Not to argue your larger points, but...
The big two favorites before that Giro were Remco and Roglic with Thomas 3rd. TGH was an outsider according to odds published before that Giro began. I don't recall this changing before his crash on stage 10. In the stage 9 TT TGH showed he was in good form just 2 seconds slower than Remco.
No, he was clearly the strongest in both TTs (I think he would gain way more time in the second TT if not for his illness), but this is Remco. Where is someone even closed to him when the first week has weak GC road stages and 2 TTs with decent length? Of course he would be way ahead. There is no story in this, he is the best in the world in TTs! Remco can destroy TTs and still be mediocre in the mountains. How many times did I watch this movie?
You must be the only one who see these things to be honest. I think you are the only one who think Remco would "obviously" beat Pogacar in LBL 2025 for example. This is so far from reality that I don't even know what to say. But let's hope for an injury free Remco in the next season.
I wonder how this plays into cycling history.. Miguel Indurain, won until he didn't.. Bernard Hinault, won until he didn't, Greg Lemond..same so Vingegaard, Pogacar taking turns winning and losing.. It's not a stretch to think that Remco might get a turn or 2..just the way the sport goes.. You are the best until you're not!! Short sighted to count him out.. Indefinitely..
There were a lot of posts from way more than one person proclaiming RE winning LBL 2025. His comeback win at BP got a bunch of people REALLY excited. Nevermind that his body was going to revolt after no racing and then BP, AG, and LFW...no way he was going to perform well and LBL. Yet the proclamations "his form will only get better!".
Not really relevant as he proved he is physically capable of winning GT mountain stages from the GC group (so not from a break). Given his form in 2020, it is really not far fetched to assume he would have been capable of it back then as well, especially against that opposition. It would be different had he never proven himself on that level, but he has.
Not really sure what you’re taking about. Roglic dropped him easily on the first hilly stage, stage 8, and out 14 seconds on him. He did put some time on him in the ITT, but he’s a TT specialist.
If you’re going to do the counterfactual about Remco and Covid, then you have to factor in Roglic and the crash with stitches in his hip. And then you’re just in theoretical land. But IMO the only way TGH wins is if Remco has Covid and Roglic crashes hard. Both in full form, no way. Not sure how this bizarre belief took hold.
Roglic in full health without his surgery between Vuelta and Giro, Remco without covid but still too heavy, neither crashing, I might be inclined to say Roglic takes it. Both at peak form, ideal weight, and I'm going back to Remco.
According to chatGPT here is the pre-race favorites list for 2023 Giro.
| Rider | Odds (Fractional) | Sampling Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Remco Evenepoel | 8/11 | even-money favorite |
| Primož Roglič | 2/1 | strong challenger |
| Geraint Thomas | 10/1 | seasoned podium contender |
| Tao Geoghegan Hart | 11/1 | former winner, poised |
| João Almeida | 14/1 | rising climbing talent |
I’m not the only one. Multiple members have told you why he would’ve won those Giro’s.
Not to mention after winning Giro 2020 he would’ve won TDF-Vuelta double in 2021 too
The same members that told us he'd win the 2021 Giro at the start and during the first week of that Giro. So the track record for the predictions of those members might not be the best.
Because people didn't have all the information. There is no one that currently says that Giro 2021 was stolen from Evenepoel. Bernal won it fair and square.
My post was more as a defense of Evenepoel's post 2020 achievements than as a criticisism of his 2020 year. The post I was reacting to said that his level's after that year dropped vs 2020, which is bollocks.
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