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

[KoopaCycling]

@Peyroteo94 And it's a point i can accept. Not whatever was mentioned about the importance of the Belgian RR.
I disagree with it. But i can accept that viewpoint. I too don't see remco winning the tour this year.

And him getting some wins under his belt will no doubt help his confidence. The amount of times he mentioned how deep the hole was after the crash, shaky winter, means he ain't as confident as he lets out.

I just don't see that as a main reason for him participating. Aide from RR being mandatory (though the sickness excuse would no doubt been accepted), i just find Remco to be very nationalistic. Dude properly loves belgium. And has shown time and time again the desire to represent belgium. That and i consider it a proper race. The kind you want to win. And no doubt Remco wants to win. Though i'm not fully sure about his chances.

I think there are cobbles on the important sectors. And not sure if the climb is hard enough to rid himself of Van Aert.

 

[Peyroteo94]

That might not be exclusive to Evenepoel's fans.

I said this earlier.

 

[bNator]

Of course he did. It is a valid opinion to think that a Belgian/French/Spanish/Dutch/Italian rider might take more pride in winning that championship than a Moldovan/Mongolian/Mauritian might. Commentators and those negotiating contracts will pay more attention to the former group than the latter, and the value in any victory is built on who one has beaten.

Whether the prestige of such a title justifies breaking a block of altitude training is another question.

It as valid as opinion as the one where a Belgian might take more pride in being Belgian as as Moldovan would in being Moldovan. But it’s a slippery slope when trying to run a respectful discussion…

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

It as valid as opinion as the one where a Belgian might take more pride in being Belgian as as Moldovan would in being Moldovan. But it’s a slippery slope when trying to run a respectful discussion…

And that is not remotely what I said. Please do not misrepresent me.

 

[Salvarani]

It as valid as opinion as the one where a Belgian might take more pride in being Belgian as as Moldovan would in being Moldovan. But it’s a slippery slope when trying to run a respectful discussion…

Exactly. A national race will always be prestigious. No matter how small or big a nation is.

Some national races may have more professional riders and have a different category as a race, but it is strange and disrespectful to put smaller nations down. That their race doesnt mean a lot as well. It is just different categories, but it means the same.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Interesting that people perceive Remco as being very charismatic. He never struck me as a guy with a lot of charisma. He's more of a lone wolf actually, with a big heart for others nonetheless. But he's not the guy who easily gets along with everyone. He just appears to be having a lot of friends (because, you know, if you win you have a lot of friends).

He is. You don't find many "Remcos" in the peloton. The way he speaks is different compared to many top riders. He isn't afraid to say what is going inside his heart. I enjoy listening his interviews, his rides. Jesus, I still remember Quintana's interviews and how sleepy I got after.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Did not say their national race does not mean anything. It's always an honour to win that title and get to wear the national jersey of your country. But I do feel certain Titles just hold more weight for a number of reasons. So yes, i do feel the belgian title is objectively bigger than some other national titles. Just as i feel the italian jersey is objectively bigger than most other national jerseys as well.

 

[Salvarani]

Interesting that people perceive Remco as being very charismatic. He never struck me as a guy with a lot of charisma. He's more of a lone wolf actually, with a big heart for others nonetheless. But he's not the guy who easily gets along with everyone. He just appears to be having a lot of friends (because, you know, if you win you have a lot of friends).

Ironic being a lone wolf, riding for the wolfpack.... but makes sense since the team is far away from that today though.

 

[Salvarani]

It was ever just a marketing gimmick. No different than the bees these days.

It wasnt. They used to ride far more as a unit and used their numbers in races. A collective where multiple riders won big races. Not just one leader.

They had 4-5 riders in their line-up that could win a big race at their peak.

Their dominace for a few years was based on Terpsta, Stybar, Jungels, Trentin... and like 5-6 other guys. The history of the team for a long time earlier than that as well.

Terpstra won the PR, when the team still had Boonen.

Now they only have Remco.

 

[Red Rick]

I just don't take a race that excludes 90% of riders in the world and where you have individuals vs 20 man teams that seriously

 

[hayneplane]

It as valid as opinion as the one where a Belgian might take more pride in being Belgian as as Moldovan would in being Moldovan. But it’s a slippery slope when trying to run a respectful discussion…

It’s more valid for me on the basis of level of competition. It would surely give you more pride to beat a peloton with 50+ world tour riders than one where you are the only rider at the highest level.

 

[Flamin]

He is. You don't find many "Remcos" in the peloton. The way he speaks is different compared to many top riders. He isn't afraid to say what is going inside his heart. I enjoy listening his interviews, his rides. Jesus, I still remember Quintana's interviews and how sleepy I got after.

Sure, Remco is 'different', no question about that. He's a natural born winner and is very outspoken. That doesn't make you charismatic though. Those are different things. A guy like Van Aert for example has more charisma, although he is very diplomatic.

Ironic being a lone wolf, riding for the wolfpack.... but makes sense since the team is far away from that today though.

Exactly. Make of that what you want. Of course, blaming this on Remco would take it too far, but he's not the type of person to help building a wolfpack either.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Can I also say it's easier to win a WC as a belgian than as a Slovenian or Slovakian? Can I rate Sagan's wins higher than Merckx?

 

[Salvarani]

Can I also say it's easier to win a WC as a belgian than as a Slovenian or Slovakian? Can I rate Sagan's wins higher than Merckx?

Sagan only had his brother to help him, others have like +10 guys from the same team in some of these national races.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Can I also say it's easier to win a WC as a belgian than as a Slovenian or Slovakian? Can I rate Sagan's wins higher than Merckx?

No idea. Haven't dug that deep into how the belgians raced as a unit during Merckx days. In cyclocross it's almost every man for himself. I also don't know enough about Sagan behind the scenes team. Certain countries are also expected to carry the race thus weakening them. I also believe that most of the time (75% - a number i pulled out of my hat) the strongest/most suited to the race wins.

All in all though, I would argue that in some cases it would def. be harder for riders of certain countries to win the WC, thus making it a more difficult/bigger achievement. Logistics, help during the race, ... .

I can say that WVA was a perfect foil for Remco during the Olympics, and was a perfect guard to quiet/shadow MVDP. Mvdp did not have that kind of rider. Pogacar has some solid riders like Tratnik and Roglic as a foil. But they (Roglic and Pogacar) don't work well together. So team dynamics can be harder. When Pogacar won WC, i think Tratnik (or some other slovenian) did a great job, and Pogacar was dominant. When Remco won his WC, it was also more his doing imo, than it was during the olympics. And what i mean by that is, that if you take WVA away, maybe MVDP wins Olympics. But i think Remco would have won in Wollongang regardless of wva/team belgium presence.

The Dutch woman have been famous for refusing to work together, thus sabotaging each other. So strenght can be a backstabbing sword. But like I said, all in all i do believe in the premise that certain riders of certain countries are up against a bigger wall. making the achievement bigger.

Biniam Girmay race achievements pale in comparison to others. Bit i have no doubt that for many millions he'll go down as a bigger legend in comparison to others with the same level of, or even greater palmares cause of being a trailblazer. Having a more difficult path.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

it is strange and disrespectful to put smaller nations down.

Something that absolutely nobody has done. Stop trying to stir up arguments about points that nobody is making.

 

[jmdirt]

Compare semi classic winners to belgian National RR winners i dare you.
Compare startlist of Belgian National RR to Semi classic.
Compare history of Belgian National Road Race to Semi Classic

I'm sorry but Belgium in cycling is just different than most countries.
That's just a fact.

 

[Salvarani]

Something that absolutely nobody has done. Stop trying to stir up arguments about points that nobody is making.

I responded to another post that mentioned:

"But it’s a slippery slope when trying to run a respectful discussion…"

Nor have I suggested that anyone was doing that, which you quoted me about. Show me. Right now. I was just responding to the above.

You should retract your accusation towards me immediately.

 

[Andre]

For a Belgian it is, and that's just fact.

a bunch of nations and cycling fans are more interested in who becomes the Belgian national champ than in other country's champs...they recognize the prestige. Just like more countries are interest in NASA than in the chinesse rocket program and myriad of other examples

 

[Gratemans]

I just don't take a race that excludes 90% of riders in the world and where you have individuals vs 20 man teams that seriously

I agree, but precisely for the same reasons, they often are fun to watch.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Belgian racers have 1 World Tour win so far in 2025.

Copenhagen Sprint 2025 One day race results

Jordi Meeus is the winner of Copenhagen Sprint 2025, before Alexis Renard and Emilien Jeannière.

www.procyclingstats.com

Nothing big and fancy but still World Tour.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Belgian racers have 0 World Tour win so far in 2025.

What are you talking about? Evenepoel alone has won 2?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I responded to another post that mentioned:

"But it’s a slippery slope when trying to run a respectful discussion…"

Nor have I suggested that anyone was doing that, which you quoted me about. Show me. Right now. I was just responding to the above.

You should retract your accusation towards me immediately.

I have no intention of responding to this publicly: PM conversation underway.

 

[SHAD0W93]

What are you talking about? Evenepoel alone has won 2?

They’re referring to the overall win, not stages in a stage race from the last part of their post.

Homer hat on: the USA has two World Tour wins in 2025 so far (P-N, DdV).

 

[AmRacer]

a bunch of nations and cycling fans are more interested in who becomes the Belgian national champ than in other country's champs...they recognize the prestige. Just like more countries are interest in NASA than in the chinesse rocket program and myriad of other examples

Belgium and Belgians