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

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I think he can take anywhere between 1 and 2 minutes on Bernal in the ITT. But if i were Bernal i wouldn't feel comfortable with a 2 minute lead going into the ITT.

 

[Sciatic]

Thinking about it I came to the conclusion that DQS must have told him a thousand times "don't overpace, don't overpace, stay smart, don't overpace..." fearing that he will get too enthusiastic and waste his energy.

That’s what I was thinking too. They clearly had the reins held tight; if it was a one-day race he would have taken up some of the pulling with Bernal to create a bigger gap to the group behind (Yates especially.)

 

[Big Doopie]

Except when Wiggins won because of TT's, that didn't show he was well rounded, it showed he got lucky in a TT heavy course IIRC, that was designed specifically for him or some other absurd xenophobic nonsense.

Hmm. i would say that Wiggins was pretty well-rounded that year. not the best at climbing, but in the top group. sure he benefitted from the long ITTs. just like anquetil, frankly and no one criticizes him for winning 5 TDFs.

but what is the definition of well-rounded for you -- someone who can only climb? ;-)

 

[Red Rick]

Hmm. i would say that Wiggins was pretty well-rounded that year. not the best at climbing, but in the top group. sure he benefitted from the long ITTs. just like anquetil, frankly and no one criticizes him for winning 5 TDFs.

but what is the definition of well-rounded for you -- someone who can only climb? ;-)

Well Wiggins didn't have to show climbing on any real mountain stages, meanwhile the best climbers off that year were off not battling in the Giro and then going nuts in the Vuelta.

Seriously every stage race Wiggins won in 2012 had a shambolically TT favored route.

 

[Big Doopie]

Well Wiggins didn't have to show climbing on any real mountain stages, meanwhile the best climbers off that year were off not battling in the Giro and then going nuts in the Vuelta.

Seriously every stage race Wiggins won in 2012 had a shambolically TT favored route.

sure. i agree.

i think this is kind of a pointless debate at this point. people who prefer climbers or have followed cycling only recently will want climbers to be in the running for GC. my only peeve here is that GTs are off-balance at the moment, favoring climbers too much. in the past, climbers like Bahamontes or Van Impe only could win one TDF, and only when it was particularly mountainous and Fuente never won. climbers were often top ten material and climbers jersey only. i preferred it when a GT rewarded the best all-rounder, guys who can kick butt on an ITT, and defend against the pure climbers in the high mountains (e.g. Merckx, Hinault, LeMond, etc.).

 

[Ktarie]

He looks really good considering where he's from after around ten months without a race.

I like the fact that he takes it for granted that he sees himself as a favorite/ challenger when I look at his position in the field, always in front like a naturally born leader for the podium. He's got a good team around too. It remains to be seen how he will fare on the long and difficult mountain stages. I am quite confident, however. It's good to have the young Belgian with us. The Giro generally has an attractive range of favorites compared to last year. (We all miss Landa of course).

 

[tobydawq]

I just hope he fully recovers. That crash has the potential to become the biggest "what if" in cycling history and I pray that's not gonna happen.

After what we have seen the last week, it seems like this will not be the case. Which is a huge relief.

 

[Escarabajo]

I think he can take anywhere between 1 and 2 minutes on Bernal in the ITT. But if i were Bernal i wouldn't feel comfortable with a 2 minute lead going into the ITT.

It is way too early to talk about the ITT.

 

[Red Rick]

It is way too early to talk about the ITT.

I think Monalcino will set everything. Inclined to think he should be aggressive there.

 

[Parker]

Well Wiggins didn't have to show climbing on any real mountain stages, meanwhile the best climbers off that year were off not battling in the Giro and then going nuts in the Vuelta.

Seriously every stage race Wiggins won in 2012 had a shambolically TT favored route.

In 2012 the only rider Wiggins didn't take time from in the mountains was Froome

 

[Panda Claws]

In 2012 the only rider Wiggins didn't take time from in the mountains was Froome

Partially because IIRC the mountain stages themselves were very friendly to a TT specialist like Wiggins.

 

[Red Rick]

In 2012 the only rider Wiggins didn't take time from in the mountains was Froome

It was a very stellar field. Especially with Froome bringing every single Nibali attack back. If Froome rides against him he doesn't even win the one Tour he won

 

[tobydawq]

It was a very stellar field. Especially with Froome bringing every single Nibali attack back. If Froome rides against him he doesn't even win the one Tour he won

It was the worst Tour field ever.

 

[titan31]

I think Monalcino will set everything. Inclined to think he should be aggressive there.

Ya, I'd agree. He might not be able to distance Bernal and Ineos on it but if QS put the foot down here, and then Ineos join, he could distance a bunch of the other top contenders.

 

[GuntherL1]

He took 20s in 8km. Last TT is 3,5 times as long.
3,5 x 20s = 120s = 2 mins

If 3,5 x 20s = 120s, how much is 6 x 20s?

 

[Anybody_but..]

Amazing, how the sprat fans are trying to talk about nothing.

This Giro is between Remco and Egan.

And the sprat is not involved in it.

 

[BlueRoads]

Amazing, how the sprat fans are trying to talk about nothing.

This Giro is between Remco and Egan.

And the sprat is not involved in it.

Amazing how impolite you keep being.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Amazing, how the sprat fans are trying to talk about nothing.

This Giro is between Remco and Egan.

And the sprat is not involved in it.

Who's the sprat? Seriously, i've not heard of the nickname before.

 

[Cookster15]

Its early days but from Remco's perspective this is starting to look like the 2011 TdF and we all know how that ended.

Difference is Evenepoel is so young. There are still questions to be answered e.g. how he lasts over three weeks and repetitive huge climbs in the 3rd week but so far he is passing with flying colors.

 

[Kazistuta]

Who's the sprat? Seriously, i've not heard of the nickname before.

I think it's a random posters selfmade name for Nibali, judging from his other silly posts...

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I think it's a random posters selfmade name for Nibali, judging from his other silly posts...

Ah, instead of the shark. Ok.

 

[Netserk]

I guess it would be mean to create a thread for recommended profiles to put on ignore for everyone. But if there was such a thread, a suggestion of a profile to add to the list could be ...

 

[Red Rick]

I guess it would be mean to create a thread for recommended profiles to put on ignore for everyone. But if there was such a thread, a suggestion of a profile to add to the list could be ...

Tried ignoring myself, sounds good doesn't work.

 

[tobydawq]

I guess it would be mean to create a thread for recommended profiles to put on ignore for everyone.

Hmm, this seems unusually polite for your standards

 

[Blobs]

Tried ignoring myself, sounds good doesn't work.

Why would you ignore yourself?