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

[Berniece]

Red Bull might be regretting the money they spent on Remco, when they already had a better GC rider in Lopwiz.... Other than the 2024 Tour, Remco's climbing performances and GC results against the big boys is pretty poor.

Yeah, they are going to make this conclusion during the UAE Tour already in February

 

[peterfin]

He shouldn't make a goal of winning a race like this - with such a climb - early season when he is physically not in a position to do so. Why he can't just focus on races he obviously can score such as the RVV and MSR is beyond me.

 

[Cycling111]

Red Bull might be regretting the money they spent on Remco, when they already had a better GC rider in Lopwiz.... Other than the 2024 Tour, Remco's climbing performances and GC results against the big boys is pretty poor.

But he wins races that no other rider on his team wins.

The problem is if they only value his signing for win a Tour de France, but even though he'll correct his weakness in the mountains, they know that's very difficult because the tow best riders for that are in another teams.

 

[ashhutch1997]

But he wins races that no other rider on his team wins.

The problem is if they only value his signing for win a Tour de France, but even though he'll correct his weakness in the mountains, they know that's very difficult because the tow best riders for that are in another teams.

Of course he'll win races, he's a fantastic rider, but he isn't on the same stratosphere as Pog or Vingo.

 

[Red Rick]

he admitted he didn't feel good

That's exactly what I mean. He admits nothing in regards to making any mistake. Admitting the result that anyone can see isn't accountability

Not that I think Evenepoel is saying anything wrong either.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Red Bull might be regretting the money they spent on Remco, when they already had a better GC rider in Lopwiz.... Other than the 2024 Tour, Remco's climbing performances and GC results against the big boys is pretty poor.

But you just watch him drop Rasmus Tiller and Jenthe Biermans in Druivenkoers - Overijse this year, and you'll see that he is the next Eddy Merckx. Still will win the tour one day. Refreashing to see a rider of his talent have bad days and good days.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Remco has the perfect build for RVV, why he's skipping it to prepare for the TDF which he has almost no chance of winning is beyond me..

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So Angliru of the Middle East delivered...a punch to Remco. I didn't see this coming. He looked fit and powerful in the previous race. Let's just say that his chances vs Pog in races like MSR or Liege are much better than at the Tour.

Should we resume our usual weight discussion?

 

[Pozzovivo]

Remco has the perfect build for RVV, why he's skipping it to prepare for the TDF which he has almost no chance of winning is beyond me..

He can def win the tour, also this year if Pog has a problem. But you can combine the biggest one day races and stage races as Pog has shown for years. Crazy to see remco not doing all the monuments. Can win them all.

 

[ashhutch1997]

But you just watch him drop Rasmus Tiller and Jenthe Biermans in Druivenkoers - Overijse this year, and you'll see that he is the next Eddy Merckx. Still will win the tour one day. Refreashing to see a rider of his talent have bad days and good days.

I agree, its nice to see a rider of his caliber show he's human, unlike another particular rider...
However I just can't see him winning the Tour, he's not on the same planet as Pog or Vingo. I really rate Remco, but as a GC rider against the big boys he has a pretty poor record.

 

[Cycling111]

Of course he'll win races, he's a fantastic rider, but he isn't on the same stratosphere as Pog or Vingo.

Ayuso neither. Has LIDL also made a mistake?

They're improving what they already had. If they're aware they're not going to win the Tour, they're good signings because they're improving what they had.

 

[ashhutch1997]

He can def win the tour, also this year if Pog has a problem. But you can combine the biggest one day races and stage races as Pog has shown for years. Crazy to see remco not doing all the monuments. Can win them all.

I love your optimism and I'd like to see it, but he'll be lucky to get top 5 IMO.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Ayuso neither. Has LIDL also made a mistake?

Absolutely.

 

[Red Rick]

Ayuso neither. Has LIDL also made a mistake?

They're improving what they already had. If they're aware they're not going to win the Tour, they're good signings because they're improving what they had.

They're not when you're paying way over the odds for what you get.

 

[YavorD]

DoHe can def win the tour, also this year if Pog has a problem. But you can combine the biggest one day races and stage races as Pog has shown for years. Crazy to see remco not doing all the monuments. Can win them all.

Don't think you can, or you have to, use Pogacar as example about what can or can't be done.
He's an outlier and Evenepoel probably has to choose his path being it TT's and small wins (as he does now), being it Stage races, being it one day races.
I actually think he tries to be very good in a few different areas (kinda like Pogacar) and tht hinders his chances to be the best version of himself at any.
Okay, he is probably the best TT rider ever, but I think he should be aiming for bigger things with the talent he has.

 

[Berniece]

Okay, he is probably the best TT rider ever, but I think he should be aiming for bigger things with the talent he has.

Maybe it's just this that is hindering everything else. Would it matter so much if he weighs less, loses to Tarling yesterday, but is able to follow LVE today?

 

[Pozzovivo]

I agree, its nice to see a rider of his caliber show he's human, unlike another particular rider...
However I just can't see him winning the Tour, he's not on the same planet as Pog or Vingo. I really rate Remco, but as a GC rider against the big boys he has a pretty poor record.

No, but seriously. Pog and JV can have problems like everyone else while RE gets a clean run at things for once. I mean, look at the five year perspective. Remco is more likely to win the Tour before he retires than not, imo. He has 10x the talent of Bernal, Thomas, Froome, Nibali, Evans, Wiggins, Sastre, Pereiro Sio and so on.

 

[ashhutch1997]

I also think Remco has a mentality issue when things don't go his way, which will prevent him from ever winning the Tour, or example, the Vuelta 23, ect.

 

[YavorD]

Maybe it's just this that is hindering everything else. Would it matter so much if he weighs less, loses to Tarling yesterday, but is able to follow LVE today?

I was actually thinking the same.
Not that the Tour going to do a 2012 route again, so him concentrating so much in the TT's doesn't seem to bring many benefits.
Of course the grass isn't always greener and him trying to lose weight may impact everything else negatively, but it's worth trying imo.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Don't think you can, or you have to, use Pogacar as example about what can or can't be done.
He's an outlier and Evenepoel probably has to choose his path being it TT's and small wins (as he does now), being it Stage races, being it one day races.
I actually think he tries to be very good in a few different areas (kinda like Pogacar) and tht hinders his chances to be the best version of himself at any.
Okay, he is probably the best TT rider ever, but I think he should be aiming for bigger things with the talent he has.

Pogacar is a very relevant example. He is very similar to Evenepoel in many ways. Also, plenty of other riders have won monuments and the GT's. Only because Froome and Contador refused it was all of a sudden an established fact that it was a categorical difference between being a "one day specialist" and "GT rider". Nonesense if you ask me.

 

[Berniece]

I also think Remco has a mentality issue when things don't go his way, which will prevent him from ever winning the Tour, or example, the Vuelta 23, ect.

Vuelta 2023 is exactly like this. Maybe he was just too heavy.

 

[ashhutch1997]

No, but seriously. Pog and JV can have problems like everyone else while RE gets a clean run at things for once. I mean, look at the five year perspective. Remco is more likely to win the Tour before he retires than not, imo. He has 10x the talent of Bernal, Thomas, Froome, Nibali, Evans, Wiggins, Sastre, Pereiro Sio and so on.

He's an amazing talent, but as I said, there's a mentality problem with Remco, he seems to shut down when things go against him, like the Vuelta in 2023.
Also the depth of talent now is much better than before, I can't see him beating Del Torro for example.
I like Remco and I think he gets a lot of unfair criticism off the 'casual' fans. If he was racing in the previous generation (the 2010s) he'd definitely have a shot at winning the Tour, but in the current generation of 'aliens', I can't see it happening.

 

[Pozzovivo]

I also think Remco has a mentality issue when things don't go his way, which will prevent him from ever winning the Tour, or example, the Vuelta 23, ect.

For sure he deals with being beaten way worse than many others. Not going to be a hindrance to getting it right at least once.

 

[Pozzovivo]

He's an amazing talent, but as I said, there's a mentalities problem with Remco, he seems to shut down when things go against him, like the Vuelta in 2023.
Also the debth of talent now is much better than before, I can't see him beating Del Torro foe example.

But Simon Yates can beat Del Toro?

 

[HashRouge]

Pogacar is a very relevant example. He is very similar to Evenepoel in many ways. Also, plenty of other riders have won monuments and the GT's. Only because Froome and Contador refused it was all of a sudden an established fact that it was a categorical difference between being a "one day specialist" and "GT rider". Nonesense if you ask me.

I think the point is that it is harder for Remco to do what Pogacar does. Pogacar's classics form and GT form don't seem to be significantly different. I know he always comes into the Tour a bit lighter than he would for, say, LBL, but it's not a big difference. Whereas Remco in classics form doesn't seem to do as well with long, steep climbs. I think it makes it harder for him to do both than for Pogacar. Doesn't mean he can't, it's just difficult, and I think it explains why we get days like today. He's not in top climbing form, even if he's looked great in one day races.