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

[Netserk]

The difference in a Grand Tour just isn't gonna be tangible.

All you get when you giftwrap Evenepoel his dream route is you giftwrap him 3rd place in the best case scenario.

I think the Vuelta route had very tangible effects on the racing. And would have it with both Pogi and Evenepoel present.

The dynamics on the 2012 Tour route would be very different to that.

 

[CyclistAbi]

One possible scenario is to let Jonas do the Giro, that will make him mellow at the Tour, Rogla and Remco can each win a WT stage race, or two and possibly LBL/Flèche. Lipo and the gang maybe to have some freedom at the Giro.

After both to the Tour and to take a dig at Pogi.

 

[houtdffan]

The difference in a Grand Tour just isn't gonna be tangible.

All you get when you giftwrap Evenepoel his dream route is you giftwrap him 3rd place in the best case scenario.

more flat ITT in 2024 and Remco may very well have finished ahead of Vingo

He likely races Stage 20 differently if he only needed to defend and take 90 seconds out of a flat ITT vs trying and failing to attack on that stage

Let's not think that 2024 wasn't close between Vingo and Remco. It literally went down to the final MTF to decide second

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Remco should either do the Giro or MSR, RVV, and Ardennes. Winning a 1-week should be a big target. Maybe Paris-Nice. I think he should pick based on route. If the Tour really only has 1 ITT and it’s a MTT in the third week, I honestly think he should pass.

 

[Netserk]

more flat ITT in 2024 and Remco may very well have finished ahead of Vingo

He likely races Stage 20 differently if he only needed to defend and take 90 seconds out of a flat ITT vs trying and failing to attack on that stage

Let's not think that 2024 wasn't close between Vingo and Remco. It literally went down to the final MTF to decide second

Vingegaard had 2'10" on Evenepoel after PdB and beat him in the last ITT. No, it did not come down to the last MTF.

 

[hayneplane]

So better to go to Giro believing you can't really win it or instead to have a strong classics campaign and maybe to achieve a week long WT stage race win and after all that to undertake the Tour? For Rogla i am not sure either, Vuelta comes after the Tour, that is a plus.

The dilemmas.

For Rogla I would like to see him be the first ever to win the seven historic biggest week long stage races and target Tour de Suisse heavily in 2026 then hit the TDF with a why not eh type approach of zero pressure.

 

[Berniece]

So if Remco does the Giro and Rogla does Vuelta, as primary GT goal, then i guess both could undertake the Tour rather relaxed.

P.S. Or i guess both all in for the Tour.

I don’t think Roglic will ride the Tour

 

[CyclistAbi]

For Rogla I would like to see him be the first ever to win the seven historic biggest week long stage races and target Tour de Suisse heavily in 2026 then hit the TDF with a why not eh type approach of zero pressure.

ToS and Vuelta were hinted, as wishes, but that is too early to be taken too seriously.

I don’t think Roglic will ride the Tour

Who would then if Remco would do Giro, Rogla Vuelta. Lipo? RBH would IMHO get murdered by the media.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Who would then if Remco would do Giro, Rogla Vuelta. Lipo? RBH would IMHO get murdered by the media.

Lipo isn't a bad choice for the Tour leader but I would expect one of Rogla/Remco to appear as a co-leader at the Tour.

 

[Salvarani]

I would be surprised if Remco is not doing Tour.

But what could be possible is...

Remco - Giro
Lipo and Rogla - Tour
Rogla - Vuelta

I guess that depends on if Remco really wants to do the Giro or not... and what the sponsor thinks.

Otherwise this should be likely:

Rogla - Giro
Remco and Lipo - Tour
Rogla - Vuelta

What would be hilarious is if they send all three to Tour. I would enjoy watching the show.

 

[Oldman]

“Remco Evenepoel is studying how Pogacar attacks” – Experts reveal how the Olympic champion plans to fight back in 2026

While many in the peloton appear resigned to Tadej Pogacar’s dominance, Remco Evenepoel is, according to Het Nieuwsblad analysts Jan-Pieter De Vlieger and Guy Van den Langenbergh, quietly dissecting t...

cyclinguptodate.com

Remco not giving up, trying to understand what Pog does and how to counter it

Think the thing Remco needs to do is go before Pog. He should have learned that from Stage 8 of the 2023 Vuelta when he took the initiative and kept Vingo from attacking, nearly dropping Vingo in the process

Sent his devastating pace and turn it into him vs Pog 1 on 1. Maybe deaden Pog's devastating acceleration somewhat, which may allow him to counter

easier said than done. Countering Pog, particularly in a GT will be a whole different training program than what has suited him last year. Not sure how that looks and it should be underway now if he expects results.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

“Remco Evenepoel is studying how Pogacar attacks” – Experts reveal how the Olympic champion plans to fight back in 2026

While many in the peloton appear resigned to Tadej Pogacar’s dominance, Remco Evenepoel is, according to Het Nieuwsblad analysts Jan-Pieter De Vlieger and Guy Van den Langenbergh, quietly dissecting t...

cyclinguptodate.com

Remco not giving up, trying to understand what Pog does and how to counter it

Think the thing Remco needs to do is go before Pog. He should have learned that from Stage 8 of the 2023 Vuelta when he took the initiative and kept Vingo from attacking, nearly dropping Vingo in the process

Sent his devastating pace and turn it into him vs Pog 1 on 1. Maybe deaden Pog's devastating acceleration somewhat, which may allow him to counter

It's good that Remco is trying to improve. If you want to be the best you have to beat the best. But I don't think there's anything odd about Pogacar's attacks. The simplest (and only solution) to match Pog's attack is to somehow boost Z4 and Z5 w/kg to his level.

 

[Oldman]

more flat ITT in 2024 and Remco may very well have finished ahead of Vingo

He likely races Stage 20 differently if he only needed to defend and take 90 seconds out of a flat ITT vs trying and failing to attack on that stage

Let's not think that 2024 wasn't close between Vingo and Remco. It literally went down to the final MTF to decide second

Both of them knew that and the results were predictable.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Lipo isn't a bad choice for the Tour leader but I would expect one of Rogla/Remco to appear as a co-leader at the Tour.

I see, so the least paid rider among them will lead the Tour. In that case beast to take both Rogla and Remco for support.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I see, so the least paid rider among them will lead the Tour. In that case beast to take both Rogla and Remco for support.

I think it's most likely is that Remco and Lipo will be co-leaders at the Tour. No need to downplay Lipo, who was clearly the best behind the mutants this summer (at Tour and Dauphine). Plus he's still young and can improve.

Remco will most likely target the Tour (as it's his main career goal) so their co-leadership makes sense (and is maybe even better for Remco pressure-wise than being the sole leader).

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Krzysztof_O

So Giro and Tour or just Tour for Remco?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

@Krzysztof_O

So Giro and Tour or just Tour for Remco?

I would think classics + the Tour for Remco. Rogla will likely lead (or co-lead) the Vuelta or the Giro (maybe both).

 

[CyclistAbi]

I would think classics + the Tour for Remco. Rogla will likely lead (or co-lead) the Vuelta or the Giro.

For me personally it makes sense to try to win something in terms of classics, one week WT stage race and then off to the Tour. But it seems that Remco fans want him to do Giro. Rogla likely wants to do the Vuelta. So basically it's on Lipo, the Tour against Pogi, i guess.

But then the reality hits, it just doesn't work like that.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

For me personally it makes sense to try to win something in terms of classics, one week WT stage race and then off to the Tour. But it seems that Remco fans want him to do Giro. Roglal likely wants to do the Vuelta. So basically it's on Lipo, the Tour against Pogi. I guess.

But then the reality hits, it just doesn't work like that.

Maybe Remco fans wants the Giro but Remco wants the Tour! Remco + Lipo for the Tour while both Giro and Vuelta for Rogla (with Pelizzari/Hindley ).

 

[houtdffan]

Vingegaard had 2'10" on Evenepoel after PdB and beat him in the last ITT. No, it did not come down to the last MTF.

yeah, it kind of did. Vingo had lost time after PDB before the final MTF. It was 2:00. That is the definition of coming down to the final MTF

 

[CyclistAbi]

Maybe Remco fans wants the Giro but Remco wants the Tour! Remco + Lipo for the Tour while both Giro and Vuelta for Rogla (with Pelizzari/Hindley ).

Well, if you insist.

 

[houtdffan]

I would be surprised if Remco is not doing Tour.

But what could be possible is...

Remco - Giro
Lipo and Rogla - Tour
Rogla - Vuelta

I guess that depends on if Remco really wants to do the Giro or not... and what the sponsor thinks.

Otherwise this should be likely:

Rogla - Giro
Remco and Lipo - Tour
Rogla - Vuelta

What would be hilarious is if they send all three to Tour. I would enjoy watching the show.

It's likely Remco is doing 2 GT next year

 

[Netserk]

yeah, it kind of did. Vingo had lost time after PDB before the final MTF. It was 2:00. That is the definition of coming down to the final MTF

The battle for 2nd in the Vuelta this year came down to the final MTF?

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

“Remco Evenepoel is studying how Pogacar attacks” – Experts reveal how the Olympic champion plans to fight back in 2026

While many in the peloton appear resigned to Tadej Pogacar’s dominance, Remco Evenepoel is, according to Het Nieuwsblad analysts Jan-Pieter De Vlieger and Guy Van den Langenbergh, quietly dissecting t...

cyclinguptodate.com

Remco not giving up, (1) trying to understand what Pog does and how to counter it

(2) Think the thing Remco needs to do is go before Pog. He should have learned that from Stage 8 of the 2023 Vuelta when he took the initiative and kept Vingo from attacking, nearly dropping Vingo in the process

Sent his devastating pace and turn it into him vs Pog 1 on 1. Maybe deaden Pog's devastating acceleration somewhat, which may allow him to counter

(1) It's pretty clear - he pushes more watts/kg and rides aggressively.
(2) I don't think this will work, but I agree he should try it and see. Riding behind him and watching him ride away when he attacks clearly isn't a winning strategy.

more flat ITT in 2024 and Remco may very well have finished ahead of Vingo

He likely races Stage 20 differently if he only needed to defend and take 90 seconds out of a flat ITT vs trying and failing to attack on that stage

Let's not think that 2024 wasn't close between Vingo and Remco. It literally went down to the final MTF to decide second

I don't think anyone had any real suspense throughout that Tour who would get second. Vingegaard dropped Remco early and often.

I don’t think Roglic will ride the Tour

I don't think he will either unless Remco demands not to, which I doubt. I think Remco will get first pick. Lipowitz will probably go to the Tour.

I would be surprised if Remco is not doing Tour.

But what could be possible is...

Remco - Giro
Lipo and Rogla - Tour
Rogla - Vuelta

I guess that depends on if Remco really wants to do the Giro or not... and what the sponsor thinks.

Otherwise this should be likely:

Rogla - Giro
Remco and Lipo - Tour
Rogla - Vuelta

What would be hilarious is if they send all three to Tour. I would enjoy watching the show.

I think this is the way. I'd expand it though as:
Giro: Roglic, Hindley
Tour: Remco, Lipowitz
Vuelta: Roglic, Hindley, Pelizzari

 

[HashRouge]

yeah, it kind of did. Vingo had lost time after PDB before the final MTF. It was 2:00. That is the definition of coming down to the final MTF

Only if you believed that Remco could make up two minutes on Isola 2000, which I'm not sure many people did. I really rate Remco, but he's never shown that he's capable of taking significant time out of Vingegaard on a mountain stage.