I feel like the effort he put into winning the last sprint had a major effect on how he fared the last climb. Once he got rid of the lactic acid the gap stabilized.
And he obviously beat everyone else. By a fair bit more.Rog was carrying an injury going into this race. Still beat him in the ITT.
I feel like the effort he put into winning the last sprint had a major effect on how he fared the last climb. Once he got rid of the lactic acid the gap stabilized.
It was damned if you do, damned if you don't.I feel like the effort he put into winning the last sprint had a major effect on how he fared the last climb. Once he got rid of the lactic acid the gap stabilized.
And I think that was the whole point! Looked like it was meant to be a really hard block, including helping teammates, etc. If you are really, really focused on the GC (i.e. one of your season goals is the win the overall in this race), then I don't think you are burning matches leading out teammates. I think he did a good overall race. Still unsure about the body weight stuff and how much is BS, how much is truth and OK, and how much is just bonkersI conclude that it was a good training week in preparation of the Ardennes classics. Looking forward to it!
I don't think we saw him much on the Ixua descent, but by the time gaps he wasn't fast there.totally, he descended super well.
And I think that was the whole point! Looked like it was meant to be a really hard block, including helping teammates, etc. If you are really, really focused on the GC (i.e. one of your season goals is the win the overall in this race), then I don't think you are burning matches leading out teammates. I think he did a good overall race. Still unsure about the body weight stuff and how much is BS, how much is truth and OK, and how much is just bonkers![]()
That one is from the 28th of September 2020. So probably a week or two after he had been immobilised with his broken pelvis for a few weeks. No wonder he was that skinny then. It'd be extremely hard (if not impossible) to get down to the similair weight while keeping power (and endurance for a 3-week race) at a reasonable level.This is from last years winter/spring. How much would you think is the difference in weight?
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/qst_alphavinyl/status/1309795273422639
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFrjEooHAld/
Sorry the tweet didn't come through. Can't find it again. This is february 2021. Compare with Valencia this year.That one is from the 28th of September 2020. So probably a week or two after he had been immobilised with his broken pelvis for a few weeks. No wonder he was that skinny then. It'd be extremely hard (if not impossible) to get down to the similair weight while keeping power (and endurance for a 3-week race) at a reasonable level.
Seems very obvious to me he's very aero and fast and powerfull on easy and shallow descents but it's the technical ones that can be a bit of an issue. I do think his descending problem isn't as bad as many seem to think.I don't think we saw him much on the Ixua descent, but by the time gaps he wasn't fast there.
...So the big question for him and those training him at Quick Step is; is it possible to lose weight and maintain power?
...Then we will be able to see what a top shape and ideally prepped Remco is able to do at 21 years old (which is another consideration, for he isn't 27 or even 25 yet). This is why I laugh a bit when I read people already writing him and his career off. It simply makes no logical sense.
So you're saying Evenepoel is the next Contador?When Contador was 22 he was 3rd in Itzulia after winning the ITT. That was between winning Setmana Catalana and getting 4th at Romandie with a stage win. He too had made a comeback after a long break.
Well, he obviously needs to cut those 2-3 kilos in such a way that he maintains the watts he is generating at his current weight (that way he automatically goes faster), otherwise there would be no point, as the one gain would be offset by the other loss. So the big question for him and those training him at Quick Step is; is it possible to lose weight and maintain power? Secondly, in the past when he was lighter, for example at last year's Giro, he was underprepared and thus that is not the gauge to go by. At any rate, I bet it is possible, with the right preparation, for him to get down to last year's Giro weight and have significantly more power. This must be what Quick Step is betting on too for the Vuelta, which they have already said in so many words: "It will be a different Remco at the Vuelta." And considering that he started that Giro with 0 racing in his legs, it must be achievable. Then we will be able to see what a top shape and ideally prepped Remco is able to do at 21 years old (which is another consideration, for he isn't 27 or even 25 yet). This is why I laugh a bit when I read people already writing him and his career off. It simply makes no logical sense.
The team said Remco ''matured'' a bit physically and easily took on muscle weight with the new training program which was intended to get him ready for the Ardennes. They also said ''by the time we get to the Vuelta, we'll see a completely different Remco'' refering to his training geared towards longer climbs and his weight.I can't speak for QS, but there is science out there to show that within certain parameters one can lose weight while maintaining power. And one does not necessarily need to put on weight to gain power. It could be that they are looking to gradually reduce weight over the course of the season without reducing any power ... Time will tell!
Again, this is sort of a similar story to Wout, who claimed that he put on muscle weight really easily as he was maturing. Who knows, seems like it could have been an easy thing to avoid but whatever.The team said Remco ''matured'' a bit physically and easily took on muscle weight with the new training program which was intended to get him ready for the Ardennes. They also said ''by the time we get to the Vuelta, we'll see a completely different Remco'' refering to his training geared towards longer climbs and his weight.
So you're saying Evenepoel is the next Contador?
It's not always that simple, I don't think. I put on 30 pounds between age 20 and 22, largely muscle. Went from a wiry 6' 2" 175 pound kid to a muscular 6' 2" 205 pound man in just over a year. Did nothing to enhance my weight. Some people just change during that time. Were I working with a professional coach, I'd guess it certainly could have been mitigated, but I seriously doubt it could have been stopped. Maturing happens.Again, this is sort of a similar story to Wout, who claimed that he put on muscle weight really easily as he was maturing. Who knows, seems like it could have been an easy thing to avoid but whatever.
It was damned if you do, damned if you don't.
He had to sprint or Martinez takes GC right there. Which would mean he'd have to drop Martinez on the climb, which was never gonna happen. By taking the bonis he still had a chance of he was able to hang on and Martinez didn't win and take 10 boni seconds. But by doing the sprint he decreased his chances to be able to hang on, on the climb.
He raced to win, he didn't race for the podium. He gambled and lost. I respect that.
Dammit just spend a month with your arms tied to your bodyIt's not always that simple, I don't think. I put on 30 pounds between age 20 and 22, largely muscle. Went from a wiry 6' 2" 175 pound kid to a muscular 6' 2" 205 pound man in just over a year. Did nothing to enhance my weight. Some people just change during that time. Were I working with a professional coach, I'd guess it certainly could have been mitigated, but I seriously doubt it could have been stopped. Maturing happens.
It's one of the reasons i had hoped they'd put Van Wilder in the Vuelta as well. He's the same size as Evenepoel and also a great TTer. It would give both of them tactical options for GC.The TTT in the Vuelta will be a must see.
It's funny like that, I've had the same weight since I was 17 (under 140 lbs), with only brief periods above that. I'm unsure when exactly I stopped growing, I think either at 18 or 19. I think it's normal for most to have their weight creep upwards throughout their 20's, but professional athletes are of a different sort of course.It's not always that simple, I don't think. I put on 30 pounds between age 20 and 22, largely muscle. Went from a wiry 6' 2" 175 pound kid to a muscular 6' 2" 205 pound man in just over a year. Did nothing to enhance my weight. Some people just change during that time. Were I working with a professional coach, I'd guess it certainly could have been mitigated, but I seriously doubt it could have been stopped. Maturing happens.