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

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Ineos Grenadiers explores Remco Evenepoel transfer with Jim Ratcliffe wanting immediate Tour de France success

Dave Brailsford sends a text to Patrick Lefevere: ‘Do you want to sell him?’

www.velonews.com

Remember in 2018, Brailsford claimed he didn't even know who Evenepoel was, after trying to sign him.

 

[Samamba]

I refuse to believe that article is serious.

Below 0% chance this happens.

EDIT: ok so if I'm correct it's just Lefevere waffling about Ineos guys texting him lol? Is that it?

 

[gregrowlerson]

I refuse to believe that article is serious.

Below 0% chance this happens.

Probably not, but a top sports person transferring to a new team for plenty of $ is always possible.

 

[DNP-Old]

I refuse to believe that article is serious.

Below 0% chance this happens.

EDIT: ok so if I'm correct it's just Lefevere waffling about Ineos guys texting him lol? Is that it?

That, plus Ratcliffe's apparent desperation with finding a guy who can win him a Tour de France immediately. That could check out, given INEOS' GC situation, where literally everyone with aspirations is a question mark, being either old, unproven or having severe health issues. If that's true, anything is possible. Ratcliffe has stupid money. Lefevere holds all the cards, however, since Remco is under contract until 2027. But if Lefevere names a price (which he will not do), anything is possible. If Ratcliffe wants to make this a transfer comparable to football standards, he can.

The article relies heavily on some apparent issues in regards to bonuses between QS and Remco, however, and that is what makes me very much doubt it. Even in the off chance there were problems present, Bakala and Soudal would step in immediately without hesitation.

 

[Blobs]

That would be a nightmare. I like Remco but hate the Sky-train, which I'm guessing would be back in full effect.

 

[Panda Claws]

The title is a bit clickbaity. According to Lefevre the text was not 'Do you want to sell him?' But rather like 'If you ever want to sell him, give me a call.'

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I think there is a bigger chance they can poach Vingegaard from Jumbo, than there is to lure Evenepoel away from QuickStep, if Ineos want a guy that can perform at the TDF immediately.

• Evenepoel has stated repeatedly he wants to stay with the team throughout his career and that money is not a deciding factor. Obviously this gets thrown around all the time by any athlete, but for Evenepoel who is really into the whole wolfpack thing, i actually think it's true. He seems to fit well within the team and the group.
• Take Evenepoel away and QuickStep is nearly non-existent for the moment. Asgreen, Alaphilippe, Jakobsen... combined don't even come close to Evenepoel's 2022.
• Soudal and Quickstep, starting 2023, are putting down the big bucks to build a Belgian GC team, which would especially initially revolve around Evenepoel. The only possibility is that they could immediately scoop up Uijtdebroeks at Bora to replace Evenepoel, and build further around him, as it has become apparent that the team is not strong enough yet, and won't be for 2023 either, to control a GT. That move would buy them another 2 years or so, as Uijtdebroeks himself only turns 20 in January. I expect big improvements by Van Wilder still, who is lagging in development due to DSM and crashes, and while i am convinced he has at least as much talent as guys like Sivakov or Hart, he still has some ways to go before he can play a role as a contender for more than a top 10.

Can't see it happening.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

It's Lefevere's way of getting ready Remco back to the top of the news over MvdP, and to get more money from Soudal and also to up the Giro appearance fee offer.

 

[yaco]

This issue will definitely be revisited in 2027 - LeFevre will need an increased budget to meet Remco's market value.

 

[Escarabajo]

I knew that INEOS was very interested. But I am sure that was before all the end of year success happened. It was being commented in several podcasts. They were very confident that they could turn Remco into a winner and I was sure of that too. But QS really did a good job with him and I think is too late now. It would be very hard to get him out of that team. I mean, how much money do you want to throw at him just to put him on your team. It would be almost soccer money, and I don't think that is happening.

 

[GuntherL1]

The answer from Evenepoel sr was interesting:
"Is a transfer not an option? "I do not know. Remco has a five-year contract with Quick.Step”, says Patrick Evenepoel. “It's not up to me to talk."
Lefeveres comment even more:
"Someone who is cheated on is always the last to know"

I think he knows something's up. Maybe we should Axel Merckx' opinion.

 

[frisenfruitig]

INEOS do have that kind of money though. If they really do want immediate success, who are they supposed to go for? Pogacar won't be any cheaper, Vingegaard won't be cheap either and is older than both. No one else comes close as far as I can tell.

They have plenty of guys who can make top 5 bot are lacking a superman like they used to have with Froome and have been for a while. Perhaps they really will be crazy enough to throw insane amounts of cash at Evenepoel.

 

[GuntherL1]

INEOS do have that kind of money though. If they really do want immediate success, who are they supposed to go for? Pogacar won't be any cheaper, Vingegaard won't be cheap either and is older than both. No one else comes close as far as I can tell.

They have plenty of guys who can make top 5 bot are lacking a superman like they used to have with Froome and have been for a while. Perhaps they really will be crazy enough to throw insane amounts of cash at Evenepoel.

Plenty of guys? In 2023? Who exactly?
Yates and Carapaz will leave.
Thomas will be 37 at next year's TdF.
Porte is out
Bernals full recovery isn't a certainty yet.
Martinez was disappointing in this year's TdF.
That leaves Sivakov, Rodriguez and Arensman.

 

[Wvv]

Just stay a Wolf, Remco. No shenanigans.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Remco is in a position of power and can ask for more money at Quickstep, since he is the reason why they got a long term sponsorship deal. He has Lefevre by the balls, as the later would probably put it...

 

[Red Rick]

Remco is in a position of power and can ask for more money at Quickstep, since he is the reason why they got a long term sponsorship deal. He has Lefevre by the balls, as the later would probably put it...

Remco has a contract for the next bajillion years.

Unless we're gonna get football practices where guys stop showing up to force a move he ain't going anywhere. Besides, if he wants more green I'm sure he can milk Belgian sponsor deals.

 

[DNP-Old]

Remco is in a position of power and can ask for more money at Quickstep, since he is the reason why they got a long term sponsorship deal. He has Lefevre by the balls, as the later would probably put it...

Unless the contract contains some sort of release clause or his terms include legal reason for termination if a prerequisite isn't met, the only one in power is Lefevere. The contract of Remco doesn't run out until December 31st 2026. Lefevere can ask whatever he so desires.

 

[Scarponi]

When Roglic dropped him he wasn't on top form. I can't see Roglic dropping him in his 2022 Vuelta form.

I am also pretty sure Pog and Ving would be worried based upon what they saw in the Vuelta.

On of course just saying if he stays at this exact level as his top level still might get dropped by Pog and Vinge thermonuclear level but he will probably get stronger

 

[Scarponi]

Doubt they would have attacked like they did in July if they were attacking an in form Remco. Exceptionally difficult to attack him once he gets to the front and has full diesel tempo going

They would have to though with how strong he is in the TT ( especially Vinge)

 

[Bolder]

Remco has a contract for the next bajillion years.

Unless we're gonna get football practices where guys stop showing up to force a move he ain't going anywhere. Besides, if he wants more green I'm sure he can milk Belgian sponsor deals.

He can talk to Wout about how to break a contract....

 

[greyclouds]

It’s pretty obvious that INEOS have been and will try any major signing they can. Supposedly Poga last year, and this year Remco. In either case, it’s just not going to happen, hence I always thought that poaching Rogla was a much more obvious option for INEOS - yes it doesn’t guarantee a TdF victory, but normally would guarantee a discussion for any GT podium. Yes, Rodriguez and Arensman can we’ll step up, but they don’t have (yet) the consistency of results to guarantee that.

Back to Remco - the only way he would leave imho is if asks for a contract renewal, as should be expected after this year’s fenomenal performances, and Patrick plays cheap and he feels misvalued. Yes, PL has done that in the past, see Almeida’s saga, but that was much much different - he wasn’t a monument winner, GT winner, world champion nor Belgian’s national hero. I know that Remco says that he doesn’t care about the money, and I can believe that to a point, but everyone wants to feel appreciated and valued. Saying that, not gonna happen, PL is stupid but not by that much.

 

[Samamba]

Why do so many people here (and everywhere on the internet it seems) think it's normal for a rider to ask for a raise every year when he just signed a multiyear extension? If you sign a long term contract it must mean the team initially gave a ton of money (more than you deserve probably). It must've been a really good contract. It's cycling, if you sign a contract you should be planning on staying till the end of that contract. Otherwise just don't sign a contract till the end of time? Could've just signed a contract till 2024 for example yk and then he was free to negotiate with everyone he wants.

Man I hate how so many people are apparently trying to turn this sport into Football, as if that should be a standard for any sport.

Look at the difference between Girmay and De Lie for example. Both blow up this year and both sign an extension with their team. Difference? Girmay till the end of 26 and De Lie "only" till the end of 24. De Lie doesn't want to sign a long contract because he thinks he's going to be worth way more in 2 years time (his own words btw), he can then see what's best for him. Girmay on the other hand chooses the longterm option. Intermarché probably offered him more than he "deserves" right now but it also means that Girmay has to stick with them for a long time and they can build a team on him. If he starts winning classics left and rights well yeah he might not earn what he should get then, but that's the risk you take when you sign a longterm contract. If Girmay doesn't evolve in what Intermarché thinks he's going too, Girmay made a good choice, but Intermarché will be overpaying him. Again the risk of a longterm contract. Risks that everyone knows when they're signing one.

 

[Escarabajo]

I don't think Lefevre has the power here like some have said here. If the current contract is low, I am sure INEOS can even buy it. At the same time Lefevre has never been in this position IMHO. This is the first time that someone since Eddy Merkx is carrying the same tag price in his country. Sponsors will align in order to keep him. In that same order of thoughts Remco could probably re-negotiate amicably with the team. Lefevre cannot behave the same way as he has done in the past with other riders. This time is very different.

 

[Escarabajo]

Why do so many people here (and everywhere on the internet it seems) think it's normal for a rider to ask for a raise every year when he just signed a multiyear extension? If you sign a long term contract it must mean the team initially gave a ton of money (more than you deserve probably). It must've been a really good contract. It's cycling, if you sign a contract you should be planning on staying till the end of that contract. Otherwise just don't sign a contract till the end of time? Could've just signed a contract till 2024 for example yk and then he was free to negotiate with everyone he wants.

Man I hate how so many people are apparently trying to turn this sport into Football, as if that should be a standard for any sport.

It is not normal, you are right about that, but we are not talking about "a rider" here. And this is Belgium. Anybody else, you are right.

 

[Sciatic]

Why do so many people here (and everywhere on the internet it seems) think it's normal for a rider to ask for a raise every year when he just signed a multiyear extension? If you sign a long term contract it must mean the team initially gave a ton of money (more than you deserve probably). It must've been a really good contract. It's cycling, if you sign a contract you should be planning on staying till the end of that contract. Otherwise just don't sign a contract till the end of time? Could've just signed a contract till 2024 for example yk and then he was free to negotiate with everyone he wants.

Man I hate how so many people are apparently trying to turn this sport into Football, as if that should be a standard for any sport.

That’s definitely what we see here in American footbal and basketball (baseball has somewhat more restrictive legal clauses), to the extent that players with an existing contract will sit out games (or in rare cases even a season) even though they have an existing contract. The argument in the past has always been that athletes careers are extremely short, career ending injuries can happen at any time, so getting the most $ when a player has their highest market value makes sense. Of course, that no longer makes sense with the exorbitant size of NFL and NBA contracts, but maybe it’s still relevant for cyclists? But can’t imagine Remco isn’t set for life with his current contract.