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

[red_flanders]

Not sure how comparable the circumstances are.
The experience tells that catching a three-week racing rhythm is vital for successful perennial targeting.
Maybe Evenepoel optimally operates in irregular periodization.

He just had a lot of prep time.

 

[Bonimenier]

That would make more than a year between GTs if he eyes the 2024 Tour. Unusual.

I'd guess he will prefer to target WC ITT and Lombardia over the Vuelta. He even said so in a recent interview that the Vuelta is too soon after the WC.

 

[Berniece]

I'd guess he will prefer to target WC ITT and Lombardia over the Vuelta. He even said so in a recent interview that the Vuelta is too soon after the WC.

I do wonder what he's going to do after WC ITT then. Sure he can prepare for the Italian late classics, but is that it? It's annoying that the WC is a couple of weeks after the Tour, this really makes the rest of the year less interesting for a lot of riders. What's a rider like WVA and MVDP going to do after the WC? It's not like they are going to prepare for Lombardia or ride the Vuelta.

 

[sir fly]

I'd guess he will prefer to target WC ITT and Lombardia over the Vuelta. He even said so in a recent interview that the Vuelta is too soon after the WC.

Tour fits the bill as well.
And opens the spring schedule.

 

[xREv]

Remco is this week’s guest on Geraint Thomas podcast

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/remco-evenepoel/id1547237758?i=1000582966978
Spotifiy: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3erDZdjVLEluwsigAaPlJy?si=95r4P-cvQ3mc_G3-NmcDcg&nd=1

 

[red_flanders]

Remco is this week’s guest on Geraint Thomas podcast

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/remco-evenepoel/id1547237758?i=1000582966978
Spotifiy: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3erDZdjVLEluwsigAaPlJy?si=95r4P-cvQ3mc_G3-NmcDcg&nd=1

Awesome! Thanks for the link. Looking forward to it.

 

[KZD]

I do wonder what he's going to do after WC ITT then. Sure he can prepare for the Italian late classics, but is that it? It's annoying that the WC is a couple of weeks after the Tour, this really makes the rest of the year less interesting for a lot of riders. What's a rider like WVA and MVDP going to do after the WC? It's not like they are going to prepare for Lombardia or ride the Vuelta.

I think that Remco could target the Benelux Tour in between the WC and the Italian fall classics. Seems like a better option than doing two GT's in the same season. I suppose MVDP and WVA are going to target the Benelux Tour too or maybe the Canadian classics and then if they think that the Il Lombardia is too hard for them there is always the Gravel Worlds to have some fun and a cyclo-cross season in the horizon

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I wonder what Remco thinks of the 2023 Giro route. I'm pretty confident the Tour route will suit him better.

Of course I think he can win the former. I'm just saying it's by no means a gift. with 3 very hard mountain stages (I expected 2)

LaFlammeRouge seems to be off-line, but 3 stages with around 5500 vertical meters each is a lot, even by Giro standards. The Tour may not even clear 4500m in its hardest stage.

People focus too much on the ITT mileage, IMO.

 

[Red Rick]

I wonder what Remco thinks of the 2023 Giro route. I'm pretty confident the Tour route will suit him better.

Of course I think he can win the former. I'm just saying it's by no means a gift. with 3 very hard mountain stages (I expected 2)

LaFlammeRouge seems to be off-line, but 3 stages with around 5500 vertical meters each is a lot, even by Giro standards. The Tour may not even clear 4500m in its hardest stage.

People focus too much on the ITT mileage, IMO.

Route balancing actually really rarely determines the winner of a GT imo. Field strength matters so much more.

 

[Big Doopie]

Remco is this week’s guest on Geraint Thomas podcast

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/remco-evenepoel/id1547237758?i=1000582966978
Spotifiy: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3erDZdjVLEluwsigAaPlJy?si=95r4P-cvQ3mc_G3-NmcDcg&nd=1

pretty cool.

takeaways for me:

1. experts said it would take him 1 1/2 - 2 years to get back after Lombardia. He said that is basically how it turned out.

2. “stupid” Vuelta crash had real effect on two climbing days after. Could not get up on the pedals. Felt fully recovered after last rest day.

3. Has ready-to-move-in house in Spain, away from the limelight. Plans to head there soon (hopefully).

wish G had asked him WTF he/the team was thinking sending him to the giro in his first race back…

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

I think that Remco could target the Benelux Tour in between the WC and the Italian fall classics. Seems like a better option than doing two GT's in the same season. I suppose MVDP and WVA are going to target the Benelux Tour too or maybe the Canadian classics and then if they think that the Il Lombardia is too hard for them there is always the Gravel Worlds to have some fun and a cyclo-cross season in the horizon

How dare you overlook winning five stages of the Tour of Britain

 

[SHAD0W93]

Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain, Marco Pantani

How old were they and how specialized was the era?

 

[houtdffan]

How old were they and how specialized was the era?

This era isn't as specialized as the previous 20 years. Riders are back to winning all types of races throughout the season again

 

[houtdffan]

Are people still seriously thinking Remco cannot climb?

 

[Extinction]

How old were they and how specialized was the era?

Older and less specialized. Although you could argue that specialization was already a thing when Indurain and Pantani were riding.

 

[Cassirer]

Are people still seriously thinking Remco cannot climb?

No, I don't think anyone is thinking or saying that.

 

[Lequack]

It would be rude to not go to the Giro, when they made the route specifically for him.

 

[Escarabajo]

Are people still seriously thinking Remco cannot climb?

No, I don't think so. I think the concern is altitude coping. But that concerns applies almost to everyone not living at 2000 m of altitude.

 

[Extinction]

This era isn't as specialized as the previous 20 years. Riders are back to winning all types of races throughout the season again

Nobody is ever going to win as many races as Merckx again, not even Eddy would today. But I still think someone can get very close to something like Hinault's career (perhaps only Paris-Roubaix would be lacking) and this means at some point nailing the Giro-Tour double. Given that Remco held top form for 3 months, I think must attempt it at some point.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Given that Remco held top form for 3 months, I think must attempt it at some point.

When did he keep top form for 3 months? From San Sebastián to WC it was less than 2 months?

 

[Extinction]

When did he keep top form for 3 months? From San Sebastián to WC it was less than 2 months?

My bad, he said from end of July to end of Sept., so right 2 months, but as he developes and with perfect planning and execution, perhaps he could pull it off.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Older and less specialized. Although you could argue that specialization was already a thing when Indurain and Pantani were riding.

So let’s have him get older first before he tries and burns himself out. Yes it was a thing but nowhere like it is now.

It would be rude to not go to the Giro, when they made the route specifically for him.

Maybe he’ll want to get rid of the good boy image he got from his wedding.

 

[Bonimenier]

When did he keep top form for 3 months? From San Sebastián to WC it was less than 2 months?

Reports say he is in top form on his honeymoon.

 

[sir fly]

It would be rude to not go to the Giro, when they made the route specifically for him.

Once he starts pursuing the Tour gonna be tough to fit in Giro.

 

[KZD]

According to CN, Remco told Het Nieuwsblad that he already made is calendar choice between Giro and Tour for next year but that it will only make it public in January. Apparently he is going to ride less in the beginning of the season in order to be fresher when his goals come.

I am almost sure it will be the Giro but we'll see.