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

[red_flanders]

This isn't the 2003 Vuelta where there were nearly 100km of flat ITT. This is only a 30km ITT. I only expect Remco to earn 20-30 seconds against Rog over a course this short

I think that's quite right, and in fact it would not be surprising if they were seconds apart. I think either can win. If I'm betting it's on Remco, but it would not surprise me to see Roglič win.

 

[Valv.Piti]

This isn't the 2003 Vuelta where there were nearly 100km of flat ITT. This is only a 30km ITT. I only expect Remco to earn 20-30 seconds against Rog over a course this short

I think Remco will take at least 1 minute on Roglic and +2 minutes on everyone else in GC

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Difference being, Pidcock went into the Tour to work for the team and trying for the odd stage, he achieved both. Remco goes out to win everything he enters as he's their leader. Pidcock also does other racing other than the road. Different riders, different objectives. Don't all winners have to have some arrogance about them?

People are comparing apples & pears. Completely different riders - and targets. At the back end of the Tour I doubt Pidcock went too deep; with an eye on MTB/ Road Worlds.
He's confident, not arrogant - he's from Yorkshire; arrogance isn't allowed.

 

[postmanhat]

Tom Pidcock: 'There's a good chance I can win the Tour de France in my career'

Pidcock revs up for push at MTB world title Sunday while he mulls big things as grand tour classification contender.

www.velonews.com

Can you imagine the (negative) reaction if this was a certain young Belgian who said this?

Just pointing out the consistent double-standard.

Lol. Honestly, some of you on this thread need to calm down. This is completely irrelevant to anything at all about Evenepoel. Pidcock being a likely GC contender has been no secret since he won the Baby Giro. But they're completely different riders at the moment. This weekend, Pidcock goes for the second leg of being potential triple world champion.

Also, he was talking on Radio 4, the BBC's culture and politics channel, which features virtually no sport at all, except cricket. Talking about whatever he might do at the Tour is the only reference listeners would understand.

 

[Big Doopie]

Lol. Honestly, some of you on this thread need to calm down. This is completely irrelevant to anything at all about Evenepoel. Pidcock being a likely GC contender has been no secret since he won the Baby Giro. But they're completely different riders at the moment. This weekend, Pidcock goes for the second leg of being potential triple world champion.

Also, he was talking on Radio 4, the BBC's culture and politics channel, which features virtually no sport at all, except cricket. Talking about whatever he might do at the Tour is the only reference listeners would understand.

U missed the point of the original post: Remco could never get away with saying what Pidcock said without the haters crying as always. Double standards, that was the only point of the post. Not whether Pidcock will eventually win a TDF or not. Had Remco ever said what Pidcock said, haters would all have torn him a new a$$hole. That was the ONLY point of the original post. And it clearly stands correct, based off of all the haters response already. Seriously, again, haters gotta get a grip.

 

[Cookster15]

After that stage 6 demolition on a real mountain Remco looking imperious with the TT yet to come. He might win this Vuelta by 7 minutes. But this is the beauty of three week grand tour racing. It keeps us all guessing. He isn't home and hosed.

 

[Big Doopie]

After that stage 6 demolition on a real mountain Remco looking imperious with the TT yet to come. He might win this Vuelta by 7 minutes. But this is the beauty of three week grand tour racing. It keeps us all guessing. He isn't home and hosed.

Like the enthusiasm, but temper it a bit.

Hard for me to complain about all the haters when a handful of over-enthusiastic fans are using words like “demolition”, “imperious”, etc. after just 1 MTF. Help me out here a bit…;-)

Don’t get me wrong. I hope you are correct. However, there are a few here that have intimated that he will easily do this on every MTF now…

I think a more reasonable hope is that he comes out of the weekend undiminished and can fulfill an awesome ITT (after a ridiculous 900km bus trip).

 

[Cookster15]

Like the enthusiasm, but temper it a bit.

Hard for me to complain about all the haters when a handful of over-enthusiastic fans are using words like “demolition”, “imperious”, etc. after just 1 MTF. Help me out here a bit…;-)

Don’t get me wrong. I hope you are correct. However, there are a few here that have intimated that he will easily do this on every MTF now…

I think a more reasonable hope is that he comes out of the weekend undiminished and can fulfill an awesome ITT (after a ridiculous 900km bus trip).

I like to think I am a neutral observer and just calling it as I see it - I am certainly not an over enthusiastic fan.

Think about how he rode away from the GC contenders on that mountain and there was not a thing any of them could do about it . Hindley said so himself. Then consider we all know he will be super strong in the TT. If he doesn't weaken then yes he could end up winning by a huge margin as he will be taking time at will.

 

[houtdffan]

I think that's quite right, and in fact it would not be surprising if they were seconds apart. I think either can win. If I'm betting it's on Remco, but it would not surprise me to see Roglič win.

I think Rog needs to gain big time this weekend on the back to back steep finish. Likely Saturday since the finishing climb Sunday is more along the lines of Mende where a bad day means you lose 1-2 minutes vs several minutes. The summit finishes after this weekend look tailor made for Remco with moderate and consistent gradients (Pandera is not that steep of a climb compared to the ones this weekend)

 

[peterfin]

Remco's performance during the 6th stage may not be that remarkeable as it is comparable to his efforts in Norway and San Sebastian but what makes it remarkeable to me are the weather conditions. Remco has a history of bad days in cold conditions. With a finish in 12 deg C, heavy rain and fog, the contrast with the days before was huge so you could expect that it would impact his power output. Apparantly that was not case. Either QS learned how to deal with it better or the power loss is offset by being in a shape that is beyond what we have seen from him sofar. In any case, it's clear that he took an important step.

 

[Frobisher Bay]

I think Rog needs to gain big time this weekend on the back to back steep finish. Likely Saturday since the finishing climb Sunday is more along the lines of Mende where a bad day means you lose 1-2 minutes vs several minutes. The summit finishes after this weekend look tailor made for Remco with moderate and consistent gradients (Pandera is not that steep of a climb compared to the ones this weekend)

But why is everyone assuming that Roglic is going ot take back time? He broke 2 vertebrae 8 weeks ago, was off his bike for some time and lost 1minute 30 seconds on the first mountain finish. How is everyone thinking that he turns this around 2 days later? I can see there are some chances on Sunday, as Las Praeres seems to be a shorter effort on a steep hill that would suit him more than Remco. But which indications are there that he would miracalously turn things around tomorrow, on a indeed more steep hill but in altititude and longitude rather similar ascension to Pica Jano? Remco accelarated around 8,5km off the finish, on the steepest parts of Pica Jano, around 10-11%, and he dropped everything except Mas. I can see that people question the endurance of Evenepoel , his handling of 'walls' like on Sunday or the climbs above 2000m, but tomorrow he seems like the favourite to me.

 

[Sciatic]

But why is everyone assuming that Roglic is going ot take back time? He broke 2 vertebrae 8 weeks ago, was off his bike for some time and lost 1minute 30 seconds on the first mountain finish. How is everyone thinking that he turns this around 2 days later? I can see there are some chances on Sunday, as Las Praeres seems to be a shorter effort on a steep hill that would suit him more than Remco. But which indications are there that he would miracalously turn things around tomorrow, on a indeed more steep hill but in altititude and longitude rather similar ascension to Pica Jano? Remco accelarated around 8,5km off the finish, on the steepest parts of Pica Jano, around 10-11%, and he dropped everything except Mas. I can see that people question the endurance of Evenepoel , his handling of 'walls' like on Sunday or the climbs above 2000m, but tomorrow he seems like the favourite to me.

In this regard it seems like Mas who could take back some time the next two days, only to lose it all plus-some in the TT.

 

[Big Doopie]

Opponents have to isolate Remco fast. His team is weak and so it could be done after the first climb tomorrow if someone had the balls.

He was likely the strongest at Itzulia. However, he was completely alone almost the entire last stage. He was forced to make several high intensity efforts. And yet he still only lost 20+ seconds on the last climb.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I think that's quite right, and in fact it would not be surprising if they were seconds apart. I think either can win. If I'm betting it's on Remco, but it would not surprise me to see Roglič win.

I have to repeat what i said in the Roglic thread, and this was before what happened on Picon Jano, that Remco is the clear favorite on this TT. Pancake flat 30k TT by the coast. Unless he overextended himself two days ago or fades out over the next few days, i don't see Remco losing this TT to any of the GC rivals.

Maybe guys like Arensman and Hayter could even beat Roglic here.

 

[groogster]

I think Remco will take at least 1 minute on Roglic and +2 minutes on everyone else in GC

Maybe I could be wrong, because this season Almeida isn’t as strong as usual in itt, but I don’t think that Remco will put +2 minutes on him. I expect something around 1:30 at most.

 

[groogster]

I have to repeat what i said in the Roglic thread, and this was before what happened on Picon Jano, that Remco is the clear favorite on this TT. Pancake flat 30k TT by the coast. Unless he overextended himself two days ago or fades out over the next few days, i don't see Remco losing this TT to any of the GC rivals.

Maybe guys like Arensman and Hayter could even beat Roglic here.

Agree I don’t see anyone that can beat an average Evenepoel with this itt profile and length.

 

[groogster]

Remco's performance during the 6th stage may not be that remarkeable as it is comparable to his efforts in Norway and San Sebastian but what makes it remarkeable to me are the weather conditions. Remco has a history of bad days in cold conditions. With a finish in 12 deg C, heavy rain and fog, the contrast with the days before was huge so you could expect that it would impact his power output. Apparantly that was not case. Either QS learned how to deal with it better or the power loss is offset by being in a shape that is beyond what we have seen from him sofar. In any case, it's clear that he took an important step.

It wasn’t cold by any means, yes was colder and with rain but I still think that those conditions (not talking about 2 or 3 degrees) suit Remco better than the hot 30+ Spanish degrees days.

 

[groogster]

After that stage 6 demolition on a real mountain Remco looking imperious with the TT yet to come. He might win this Vuelta by 7 minutes. But this is the beauty of three week grand tour racing. It keeps us all guessing. He isn't home and hosed.

Those 7 minutes is just wishful thinking and not very related to reality. If he doesn’t fade towards the end, yes he will probably win it but by 7 minutes?!! Despite the profile of this vuelta having Evenepoel written all over the place, he being apparently in peak form, the other contenders with the exception of Mas apparently not having their peak form atm and the 30k itt you are foreseeing a demolition based in a 1 medium mountain stage !

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

I like to think I am a neutral observer and just calling it as I see it - I am certainly not an over enthusiastic fan.

Think about how he rode away from the GC contenders on that mountain and there was not a thing any of them could do about it . Hindley said so himself. Then consider we all know he will be super strong in the TT. If he doesn't weaken then yes he could end up winning by a huge margin as he will be taking time at will.

I mean the pack of contenders was huge (11 people), which is very unusual and telling that some, like Roglic, Carapaz, and Hindley, are not in their normal form. In normal form, there is zero chance they not only let Jay Vine, Remco, and Mas put a minute + into them, but also finish with a pack that large. And being clearly off form (as opposed to on form and still a level below Vine, Remco, and Mas) means they could ride themselves into form. It also, of course, could mean there form is not such that they will be able to contend. Time will tell.

In this regard it seems like Mas who could take back some time the next two days, only to lose it all plus-some in the TT.

Taking time would require him to attack…

 

[Cookster15]

Those 7 minutes is just wishful thinking and not very related to reality. If he doesn’t fade towards the end, yes he will probably win it but by 7 minutes?!! Despite the profile of this vuelta having Evenepoel written all over the place, he being apparently in peak form, the other contenders with the exception of Mas apparently not having their peak form atm and the 30k itt you are foreseeing a demolition based in a 1 medium mountain stage !

I am just extrapolating based upon one stage. After all when was the last time we saw someone ride away off the front like that? I am not even a Remco fan, although having followed him since the 2018 worlds, knowing his TT ability at his weight I could see the potential. But I figure if I over estimate him now the reality might be easier to stomach

But I just noticed Vaya’s reply - hopefully he is right and the GC contenders are not on top level yet. That would be good as it means this race is going to be interesting and not a walkover. The fact Mas could stay with him supports this view.

 

[Andre]

Remco's performance during the 6th stage may not be that remarkeable as it is comparable to his efforts in Norway and San Sebastian but what makes it remarkeable to me are the weather conditions. Remco has a history of bad days in cold conditions. With a finish in 12 deg C, heavy rain and fog, the contrast with the days before was huge so you could expect that it would impact his power output. Apparantly that was not case. Either QS learned how to deal with it better or the power loss is offset by being in a shape that is beyond what we have seen from him sofar. In any case, it's clear that he took an important step.

Remco's abilities have now surpassed any effects that cold or rainy weather can hamper him...he is on his way .

 

[Ripper]

Tom Pidcock: 'There's a good chance I can win the Tour de France in my career'

Pidcock revs up for push at MTB world title Sunday while he mulls big things as grand tour classification contender.

www.velonews.com

Can you imagine the (negative) reaction if this was a certain young Belgian who said this?

Just pointing out the consistent double-standard.

TP seems to be fairly full of himself

 

[groogster]

I am just extrapolating based upon one stage. After all when was the last time we saw someone ride away off the front like that? I am not even a Remco fan, although having followed him since the 2018 worlds, knowing his TT ability at his weight I could see the potential. But I figure if I over estimate him now the reality might be easier to stomach

But I just noticed Vaya’s reply - hopefully he is right and the GC contenders are not on top level yet. That would be good as it means this race is going to be interesting and not a walkover.

Ok, fair enough but as I said way over the top saying that he will take time at his will. Not forget about Mas being also in peak form and even if Roglic is not at his best he still can give a fight to Remco. Then we have guys like, Hindley, O’Connor, Sivakov and Almeida that in a stage like
Sierra Nevada or even in Sundays stage if they are having a good day can leave Remco behind.
I agree that from what we saw from all the GC guys he is the favourite for winning it.

 

[Big Doopie]

arguably rog may not be in top shape.

to say the others are not either is starting to get into that effed-up narrative again each time remco does well.

simon yates is totally prepped for this race. hindley said there was nothing he could do. sivakov thought about following first remco and then at least ayuso but got scared seeing rog and yates drop. however, he said that had he followed remco he would have definitely done a PB in terms of watts/kg...

let's say it is as it is. remco largely dominated stage 6. and it wasn't because others are not in good form.

however, form fluctuates during a GT. it is one of the tests of a GT. so remco may himself be dominated later in the race, not because he is necessarily in bad shape, but because one of those riders who finished behind in stage 6 has better legs/has recovered better.

i don't think we can extrapolate more than that. remco presently has the upper hand. however, after stage 4, how many people didn't think rog had the upper hand...?

 

[Sciatic]

I mean the pack of contenders was huge (11 people), which is very unusual and telling that some, like Roglic, Carapaz, and Hindley, are not in their normal form. In normal form, there is zero chance they not only let Jay Vine, Remco, and Mas put a minute + into them, but also finish with a pack that large. And being clearly off form (as opposed to on form and still a level below Vine, Remco, and Mas) means they could ride themselves into form. It also, of course, could mean there form is not such that they will be able to contend. Time will tell.
Taking time would require him to attack…

Good point!