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

[Armchair Cyclist]

Don't know what you mean? Merckx, Hinault, Lemond, Fondriest, Armstrong, Bugno, Cipollini, Cavendish and so forth won Worlds, not all could climb. Cosequently, varried selection of talents has been always present.

I think we are agreeing: variety of courses leads to variety of winners. I had thought you were agreeing with Peterfin's proposal for slight tweaks on 'hilly' every year.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Because Evenepoel had a mechanical.

Ah yes, now it starts

 

[Berniece]

Ah yes, now it starts

He didn't have a mechanical? Oh great, we're going that route again.

 

[HashRouge]

Because Evenepoel had a mechanical.

I don't think the difference between them was just that Remco had a mechanical though. I know the mechanical didn't help, but Remco then got to come back behind the cars with a teammate, and then rode with a strong group of chasers who worked together well (and got a bit of moto pacing help), while Pogacar rode alone with the motorbike behind him. I think Remco was great today, but it does Pogacar a disservice to suggest that Remco's mechanical was the only difference between them.

Had Remco not had the issues with the bike, I think he would have stayed with Pogacar and del Toro, but I think eventually Pogacar would have dropped him on the cobbled climb. We never saw an all out Pogacar attack today, because he went long, but I think he'd have been lethal on that cobbled climb if he'd needed to attack.

 

[Valv.Piti]

He didn't have a mechanical? Oh great, we're going that route again.

Pogacar was obviously the strongest rider today. End of story

 

[Berniece]

Had Remco not had the issues with the bike, I think he would have stayed with Pogacar and del Toro, but I think eventually Pogacar would have dropped him on the cobbled climb. We never saw an all out Pogacar attack today, because he went long, but I think he'd have been lethal on that cobbled climb if he'd needed to attack.

Sure, that could've happened too. I think it wouldn't have happened, but maybe, sure. It's a shame we didn't get to see that fight. Would've been much much much easier to digest when someone is clearly stronger instead of how this race unfolded. Starting with the crash of Van Wilder who would've given his bike immediately after he dropped his saddle.

 

[Red Rick]

One more thing, what the hell were Belgium doing before the Mont Kigali? Were they under the impression that Pogacar fatigues more quickly than Evenepoel?

Absolute nonsense tactics.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

One more thing, what the hell were Belgium doing before the Mont Kigali? Were they under the impression that Pogacar fatigues more quickly than Evenepoel?

Lantern Rouge propaganda with accumulated kJ being Pogacars weakness

 

[Peyroteo94]

And again... claiming Remco and Pogacar are equal in one day races is something else, specially after today's race.

 

[Berniece]

And again... claiming Remco and Pogacar are equal in one day races is something else, specially after today's race.

Total amount of time lost from Evenepoel due to mechanicals, bike changes, etc is more than the difference at the finish.

 

[AmRacer]

Total amount of time lost from Evenepoel due to mechanicals, bike changes, etc is more than the difference at the finish.

Minus drafting back to the peloton

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Total amount of time lost from Evenepoel due to mechanicals, bike changes, etc is more than the difference at the finish.

But then you are not counting in the time gained back after the mechanicals chasing on the cars. So even if Remco lost perhaps 45s on the second bike change, in reality he didnt lose more than 10s or so from the moment he stopped and until he reconnected with the group he was at before stopping.

 

[HashRouge]

Sure, that could've happened too. I think it wouldn't have happened, but maybe, sure. It's a shame we didn't get to see that fight. Would've been much much much easier to digest when someone is clearly stronger instead of how this race unfolded. Starting with the crash of Van Wilder who would've given his bike immediately after he dropped his saddle.

Yes, that's fair. I think the reason Remco was so upset at the finish was not because he assumed that he would have won without the bike issues, but because he knew that he'd lost the chance to really fight for the win.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Yes, that's fair. I think the reason Remco was so upset at the finish was not because he assumed that he would have won without the bike issues, but because he knew that he'd lost the chance to really fight for the win.

He was so upset because he prepared really hard for these worlds and had great legs and still got mauled by Pogacar in the RR. He can't tolerate the fact he is not close to Pogacar's level. I already saw this movie multiple times but of course I will get criticized by Remco fans.
With similar teams, Pogacar wins this with a 3 minutes gap.

 

[Berniece]

But then you are not counting in the time gained back after the mechanicals chasing on the cars. So even if Remco lost perhaps 45s on the second bike change, in reality he didnt lose more than 10s or so from the moment he stopped and until he reconnected with the group he was at before stopping.

It's not only that. It's the amount of energy AND time he lost riding on bikes that weren't suited for him anymore. His saddle dropped before Mount Kigali. Which means he had to ride Mount Kigali and Mur de Kigali in the wrong position. Not able to push as hard as he wanted, losing time, and energy.

 

[Berniece]

He was so upset because he prepared really hard for these worlds and had great legs and still got mauled by Pogacar in the RR. He can't tolerate the fact he is not close to Pogacar's level.

Lol, that's like the complete opposite of how he responds in interviews. You clearly don't know him at all.

 

[AlpRaid]

One more thing, what the hell were Belgium doing before the Mont Kigali? Were they under the impression that Pogacar fatigues more quickly than Evenepoel?

Absolute nonsense tactics.

Getting rid of Slovenia team which they basically did.

 

[AmRacer]

Excuses and what-ifs galore, as usual in this thread.

 

[Berniece]

You dont think Pogacar was the strongest rider? I just genuinly need to ask, are you serious?

No, I think Pogacar was the strongest, but not by a lot. I don't necessarily think he would've won solo without mechanicals from Evenepoel. Because dropping someone from the front who is sitting in your wheel is more difficult than slowly increasing your lead. AND I would assume that if both of them rode away on the circuit, Evenepoel wouldn't do as much as Pogacar, wouldn't put in as much effort in the escape.

Pogacar might still have won the sprint though, or maybe eventually dropped him. I'm mostly disappointed we didn't get to see that fight. Like I said before. It would've been so much easier to swallow if Pogacar was just better, like TDF last year for example.

 

[KenFiamingo]

If you cramp up because of the wrong position it doesn't get immediately better when position is correct. Specially not under 100% effort/stress. It probably helped him when he stepped of the bike to change for the third one.

That air kick did release the stress from his lower back quite well.

 

[kingjr]

Lol, that's like the complete opposite of how he responds in interviews. You clearly don't know him at all.

Meaning he knows as much as you do

 

[KenFiamingo]

No, I think Pogacar was the strongest, but not by a lot. I don't necessarily think he would've won solo without mechanicals from Evenepoel. Because dropping someone from the front who is sitting in your wheel is more difficult than slowly increasing your lead. AND I would assume that if both of them rode away on the circuit, Evenepoel wouldn't do as much as Pogacar, wouldn't put in as much effort in the escape.

Pogacar might still have won the sprint though, or maybe eventually dropped him. I'm mostly disappointed we didn't get to see that fight. Like I said before. It would've been so much easier to swallow if Pogacar was just better, like TDF last year for example.

This is also Remco's frustration after the race. He needs to be 110% to compete with Pogacar. He simply can't afford bad luck. Pogacar on the other hand could visit the mobile toilets every lap and still win the race; as a figure of speech.

 

[HashRouge]

He was so upset because he prepared really hard for these worlds and had great legs and still got mauled by Pogacar in the RR. He can't tolerate the fact he is not close to Pogacar's level. I already saw this movie multiple times but of course I will get criticized by Remco fans.
With similar teams, Pogacar wins this with a 3 minutes gap.

Honestly, I think you are too harsh on Remco. It's understandable for him to be annoyed with how things went today, when things kept going wrong. And hopefully you know I'm fair, I don't criticise Pogacar either. In fact, the other day I was complaining about people saying he was humiliated in the time trial. I might be the only person in the world who likes both Pogacar and Remco.

 

[kingjr]

Honestly, I think you are too harsh on Remco. It's understandable for him to be annoyed with how things went today, when things kept going wrong. And hopefully you know I'm fair, I don't criticise Pogacar either. In fact, the other day I was complaining about people saying he was humiliated in the time trial. I might be the only person in the world who likes both Pogacar and Remco.

You're not

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Excuses and what-ifs galore, as usual in this thread.

It is one guy that is taking it a bit far