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

[YavorD]

While I'm disappointed by his schedule, I don't think it's too unreasonable. Maybe see how much he can progress in the new environment and if he is able to somewhat limit his gap to Pogacar/Vingegaard with very cautious approach and based on how he performs (relative to them), build on the next years.

 

[KZD]

UAE

He has already won the UAE Tour and its not one of the seven biggest one week races of the season. Winning it a second time is better than nothing but not on the same level of winning Catalunya or Amstel imo.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

UAE

That doesn't count as a race, but rather as a paid vacation in the early season. It would be better if they moved to after the Tour where the riders are taking breaks or doing criteriums anyway.

 

[Barkintheeye]

I guess it makes sense but it really places him as a specialist rather than an allrounder and greatness can never be achieved if avoiding the main monuments, but maybe that was never in the cards with competition like MVDP and Pogacar?

 

[peterfin]

I'm sure he'll change his mind about a few races...it's not set in stone

I think so too. I think the list shows what he can tell today. If this is the final list I am disappointed ... and Red Bull too probably (unless the TdF is really the only thing they care about).

 

[James M]

I guess it makes sense but it really places him as a specialist rather than an allrounder and greatness can never be achieved if avoiding the main monuments, but maybe that was never in the cards with competition like MVDP and Pogacar?

Personally, I wanted him to really race MSR and RVV not because I think he could get even close to those two, but to prove himself nonetheless. It would still be impressive and a testament to his overall level if he managed a top 5 in RVV and competing highly in all ardennes after.

Indeed this is a sensible choice with a focus on achieving realistic reults so i wont fault him to much. I mean but yeah disappointed, though I cant say I’m surprised. Talk is cheap.

 

[Berniece]

Greatness can never be achieved if avoiding the main monuments, but maybe that was never in the cards with competition like MVDP and Pogacar?

I think he crashed too often. If he stays on his bike the whole season, I expect him to ride more monuments next year. They just don't want to take any risks

 

[red_flanders]

I think he crashed too often. If he stays on his bike the whole season, I expect him to ride more monuments next year. They just don't want to take any risks

I really think this is the answer.

 

[Berniece]

He's also not riding Fleche apparently

 

[vappaxbipmv]

He's also not riding Fleche apparently

What is he even riding then? (tongue in cheek)

 

[Berniece]

What is he even riding then? (tongue in cheek)

Depends on how many post office vans he'll encounter during training

 

[Cycling111]

With that schedule, he should do the entire Ardennes.

 

[Berniece]

With that schedule, he should do the entire Ardennes.

Fleche doesn't really matter, does it? UAE keeps it together, they sprint uphill in which there are multiple riders better than him, even in his own team.

 

[Cycling111]

Fleche doesn't really matter, does it? UAE keeps it together, they sprint uphill in which there are multiple riders better than him, even in his own team.

It's a boring race, but it has a lot of historical prestige. Winning it once should be a goal.

 

[AmRacer]

He has already won the UAE Tour and its not one of the seven biggest one week races of the season. Winning it a second time is better than nothing but not on the same level of winning Catalunya or Amstel imo.

But it's WT

 

[Berniece]

It's a boring race, but it has a lot of historical prestige. Winning it once should be a goal.

You can say the same about Paris-Roubaix, but that's almost as likely

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Do the same ***, get the same results.

Yeah. I'm OK with it because his results have been great with many big victories, but if their goal is for him to win the Tour this year, next year, or ever really, this is not the path. If that is the goal, he should be doing a couple GTs and more one week stage races, focusing on getting and keeping his weight down, learning from mistakes, building consistency, etc. Instead, his weight is going to yo yo and he's likely to win a lot but finish far from victory in the Tour. Again, I'm OK with that if that's what he wants. But it seems like they're saying the Tour is the ultimate goal but then hedging on it. OR they misguidedly believe that Remco is ready to win the Tour right now.

 

[Squire]

[G]reatness can never be achieved if avoiding the main monuments

There hasn't been many great cyclists then ...

 

[Berniece]

Yeah. I'm OK with it because his results have been great with many big victories, but if their goal is for him to win the Tour this year, next year, or ever really, this is not the path. If that is the goal, he should be doing a couple GTs and more one week stage races, focusing on getting and keeping his weight down, learning from mistakes, building consistency, etc. Instead, his weight is going to yo yo and he's likely to win a lot but finish far from victory in the Tour. Again, I'm OK with that if that's what he wants. But it seems like they're saying the Tour is the ultimate goal but then hedging on it. OR they misguidedly believe that Remco is ready to win the Tour right now.

DS extraordinaire Lodewyck said they believe they can win the TDF with the team … 😂

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Reigning olympic champion in the road race, former world champion in the road race, double monument winner, but instead of doing some big classics like sanremo, Flanders, they will have him on a volcano and then doing catalunya and liege only. What is this Mickey mouse schedule man.

He turned pro at 18, he's not going to peak at 35 like fulgsang or ritchie porte. They can't keep hiding him from races.

Also they will send him to Valencia, that's supposed to be a big battle between mcnutly, buitrago, vlasov, Bilbao, Lenny martinez etc. one of the best races of the year and now Remco will ruin it.

Bora also gave a rubbish schedule to Roglic. Why does this team hate cycling fans man

 

[Squire]

Yeah. I'm OK with it because his results have been great with many big victories, but if their goal is for him to win the Tour this year, next year, or ever really, this is not the path. If that is the goal, he should be doing a couple GTs and more one week stage races, focusing on getting and keeping his weight down, learning from mistakes, building consistency, etc. Instead, his weight is going to yo yo and he's likely to win a lot but finish far from victory in the Tour. Again, I'm OK with that if that's what he wants. But it seems like they're saying the Tour is the ultimate goal but then hedging on it. OR they misguidedly believe that Remco is ready to win the Tour right now.

Isn't this a pretty standard Tour-centric schedule? What hedging do you mean? Contador, Nibali, Froome and Vingegaard all won the Tour after doing Liege. I don't see why his weight should yo-yo. Liege is surely not requiring more kgs.

 

[Red Rick]

They didn't even want to bring the 2nd best ITTer on the team to the TTT of the Tour. They're not even backing him

 

[Pantani_lives]

What is this Mickey mouse schedule man.

They've just revealed his new bike for next year:

 

[Berniece]

They didn't even want to bring the 2nd best ITTer on the team to the TTT of the Tour. They're not even backing him

In Caen, Lipowitz finished before Roglic. Not sure if Roglic is the better time trialist

 

[Oldman]

That's correct. TTT of 26km's on Thursday 29th of January

At least he'll just confirm what he knows he can do for public consumption. Early season TT's are safe and, unless he gets beaten; reinforces his preparation.
The long break before the Tour is OK if he's doing serious climbing laps with his teammates. Otherwise he'll still be in his personal bubble and his Tour could be more tense than necessary.