Red Rick
Moderator
Yeah there's deffo a lot of arguing in bad faith in this thread.The annoying thing is that when he then finishes on the podium, people who write stuff like this beforehand never acknowledge that they were wrong
Yeah there's deffo a lot of arguing in bad faith in this thread.The annoying thing is that when he then finishes on the podium, people who write stuff like this beforehand never acknowledge that they were wrong
hmmm yes.. but winning La Vuelta is still better "for his development"It might be better for his development if he top 5s rather than wins.
The Belgian press will heep an absurd amount of pressure on him to go to the tour and compete withTP and JV, and they are different beasts entirely.
Development is overrated, innate ability is where it's at.It might be better for his development if he top 5s rather than wins.
The Belgian press will heep an absurd amount of pressure on him to go to the tour and compete withTP and JV, and they are different beasts entirely.
Great to see that you are evolving as a person and dare to acknowledge your flaws.Yeah there's deffo a lot of arguing in bad faith in this thread.
...coupled with the ability to develop.Development is overrated, innate ability is where it's at.
If I'm wrong I'm more than happy to admit it, you can even save the link to this quote for posterity if you don't believe me.The annoying thing is that when he then finishes on the podium, people who write stuff like this beforehand never acknowledge that they were wrong (apart from Ilmaestro and his LBL win) and instead just carry on and probably find other faults with him instead.
The guy is a pure bulldozer, there is absolutely no reason that he shouldn't be able to win this race.
Wait and see. And I never said he'd finish on the podium, but only tried to explain, with legitimate reasons, why he is considered amongst the favorites. Of course he could have a bad day and loose massive time at some point in the race. Only time will tell, but even so at 22 he still has a whole career to chase his dream of winning a GT. Not every rider explodes on the GT scene like Bernal, Pogacar or even now Vingegaard. And only time will tell for them too whether or not they shall dominate the Tour for the next decade. Whatever the case, I'm willing to go out on a limb and say if he is with the best on Thursday and smashes the TT he'll fight for victory in Madrid.Nobody is denying his talent, just the ability to race 21 consecutive GT stages. He still doesn't have that racing in his legs. Sure, Pogacar came third in his first GT but Nobody genuinely expected close to that.
I will be very, very surprised if Evenepoel finishes on the podium of this Vuelta, if he completes the race my prediction is 8-12 with a stage win or two.
That's a fair analysis. In fact we don't know if he has the third week in him, however, there is no reason (unless he simply doesn't) why a rider of his talent would not. Perhaps not yet, as you inquire, but in 2 or 3 years of development why not? At any rate, even his team has officially approached the race with this very unknown and is waiting to see where he is on GC deep in the race to make final plans.If I'm wrong I'm more than happy to admit it, you can even save the link to this quote for posterity if you don't believe me.
Evenepoel is already a fantastic rider, but it takes a phenomenon to finish on the podium the first time you complete a GT. He's probably physiologically capable, but even his one day wins don't show a rider who is ruthless and conservative enough to truly contend over 3 weeks... Yet.
I can't help but jibe that your analysis here is totally in keeping with your avatar name.It might be better for his development if he top 5s rather than wins.
The Belgian press will heep an absurd amount of pressure on him to go to the tour and compete withTP and JV, and they are different beasts entirely.
Yeah there's deffo a lot of arguing in bad faith in this thread.
I'll be astounded if Evenepoel pans out never winning a GT in his career, just not yet.Wait and see. And I never said he'd finish on the podium, but only tried to explain, with legitimate reasons, why he is considered amongst the favorites. Of course he could have a bad day and loose massive time at some point in the race. Only time will tell, but even so at 22 he still has a whole career to chase his dream of winning a GT. Not every rider explodes on the GT scene like Bernal, Pogacar or even now Vingegaard. And only time will tell for them too whether or not they shall dominate the Tour for the next decade. Whatever the case, I'm willing to go out on a limb and say if he is with the best on Thursday and smashes the TT he'll fight for victory in Madrid.
PS. Indurain was 27 when he won his first Tour. Totally different career trajectory, I realize, however, the point is that Evenepoel still has years ahead if necessary to develope into a GT winner. Although if QS prooves inept at preparing him for GT victory or can't build a team fit for the task, he may end up having to go elsewhere.
However, no under-23, no Tour d'Avenir, no Baby Giro, in other words, no parameter to judge GT potential.
Back in the day Avenir was not restricted by age iirc. You could have 28 year olds competing with 19 year olds. Not sure when exactly it changed, but looking at the winners since 2000, you have Mensjov, Quintana, Bernal, Pogacar. Then there is also Lopez, Chaves, Mollema, Gaudu. Expanding to top 10 finishers, you also get names like Hindley, Arensman, Almeida, Van Wilder, Lambrecht, Vlasov, Hart, Haig, Oomen, G Martin, De Plus, Latour, Buchmann, Yates twin, Konrad, Formolo, Cattaneo, Barguil, Bardet, Kelderman, Caruso...Neither of those races has a particular great record in predicting GT winners, races like Romandie and Algarve probably have more future GT winners in their winners' list (I'm too lazy too cross-check).
I think that was quite a good result today. Lost no time, never was going to compete with the group in a sprint like that.
Van Wilder.yup, a little unclear what the plan was there.
which QS rider came up on the left hoping to bring up Loulou? it looked like remco but a few of them do look alike. then the rider saw that Loulou couldn't follow and they dropped through fairly precipitately. however, then remco seemed to come back up on the right to the finish. so was that remco initially or vanwilder or...?
So Remco just dieseled it up taking 7 seconds from the Portuguese Diesel?Van Wilder.
Ilan has a sharper chin, straighter shoulders and usually is leaning over his handlebars like a cat ready to jump on its prey while climbing.
He has bib 137. Remco has 134.
Sometimes they have different colored shades as well, but i haven't checked that yet.
The climb was long enough for Almeida to get dropped, but too short to get back.So Remco just dieseled it up taking 7 seconds from the Portuguese Diesel?
PerfectThe climb was long enough for Almeida to get dropped, but too short to get back.
I think Remco has gotten a fair bit quicker than he was in his first year or two. Don't think he's going to be winning any uphill sprints against the top guys, but clearly he can hang when on form. I was surprised by his sprint in Norway. I think he's just really strong right now which makes him less tired and finishing much easier. Seeing him up in the first group today I think is a great result.So Remco just dieseled it up taking 7 seconds from the Portuguese Diesel?
Van Wilder.
Ilan has a sharper chin, straighter shoulders and usually is leaning over his handlebars like a cat ready to jump on its prey while climbing.
He has bib 137. Remco has 134.
Sometimes they have different colored shades as well, but i haven't checked that yet.
What the hell is this?
Pretty sure that was Remco. I think he's feeling it right now, and it's gonna be hard to hold him back. Tomorrow makes for some interesting choices. Seems built for a Remco attack, but is it too soon?so was it also van wilder who attacked the downhill so aggressively?
the commentators seemed to think it was remco though they also were kind of "general" in their commentary.
i kinda hope it was not remco on the downhill and that he had taken a strict tactic not to put his nose in the wind at all today...