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

[Netserk]

And the benefits are nearly non-existent. What does it matter whether he loses 2 seconds or 5 seconds on a finish like yesterday, if in turn he can't follow on a long climb because of it.

We'll see after Liège.

 

[Red Rick]

We'll see after Liège.

Very good today not gonna lie. Thought hed struggle with the gradients today but didnt lose a second despite missing a turn.

 

[TomBonnen2005]

Actually the fastest guy on T-A so far (taking off the boni seconds) but his one minute advantage on climbers such as Vingegaard, Lopez, and Tao G-H will more than probably be insufficient to podium this race.

 

[SafeBet]

He's where I expected him to be after 5 stages.
All eyes on him tomorrow. Race is not against Pogacar (unless Pog has a bad day) but to test himself on such slopes against a strong field of climbers.

 

[Big Doopie]

He's where I expected him to be after 5 stages.
All eyes on him tomorrow. Race is not against Pogacar (unless Pog has a bad day) but to test himself on such slopes against a strong field of climbers.

Then again he appears to be the only one trying to take the race to Pog (however futile that may be).

Credit there I think, particularly to any haters who also complain about Pog domination.

 

[Salvarani]

Then again he appears to be the only one trying to take the race to Pog (however futile that may be).

Credit there I think, particularly to any haters who also complain about Pog domination.

I really like that. He is trying to test himself. Perhaps, because of his self-image and how fans/media has hyped him up he also feels obligated or that it is expected of him. Which is a lot of pressure to put on yourself and from others racing against someone like Pog for the first time.

I worry about if he is dropped or has a bad day tomorrow. Because even if I dont like his attitude sometimes, he still has a belief and confidence in himself that is important to have. I hope that wont change if he is destroyed tomorrow trying to follow Pog or anyone else for too long. That he completely blows up. Which can cause that self-image to crack a bit. It can cause both positive and negative affects, depending on if you handle that setback right or wrong.

That was too much doom and gloom. I hope he has a good day and doesnt crack, even if he is not able to challenge Pog. Getting on the podium of this race would be great, if the win is out of reach. To really test Pog and challenge for the win would be incredible, but Im not expecting it. It will be an interesting day tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

 

[johnymax]

And what if...if Remco drops everybody and takes the GC lead? I can't imagine. Internet crashes for sure...

 

[peterfin]

Actually the fastest guy on T-A so far (taking off the boni seconds) but his one minute advantage on climbers such as Vingegaard, Lopez, and Tao G-H will more than probably be insufficient to podium this race.

It's a possibility but I wouldn't make it "more" than probable for him not to make the podium. The first pass over the top of the Monte Carpegna is probably with the GC group. I assume we will see attacks on the 2nd pass. I guess it's about a 20 min effort at 10% with a few steep parts of 15% early in the climb. It looks challenging but I don't think he will stall his engine on the steep slopes. I can still see him losing a minute vs Pogacar but I haven't seen any signs from Vingegaard, Lopez of Tao G-H that they will crush him. What I do fear is that if he does come under pressure after passing the top 20-30 sec down vs his podium challengers that he takes too much risk in the steep, 12-km long decent. I hope he can keep his cool.

 

[Andre]

I wish the last stage would be a real TT stage, to make up for that ridiculously short stage one

 

[KenFiamingo]

I understand he's still discovering how to race a stage race of this level. Still, i'd like to see him taking some risk like approaching a stage as it was a one-day race and set up his trademark long range attacks. IMO the only way to threaten Pogacar. Go all-in.

 

[Big Doopie]

I wish the last stage would be a real TT stage, to make up for that ridiculously short stage one

Longer ITT? You’ll never get disagreement from me. ;-)

However, I doubt that would allow him to challenge Pog (who would just detonate earlier to make up the time lost). However, it may have ensured a podium spot.

I hope he allows himself to be dropped and do the diesel and pull back some people, rather than desperately try to match the accelerations as he did at Valenciana.

I also worry about his state of mind for the first time running up against someone who is definitely stronger after years of easy domination at every level so far. How he takes it will be very important in his development.

He is only 22. Just.

5 years ago a 22 year old would be considered incredibly young with their future and growth ahead of them. Remco is “unfortunate” to have arrived in the era of Pog (and to a lesser degree, Bernal) who have altered our idea of age in cycling fundamentally.

 

[Red Rick]

I understand he's still discovering how to race a stage race of this level. Still, i'd like to see him taking some risk like approaching a stage as it was a one-day race and set up his trademark long range attacks. IMO the only way to threaten Pogacar. Go all-in.

He tried that, Pogacar is straight on his wheel.

This strategy becomes exponentially harder against better opponents

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Good try today. Unlucky with that turn. Remco is the only guy matching Pog in the GC so far. Let's see how it ends up after tomorrow. Those two Carpegnas can completely explode the peleton.

 

[memyselfandI]

Ride hard turn left..is he some sort of trackie pedigree this Evenepoel kid? :O

 

[memyselfandI]

Longer ITT? You’ll never get disagreement from me. ;-)

However, I doubt that would allow him to challenge Pog (who would just detonate earlier to make up the time lost). However, it may have ensured a podium spot.

I hope he allows himself to be dropped and do the diesel and pull back some people, rather than desperately try to match the accelerations as he did at Valenciana.

I also worry about his state of mind for the first time running up against someone who is definitely stronger after years of easy domination at every level so far. How he takes it will be very important in his development.

He is only 22. Just.

5 years ago a 22 year old would be considered incredibly young with their future and growth ahead of them. Remco is “unfortunate” to have arrived in the era of Pog (and to a lesser degree, Bernal) who have altered our idea of age in cycling fundamentally.

In a way I see sorta Lance vs. Jan duel evolving here. No pharma talks here but otherwise how it was: JU super turbodiesel and LA bit more versatile, now of course he was not a bit sprinter that Pogi is. But I'm a bit afraid there may be similarities, long game and chances are few.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Spot the difference.

After going the wrong way himself:

There was almost nothing and no one to show us that we should go right. So instead of this, we continued to ride straight ahead.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ev...ng-wrong-way-during-tirreno-adriatico-attack/

After winning because the rest went the wrong way:

It’s weird that some of the guys went the wrong way because we all have the route in our computers.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/brussels-cycling-classic-2021/brussels-cycling-classic/results/

 

[SHAD0W93]

Spot the difference.

After going the wrong way himself:

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ev...ng-wrong-way-during-tirreno-adriatico-attack/

After winning because the rest went the wrong way:

https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/brussels-cycling-classic-2021/brussels-cycling-classic/results/

Maybe in Italy they have problems with the computers like they do getting us good angles.
On Lanterne Rouge they were poking a little fun at him as well.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Spot the difference.

After going the wrong way himself:

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ev...ng-wrong-way-during-tirreno-adriatico-attack/

After winning because the rest went the wrong way:

https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/brussels-cycling-classic-2021/brussels-cycling-classic/results/

Yep, but the two aren't mutually exclusive, are they? The context in Brussels Cycling Classic was whether they should have waited for those who took the wrong turn. But here, I can't remember him asking for the peloton to grant them the lead they lost again. So while it may be funny that he now faces the short end of the stick, it's not quite as hypocrite as you may want to paint it. Yes, the riders are supposed to know the route, he wasn't wrong there. But the organization also has responsibilities and here they were lacking, and he wasn't wrong here either.

But humorous, i agree.

EDIT: i also think there is a big difference in circumstances, in Brussels Cycling Classic the group came off a big straight mainroad and turned onto another straight mainroad. Here, they were on a very technical descent with horrible roadsurface and twisting and turning, with the turn just behind a bend. Trying to compare both conditions as far as being able to check the GPS, is disingenuous.

 

[DaLong]

Lol @ QS on Facebook, "After he went off course while on the attack due to an error of the marshals, the Belgian made it back in the peloton and concluded the stage in the blue jersey group!"

 

[SHAD0W93]

Yep, but the two aren't mutually exclusive, are they? The context in Brussels Cycling Classic was whether they should have waited for those who took the wrong turn. But here, I can't remember him asking for the peloton to grant them the lead they lost again. So while it may be funny that he now faces the short end of the stick, it's not quite as hypocrite as you may want to paint it. Yes, the riders are supposed to know the route, he wasn't wrong there. But the organization also has responsibilities and here they were lacking, and he wasn't wrong here either.

But humorous, i agree.

or good team support from the cars reminding about the turn and when it is so it’s more prepared. It kind of looked like he saw it too late and realized. I think a lot of us driving would have missed that turn too. At least the 3 didn’t lose any time because of it.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Lol @ QS on Facebook, "After he went off course while on the attack due to an error of the marshals, the Belgian made it back in the peloton and concluded the stage in the blue jersey group!"

What a load of crock. He didn't go on the attack due to an error of the marshals!

 

[Lefebre]

Today is the day,this boy will be on fire,after the Moles,the Weather,The Organization,The Juice,The Uncle Pat mistakes, nothing and i say nothing will stop him, be ready for it.

 

[peterfin]

Well today is definitely not the day.

 

[Eclipse]

Today is the day,this boy will be on fire,

Turns out it was a dumpster fire.

 

[Netserk]

A good schedule and a good winter without problems, so we should get a good impression of his climbing talents this year. No Les Forges in Liège, so it's straightforward that he should attack on/just after La Redoute. I certainly have higher expectations for him in Liège (where he has an outside chance to win) than Tirreno and Itzulia (where I think he's likely in the 3rd-6th range). I'm not sure what to expect of Suisse, but I think it's fair to say that with this program the measure of a successful Vuelta is the podium? That he at least in one mountain stage shows elite level climbing? If no illness, crashes etc., what would it take before he disappointed (whatever post-hoc unreasonable expectations one might have), Logic?

From January^^.

Unexpected that he clearly has prepared more for absolute watt gains (and so little for pure climbing), given that his schedule doesn't include cobbles nor is there any important ITT in the first part of the season. I still think he'll do well in the Ardennes, but I'm more uncertain now than back then.

I think a generous interpretation of this approach is that it's about getting the best base possible and to fully recover, and then over the summer focus fully on climbing. If that's the case, he should climb far better in the Vuelta than anywhere else this year.