnerable was after he broke his wrist which messed up his prep. But when other riders crash and break more bones, losing more prep time, people seem to discard the idea. Last year Evenepoel had to rush to get ready for the TDF as was evident by his Dauphiné showing. After the Olympics (where he casually took double gold) he had nearly 3 weeks less recovery than Pogacar after a longer intensive period than Pogacar in order to get ready for worlds and Lombardia. But let's pretend this is the order of things.

Or let's pretend they are in the same league