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

[SafeBet]

but Remco should just change nationality, bet the dutch or french would love him.

Why do you hate me?

 

[tobydawq]

He should not change nationality, that just makes no sense.

Maybe Belgium could split up in several sovereign countries?

 

[Red Rick]

Maybe Belgium could split up in several sovereign countries?

I'm sure splitting up into Vlaanderen and Wallone will help in that regard.

 

[Red Rick]

Why do you hate me?

You have Nibali, won the Euros and god knows what, no country alone should wield that much power.

 

[Riek s]

I'm sure splitting up into Vlaanderen and Wallone will help in that regard.

Not sure WVA, Remco are both from Vlaanderen

 

[Zoef-Lightning]

Well, that happens, right? I mean, a lot of Almeida fans will tell you how Almeida's Giro chances got wasted because of Evenepoel... I think you have to analyze afterwards what happened and what you can do better next time, but it's part of cycling to bet on a leader who in the end may not deliver, that happens practically everyday... and just because a leader fails that doesn't mean it was wrong to bet on him in the first place. I'm totally with you guys on "using Evenepoel differently would have brought Belgium more options". But I could never count the number of times I've seen a team go all in for a leader who then couldn't deliver and among those betting on van Aert alone was certainly not the craziest option.
And in the end, Evenepoel is young and other WCs where he will get a chance will come. It's not like this was likely his last or best chance.

Almeida ? The last months and weeks, I've seen fail Almeida several times, and not win, while he was heavily supported by the DCQ-team. In some races even supported by Evenepoel (cfr Giro dell Emilia). Almeida is good, but just not good enough to always compete with the riders in form. I'm convinced Almeida will just be a domestique (in the mountains) in his next team. Unlike Evenepoel.

 

[Zoef-Lightning]

I repeat once again that the national coach was satisfied with Evenepoel's race. With the exception of riding too fast in the lead. There's evidence for that. Immediately after the race (live on tv) and in the Sporza-documentary. Nobody (of the Belgian team) has claimed afterwards that Evenepoel was not allowed to join the (early) attacks. With the exception of Van Aert . That was to camouflage his own failure and lack of honesty. And after the statement of Van Aert, nobody from the Belgian team has subsequently agreed with Van Aert. The truth is that most of the Belgian riders were not good enough to respond to brisk accelerations, as we could see during the first part of the race and specially during the attack of Ala, still in the middle part of the course (Flandrien stretch). Benoot, Teuns and even Lampaert were simply left behind on an ordinary Flemish hill, not only by Ala, but by more of the half of the remaining peloton. Also Campenaerts, but to a lesser extent. But Campenaerts and Declercq did there job before, Stuyven did his job in the final. In contrast to Benoot, Teuns, Lampaert and Van Aert who were below level. And Evenepoel...... ? He did his job and was way the best Belgian rider. And probably the second best of the world that day.
If Evenepoel had been used as a reserve leader, and if he had been allowed to save his strength until the final, he could either have supported Van Aert in the final (provided Van Aert had good legs) or take his chance himself.
Conclusion : both the national coach and Van Aert made serious errors of judgment

 

[GuntherL1]

And yet De Gendt said Remco is a normal and calm guy in the peloton who comes around for a chat once in a while, and that he can understand if he gets frustrated when dealing with wheelsuckers.
He didn't "ignore" team order during the Euros, he just didn't know how to go about it. That was lack of experience. Him getting frustrated was exactly because he didn't know what to do to get Colbrelli in front.
Listening to Bobbie Traksel as some kind of authority is also a bit peculiar.

But i agree that he's not well guided. I've brought that up many times in the past. He appears in the press too often, they (DQT) haven't addressed his shortcomings. I feel the team is to blame more than him. However you are overreacting to this particular instance. And i have little sympathy for the ongoing and unrelenting trolling by Merckx or certain journalists. I think his parents need to get involved more, not per se to "set him straight" but to protect and shelter him. I feel the team is doing a lousy job at it.

• I don't think De Gendt was ever in a breakaway with REv or he'd say something different.
• When he was alone with Colbrelli during the Euros, Van Thourenhout talked to him from the car. He told him not to ride and he ignored that order. That's unacceptable to me.

Evenepoel: ‘Toen Colbrelli mee over de top kwam, wist ik het al’

Brons en zilver op het EK. Maakt goud op het WK tijdrijden volgende week zondag in eigen land de medaillereeks van Remco Evenepoel compleet? Voor de wegrit houdt hij zich alleszins keurig aan het plan. ‘Ik heb mijn kans gekregen, straks is het aan Wout van Aert.’

www.demorgen.be

 

[Red Rick]

Almeida ? The last months and weeks, I've seen fail Almeida several times, and not win, while he was heavily supported by the DCQ-team. In some races even supported by Evenepoel (cfr Giro dell Emilia). Almeida is good, but just not good enough to always compete with the riders in form. I'm convinced Almeida will just be a domestique (in the mountains) in his next team. Unlike Evenepoel.

Almeida is good enough to be a GT leader. I think Lefevere would have liked to hang on to him, but if he has to choose between Evenepoel and Almeida the choice is obvious and he can't compete in a bidding war with UAE.

The split with DQS and Lefevere doesn't seem all that bad now.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't really think initial comments from Vantourenhout after the race are a great indicator as he would probably be very reluctant to instantly start a flame war and would have wanted to keep any criticisms at each other as confined as possible as his ass could be on the line

For me it's beyond question Vantourenhout failed at his job and needs to go. Aside from that I think someone needs to get Evenepoel and Van Aert in a room. "Luckily" for them it's unlikely they'll have a big clash until 2023 with the 2022 being probably a bunch sprint finish.

 

[BlueRoads]

Just give van Aert to us Germans, we will cuddle him and wrap him in silk.
I mean, if he gets world champion nobody will care, but there also won't be much pressure.

 

[greyclouds]

Almeida ? The last months and weeks, I've seen fail Almeida several times, and not win, while he was heavily supported by the DCQ-team. In some races even supported by Evenepoel (cfr Giro dell Emilia). Almeida is good, but just not good enough to always compete with the riders in form. I'm convinced Almeida will just be a domestique (in the mountains) in his next team. Unlike Evenepoel.

If to podium at Emilia and MT, both losing to Roglic, means that you are failing and can only be a domestique, then I guess that everyone in the peloton can only be a domestique, with the exception of Rogla and Poga. Honestly, where have you seen him failing "several times"? Worlds? It wasn't a circuit for his skills, at all. Europeans? Yes, agree, bad positioning, but there was no DQS squad there, right?

Like Pogacar, he had a heavy first half of the season, competing with mostly good results in UAE, T-A, Catalunya, Strade Bianche, LBL. He then peaked for Giro, where bar one day, he was levelled with all the best - he finished 6th, with the same time as the 5th, and anyone can agree that he could have easily finished one or two positions higher. Since then, with DQS, he won Luxembourg, Poland and podiumed in Emilia and MT. He didn't do well at Germany, but that wasn't really a tour with parcours that would favour him. Is that "failing several times heavily supported by DQS?"

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

I said I was a bit more dramatic

(also i'm belgian myself, don't mind saying screw the belgians )

Look on the bright side - the world champions jersey will be in a Belgian team rather than a Dutch one next season.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

• I don't think De Gendt was ever in a breakaway with REv or he'd say something different.
• When he was alone with Colbrelli during the Euros, Van Thourenhout talked to him from the car. He told him not to ride and he ignored that order. That's unacceptable to me.

Evenepoel: ‘Toen Colbrelli mee over de top kwam, wist ik het al’

Brons en zilver op het EK. Maakt goud op het WK tijdrijden volgende week zondag in eigen land de medaillereeks van Remco Evenepoel compleet? Voor de wegrit houdt hij zich alleszins keurig aan het plan. ‘Ik heb mijn kans gekregen, straks is het aan Wout van Aert.’

www.demorgen.be

I'm sure somebody who runs into him in person and has actually spoken to him on several occasions in more or less regular circumstances, is not as good in judging his character, as you, who is basing it on media performances and other stressful situations, every few weeks or months.

Given Merckx is also complaining and all the useless fud.. doesn't change the fact he wasn't a protected rider and WVA wouldn't have won either way.

Maybe i'm a bit more dramatic, but Remco should just change nationality, bet the dutch or french would love him. If the belgian team doesn't want him, screw them tbh

Maybe the Dutch would love him if he were Dutch, but for the moment, there's not a lot proof for that. Read the past 3 years of wielerflits comments and replies to Sporza tweets, concerning Evenepoel.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I don't really think initial comments from Vantourenhout after the race are a great indicator as he would probably be very reluctant to instantly start a flame war and would have wanted to keep any criticisms at each other as confined as possible as his ass could be on the line

For me it's beyond question Vantourenhout failed at his job and needs to go. Aside from that I think someone needs to get Evenepoel and Van Aert in a room. "Luckily" for them it's unlikely they'll have a big clash until 2023 with the 2022 being probably a bunch sprint finish.

A bunch sprint.....

WHERE?

Im depressed already.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

A bunch sprint.....

WHERE?

Im depressed already.

Merlier and Philipsen will no doubt be asked to lead out the mighty Wout.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Merlier and Philipsen will no doubt be asked to lead out the mighty Wout.

I heard Wout would ride for Philipsen, no questions asked, and if he were to notice Philipsen could not overtake him in the sprint, he would squeeze his brakes to make sure he doesn't win himself, like a good domestique is supposed to do.

 

[GuntherL1]

I'm sure somebody who runs into him in person and has actually spoken to him on several occasions in more or less regular circumstances, is not as good in judging his character, as you, who is basing it on media performances and other stressful situations, every few weeks or months.

I'm talking about his in-race behaviour, not his character. He behaves like a spoiled child when things don't go his way. He can change this. He already dropped the stupid celebrations which is a good first step.

 

[Extinction]

If to podium at Emilia and MT, both losing to Roglic, means that you are failing and can only be a domestique, then I guess that everyone in the peloton can only be a domestique, with the exception of Rogla and Poga. Honestly, where have you seen him failing "several times"? Worlds? It wasn't a circuit for his skills, at all. Europeans? Yes, agree, bad positioning, but there was no DQS squad there, right?

Like Pogacar, he had a heavy first half of the season, competing with mostly good results in UAE, T-A, Catalunya, Strade Bianche, LBL. He then peaked for Giro, where bar one day, he was levelled with all the best - he finished 6th, with the same time as the 5th, and anyone can agree that he could have easily finished one or two positions higher. Since then, with DQS, he won Luxembourg, Poland and podiumed in Emilia and MT. He didn't do well at Germany, but that wasn't really a tour with parcours that would favour him. Is that "failing several times heavily supported by DQS?"

Almieda is like a more talented version of Thomas Voeckler. Admirable in his capacity to suffer, go deep, fight till the death to ultimately be more tragic than heroic in the most honorable way.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

I heard Wout would ride for Philipsen, no questions asked, and if he were to notice Philipsen could not overtake him in the sprint, he would squeeze his brakes to make sure he doesn't win himself, like a good domestique is supposed to do.

But Remco will join Uruguay, Pakistan, Greece and Ireland in the early break and stay out there til the end.

 

[Big Doopie]

Maybe Belgium could split up in several sovereign countries?

…and what would then happen to arguably the greatest most iconic kit of all time? (And I am not Belgian).

Never!!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I'm talking about his in-race behaviour, not his character. He behaves like a spoiled child when things don't go his way. He can change this. He already dropped the stupid celebrations which is a good first step.

Most riders his age are just entering pro racing and are not criticized by half the world at every turn because they aren't competitors at that level. He is in fact closer in age, to the Van Aert who got disqualified for a false start, got so furious that after yelling and raving, he snuck his bike back onto the course and started to race regardless of officials telling him not to, than he is to the Van Aert who failed to inform his team that he had bad legs two weeks ago.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

A bunch sprint.....

WHERE?

Im depressed already.

Doubt we'll see a nearly pan flat course. UCI won't necessarily go ahead with an Ewan-friendly parcours.

 

[Oldermanish]

In fact the Lemond case is not relevant to this race or strategy, so why did you bring it up?

Yes, you were misinformed. Remco was not the reserve guy, as the Belgian director plainly stated to Evenepoel when asked for clarification about the team's strategy on the eve of the race. In fact, the main criticism has been that Belgium unwisely used Evenepoel up too early instead of having him as a card to play at the end in the context of a plan B. Because there was no plan B and the designated winner would only be Wout.

Again, the Lemond thing was a response to an earlier question about general form.
Maybe I was misinformed about the actual strategy but read in several pre-race analyses that Wout was the protected rider, the other Belgians were in to control the interim action. I didn't watch Belgian TV, obviously. As for the after the fact suggestion by Remco claiming the form to win...did he not actually state that? That's not realistic or particularly professional to announce via the media. I'd suggest again that the lack of the customary radio coms contributed to the confusion and the polemics afterward. That said; I would more likely trust what Wout had to say. He's been a stand-up teammate and performer for some time and generally owns up to any lack of performance on his part.

 

[Oldermanish]

Most riders his age are just entering pro racing and are not criticized by half the world at every turn because they aren't competitors at that level. He is in fact closer in age, to the Van Aert who got disqualified for a false start, got so furious that after yelling and raving, he snuck his bike back onto the course and started to race regardless of officials telling him not to, than he is to the Van Aert who failed to inform his team that he had bad legs two weeks ago.

Sounds like Belgian youth is a little hot-headed. Kinda like an American nobody likes.