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

[VayaVayaVaya]

A few things:

• Remco is possibly the most underrated sprinter in the peloton.
• This was a great win.
• Third in his debut RVV, beating an in-form WVA who went on to win P-R was excellent.
• Despite the high number of wins YTD, the great win today, and his successful RVV debut, this has not been a successful start to the year because Remco standards are and should be that he wins stage races when Pogacar and Vingegaard aren’t there, and he wins hilly classics when Pogacar isn’t there. Or even higher - Monument winner. Anything short of that is disappointing, given his level. He is not on the level of Skjelmose, as he said in a roundabout way to some scorn on this board.
• There is ample opportunity for this to be a hugely successful season still, and I think he has shown that he is on the right track. I could be wrong, but it seems like he really focused on prepping for his spring classics campaign, where he has had success, over stage racing. I expect him to perform well at LBL and finish top 2.
• The question is can he then switch focus to perform well at the Tour and then back again to perform well at Worlds.
• In regard to the former, his early season and 2025 results would say no, but looking at his buildup in 2024 (weak in Dauphine, strong in Tour) would indicate yes.

 

[peterfin]

This is why I questioned you (all members of this forum) if did it save his spring season or not?
How high are standards for Remco? RB gave a lot of money for a double Olympic champion, GT winner, 2x LBL and a 1x WC, is this good enough?
For you, it is okay but I'm pretty sure some people here disagree with you.

His spring season is definitely ok and what he achieves in LBL is a nice extra. I think he will do great but he does not hold the cards, we know that. I also think RBH is pleased with his spring season. Compare this season with that of RBH last year and you understand why. What do you expect anyway? There are no olympics, WC, GT or other big race in spring he already won. What they got is 8 wins of which one a classic and a podium in RVV (on his first attempt). Is there work to do? Obviously yes. His climbing needs work to have any chance to podium the TdF. However he is just one quarter performing for the team. They have work to do as well.

 

[houtdffan]

Most points here were conquered by farming small races in Spain. PCS ranking can give us some information but we need to add context.
Del Toro wasn't for sure the second best rider last year. He finished there because he was farming small italian classics all the way to October.

So if we really want to assess his performance this spring/early season, we need to look to his goals:

2 main goals this spring are Volta a Catalunya and LBL.
- Catalunya: failed completely. No stage wins, no podium. He failed his 2 goals in this race.

- LBL: we need to wait.

Looking to other races:
- RVV: got a podium. Good but no cigar. Maybe in the future without those 2 aliens, he can win.

- UAE Tour: A disaster. No other way to say it. Specially when he said before the race, he wanted to win the GC + 2 stages.

- Small races in Spain: weak startlist, even in Valencia, Almeida is not a good puncheur and he is facing a tough season. I don't think these races matter at all. The only relevant thing is how he farmed some points to be at the front in the PCS ranking.

- AGR: This is where the discussion gets interesting. Did it save Remco's spring season if he doesn't win LBL? Or Remco is already such a big rider, that not getting his 2 big goals of the spring, leave him with a mediocre spring season (again if he doesn't win LBL)?

No, Cataluyna was not a major goal. That was RVV prep

 

[dobrien]

Amstel 2025 showed how to beat Pogacar. Unfortunately, that day it was Matias that kept cool and nipped the sprint. Pogacar appears stronger but PR showed just how well he could be worked.

No one is going to work Pog at LBL the way he got worked at PR; two completely different animals. Nice win at Amstel today for Remco but I don’t hold out much hope of him pulling off a ‘Wout’ in LBL.

 

[Sciatic]

Good win- as expected really so difficult to judge as against prospects for next week.

Much better base and build up than last year but whether that translates into being able to challenge Pog seriously at LBL who knows. Will clearly be much more of a protagonist than last year though so i am looking forward to the battle.

Will be enjoyable looking forward to LBL again

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Amstel 2025 showed how to beat Pogacar. Unfortunately, that day it was Matias that kept cool and nipped the sprint. Pogacar appears stronger but PR showed just how well he could be worked.

Roubaix is the toughest race for someone under 70k. You can't compare that situation to Liège.

 

[red_flanders]

There have been several comments about his sprint, and wow, it's come a long, long way. I recall his first couple attempts, it looked like the guy absolutely HAD to win alone to win. His "sprint" was absolutely anemic. Not sure I've ever seen anyone's sprint improve as much as his. Probably someone has, I've just not noticed, but it's remarkable.

I was surprised to see him beat Blbao 1:1 in San Sebastian. I was shocked to see him beat Wout in Brabantse Pijl. Today he demolished a guy who nipped him last year. Goes to show mostly how much fatigue plays into a sprint, particularly in the longest races, but also how much work he's done.

 

[Andre]

another big race to check off on Remco's list. Now I still want to see him win Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, TDF, Giro, and Strade Bianche

 

[Oldman]

Roubaix is the toughest race for someone under 70k. You can't compare that situation to Liège.

I compared Amstel to PR. Pogacar was beaten in both.

 

[Oldman]

A few things:

• Remco is possibly the most underrated sprinter in the peloton.
• This was a great win.
• Third in his debut RVV, beating an in-form WVA who went on to win P-R was excellent.
• Despite the high number of wins YTD, the great win today, and his successful RVV debut, this has not been a successful start to the year because Remco standards are and should be that he wins stage races when Pogacar and Vingegaard aren’t there, and he wins hilly classics when Pogacar isn’t there. Or even higher - Monument winner. Anything short of that is disappointing, given his level. He is not on the level of Skjelmose, as he said in a roundabout way to some scorn on this board.
• There is ample opportunity for this to be a hugely successful season still, and I think he has shown that he is on the right track. I could be wrong, but it seems like he really focused on prepping for his spring classics campaign, where he has had success, over stage racing. I expect him to perform well at LBL and finish top 2.
• The question is can he then switch focus to perform well at the Tour and then back again to perform well at Worlds.
• In regard to the former, his early season and 2025 results would say no, but looking at his buildup in 2024 (weak in Dauphine, strong in Tour) would indicate yes.

I would disagree that he is focusing on anything other than racing well and, hopefully; more selectively from a tactical perspective. Today was a good example of not trying to power Mattias off his wheel when, as you said; he is an underrated sprinter but proved capable when he used the gap to the pack to compel Matias to work. Skjemose won last year doing to Pogacar what Remco did to him today. I also think the form he's developing will help him on the next step in GTS: staying with the serious alpine climbers that much longer.

 

[Extinction]

No one is going to work Pog at LBL the way he got worked at PR; two completely different animals. Nice win at Amstel today for Remco but I don’t hold out much hope of him pulling off a ‘Wout’ in LBL.

We shall see and Catalunya was not just prep for De Ronde, but also for Remco's Ardennes campaign. I think Pog won't be optimally prepared for Liege, having ridden PR and no stage race thus far. If Remco has a super day he can challenge Pogacar.

 

[Berniece]

We shall see and Catalunya was not just prep for De Ronde, but also for Remco's Ardennes campaign. I think Pog won't be optimally prepared for Liege, having ridden PR and no stage race thus far. If Remco has a super day he can challenge Pogacar.

I don’t know, there’s 2 weeks between Roubaix and Liege, and it’s Pogi’s playground

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I compared Amstel to PR. Pogacar was beaten in both.

In Amstel Pogacar was just one week after an exhausting Roubaix struggle, likely not in top form. Plus Amstel suits Pogacar less than Liege, which has longer climbs and steeper as well (esp. the decisive ones).

To put it simply, Pogacar doesn't have the best engine in PR (Vans probably have better) so it's easier to make him suffer and go above his limit (chasing before the Arenberg this year was too much). In LBL terrain he has the best engine and tires out the least, which always boosts his chances in the finale if the race is ridden hard enough.

 

[Netserk]

wt races won

2019 : san sebastian
2020 : pologne
2021 : -
2022 : liege , san sebastian , vuelta
2023 : uae , liege , san sebastian
2024 : -
2025 : -
2026 : amstel

 

[KenFiamingo]

wt races won

2019 : san sebastian
2020 : pologne (+stage)
2021 : -
2022 : liege , san sebastian , vuelta (+2 stages), stage Tour de Suisse
2023 : uae , liege , san sebastian, 2 stages Giro d'Italia, 3 stages Vuelta a Espana, 2 stages Catalunya, stage Tour de Suisse
2024 : stage Tour de France, stage Paris-Nice, stage Dauphiné
2025 : stage Tour de France, stage Dauphiné, stage Romandie
2026 : amstel, stage UAE Tour

Let's be honest here and include all WT races.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Let's be honest here and include all WT races.

It was about races, not stages.
To be fair, we should also mention Remco's victories in OG and WC though (which have big prestige, even if not parts of WT).

 

[KenFiamingo]

It was about races, not stages.
To be fair, we should also mention Remco's victories in OG and WC though (which have big prestige, even if not parts of WT).

a stage is a race.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

a stage is a race.

A stage is included in a list of wins but how can it be included in races won if it's only a part of a bigger race?

 

[Berniece]

A stage is included in a list of wins but how can it be included in races won if it's only a part of a bigger race?

In that case sprinters do really badly throughout the year

 

[KenFiamingo]

A stage is included in a list of wins but how can it be included in races won if it's only a part of a bigger race?

Because you need to race the stage in order to win the GC; it's not optional.
And as the GC is WT level, the stage is as well given it's the same peloton.

And if Netserk had mentioned "WT stage races & WT one day races", then I'd understand the list. But talking about "WT races and not listing WT stages seems like there's a hidden agenda behind that post as it is factually incorrect.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Stage win is a win. Its included on a list of wins. Technically speaking you can call it a race (there is start and finish).

To me the distincion is easy. WT race is a whole thing: either stage race or one day race.

 

[Netserk]

Let's be honest here and include all WT races.

who won the tour last year , merlier ?

all wt races were included

 

[Berniece]

who won the tour last year , merlier ?

all wt races were included

Ignoring the semantics, there's a case to be made that your list doesn't properly reflect how well his seasons were going, taking all illness and injuries into account

 

[Netserk]

Ignoring the semantics, there's a case to be made that your list doesn't properly reflect how well his seasons were going, taking all illness and injuries into account

far more importantly championship races are not part of the wt

i just saw it mentioned elsewhere that the previous wt race he won was san sebastian , so i wanted to list them all

 

[peterfin]

The years following crashes (2021, 2024, 2025) where the once without WT wins (exc stages) although it only tells part of the story (podium TdF, OC wins, exceptional autumn campaign in 2025...).

I wonder how many riders of the current era wouldn't want to swap their accomplishments up to the age of 26? Maybe only the few that won a TdF before that age. Any others?