To be fair, WVA couldnt hang with Remc on on the false flat of La Redoutte. Not sure he can handle thermonuclear Remco on Ciepressa
I'd suggest those are VERY different race scenarios/parcours. You're welcome to that opinion of course.To be fair, WVA couldnt hang with Remc on on the false flat of La Redoutte. Not sure he can handle thermonuclear Remco on Ciepressa
It would be almost impossible for remco to drop pogacar, van der poel or van aert on that climb. Even attacking by far, he would be followed by then. It would even be difficult for him to beat them on the sprint.first 1k is at 5.8%. The final 2 km is basically a false flat
That said, I still overstated the difficulty a bit. Its closer to a 5% average gradient over the first 4 km instead of 6-7
Van der Poel is not healthy right now...we still don't know how he will progress until those races comeIt would be almost impossible for remco to drop pogacar, van der poel or vam aert on that climb. Even attacking by far, he would be followed by then. It would even be difficult for him to beat them on the sprint.
One day races like il lombardia, with more difficult climbs, are more suitable for remco.
Not healthy? He's perfectly fine.Van der Poel is not healthy right now...we still don't know how he will progress until those races come
While i'm sure he could win a sprint against many climbers or domestiques at the end of a hard day, him sprinting against those 4 would need a miracle for him not finishing last.It would be almost impossible for remco to drop pogacar, van der poel or van aert on that climb. Even attacking by far, he would be followed by then. It would even be difficult for him to beat them on the sprint.
One day races like il lombardia, with more difficult climbs, are more suitable for remco.
Was this season a failure for Pogacar? He did win Lombardia but that was not the biggest goal.Which/how many of his presumed goals does he have to win this year for it not to feel like a failure. Is anything less than Giro, Liege, WCTT a bad season for him?
Which/how many of his presumed goals does he have to win this year for it not to feel like a failure. Is anything less than Giro, Liege, WCTT a bad season for him?
I think for some it was.Was this season a failure for Pogacar? He did win Lombardia but that was not the biggest goal.
I think a failure would need him to not be in contention for a big victory at all. We can expect him on the podium of the Giro, but a lot can happen, and not every setback has to mean failure.
Short answer is 'it depends'. Mainly on your expectations, including your long term expectations.Which/how many of his presumed goals does he have to win this year for it not to feel like a failure. Is anything less than Giro, Liege, WCTT a bad season for him?
5 seconds at the top of the Poggio or 5 seconds at the foot of the descent. Big difference as 5 seconds at the foot they never see him again until after the victory salute but a 5 seconds lead at the top would imo be gobbled up on the twisty technical descent.Could only happen if it was raced hard from the start so that a lot of doms are already tired halfway. The race is too easy otherwise, the peloton would be too big and he would never get away far enough to hold a lead over the Poggio. But i'd like to see him try. I wonder what would happen if he were to attack full out at the foot of the Poggio and just keep going. Not wait for the sprint on the steepest section, but make everybody suffer before that. I think in a TT, nobody would beat him up a "climb" like that. If he has 5 seconds after the Poggio, he's gone.
You're actually helping his case imho.
Which/how many of his presumed goals does he have to win this year for it not to feel like a failure. Is anything less than Giro, Liege, WCTT a bad season for him?
Poggio is a pedalling descent, so I'm not that sure he would lose a truckload of time.
Poggio is a pedalling descent, so I'm not that sure he would lose a truckload of time.
What are you talking about? There are tons of hairpins on the Poggio descent.
Poggio is a pedalling descent, so I'm not that sure he would lose a truckload of time.
I agree with this, but on the other hand MSR is the most "lottery-like" race among the monuments. If you want to win it during your career, it's probably best to get as many chances as possible, especially if the race itself doesn't really suit your type of rider.I mean, both things are true. But the guys who have broken free on the descent are the best descenders in the peloton. Remco has clearly gotten better but I just don't see, given his talents and limitations, why he would make this race a goal. There are so many other ones which suit him so much better. IMO if he ever makes this a priority it will be because he's already won every other monument, which of course may never happen.
Nah, it's about what the opportunity costs are, and they're not that high.IMO if he ever makes this a priority it will be because he's already won every other monument, which of course may never happen.
Yes, but on the straights you are pedalling and Evenepoels TT prowess will help him a lot there. Also a pedalling descent can hurt the chasing effort, which happened when Nibali won.What are you talking about? There are tons of hairpins on the Poggio descent.
The real difficulty for Evenepol is getting a gap in the first place.
Fair, I just don’t see that approach at this point from Remco and company. Very targeted and specific. I have seen zero interest from him in MSR.I agree with this, but on the other hand MSR is the most "lottery-like" race among the monuments. If you want to win it during your career, it's probably best to get as many chances as possible, especially if the race itself doesn't really suit your type of rider.
Disagree. There’s no scenario in which he can win without going balls out on the descent of the Poggio. Cost of a mistake there is yuge. Before his season really gets underway.Nah, it's about what the opportunity costs are, and they're not that high.
Fair, I just don’t see that approach at this point from Remco and company. Very targeted and specific. I have seen zero interest from him in MSR.
Disagree. There’s no scenario in which he can win without going balls out on the descent of the Poggio. Cost of a mistake there is yuge. Before his season really gets underway.
Disagree. There’s no scenario in which he can win without going balls out on the descent of the Poggio. Cost of a mistake there is yuge. Before his season really gets underway.