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

[tobydawq]

Is Alap one of the 8?

Well, he is second from the right on the picture. I don't think it's the Giro team, though.

 

[Salvarani]

Well, he is second from the right on the picture. I don't think it's the Giro team, though.

Are you sure?

Because if he was with Ala, how could he be back with Declercq?

And if he was with Declerq, what happened to Van Wilder?

There would sure be some overlaps.

 

[houtdffan]

Remco has earned the right to have the A team at the giro. Have the TDF team be a sprint train

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I can't see it that well on my phone, but it looks like his least valuable teammate of the past Vuelta.

I see Masnada as being like a mythical creature that everyone has heard stories about, but no one really knows it what looks like. I'm not even sure whether he's actually real anymore or if he's been completely made up by ilmaestro.

 

[red_flanders]

I see Masnada as being like a mythical creature that everyone has heard stories about, but no one really knows it what looks like. I'm not even sure whether he's actually real anymore or if he's been completely made up by ilmaestro.

Certainly his level of talent has been "completely made up by ilmaestro".

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Remco has earned the right to have the A team at the giro. Have the TDF team be a sprint train

Are you sure?

Because if he was with Ala, how could he be back with Declercq?

And if he was with Declerq, what happened to Van Wilder?

There would sure be some overlaps.

Sorry to quote you, and apologies in advance, but i have no idea what you are talking about here.

It seems Remco has already chosen his Giro team

I don't think it's the Giro team, though.

It's the Vuelta team. I would otherwise have no idea why they would sign Hirt if not to put him on the Giro team. On the other hand, i still don't know why they signed Cattaneo, since that was initially also supposed to be a mountain domestique/mentor for Evenepoel. Also have no idea why Devenyns would be on the Giro team, unless only to appease Alaphilippe into going. Because i don't think they'd really miss his micro-pulls. At the very least, the Giro team should have Hirt instead of Devenyns.

 

[mrgmyers]

My favorite argument is the type that defeats any discussion any time I have no other argument and I disagree with a position

Well that is a point of view, However I prefer to wait for the facts, rather than engage in pointless ill-informed or un-informed speculation.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Certainly his level of talent has been "completely made up by ilmaestro".

It's clear to those of us who understand the sport that in the current climate of Italian cycling, with very few up and coming gc rider, that Masnada would have been the only one with the abilities to come close to the great Vincenzo. If not for illness, injuries, bad luck, he would be likely the next Nibali

View: https://youtube.com/watch?v=QHdx1ASKKdQ&feature=shares

 

[Bonimenier]

It's clear to those of us who understand the sport that in the current climate of Italian cycling, with very few up and coming gc rider, that Masnada would have been the only one with the abilities to come close to the great Vincenzo. If not for illness, injuries, bad luck, he would be likely the next Nibali

View: https://youtube.com/watch?v=QHdx1ASKKdQ&feature=shares

Is Tour of Oman the race where Masnada got demolished and finished outside the top 10 against a PCT field on the only real mountain?

 

[topcat]

Too much negativity here. Heading off to The Fausto Masnada is the next Vincenzo Nibali thread.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

According to RTBF he will be doing Amstel, FB, UAE and Tirreno as well.

https://www.rtbf.be/article/flandriennes-giro-tour-de-france-le-calendrier-2023-a-travers-le-chasse-croise-entre-van-aert-et-evenepoel-11130911

 

[Big Doopie]

According to RTBF he will be doing Amstel, FB, UAE and Tirreno as well.

https://www.rtbf.be/article/flandriennes-giro-tour-de-france-le-calendrier-2023-a-travers-le-chasse-croise-entre-van-aert-et-evenepoel-11130911

hmm. Not sure whether to believe that. I thought it was to be a very light spring. That seems verging on ridiculous with the races that have already been announced.

Reading it now, there is no mention of Catalunya (conflict with T-A?). It also says he “could” do all of the Ardennaises (they seem to be making it up as they write the article). Well, sure anything is POSSIBLE.

Amstel seems a no-brainer tho.

 

[Lequack]

Is he trying to make us like him or what?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1610677437163081732

View: https://twitter.com/AlisonBrux/status/1610677437163081732

 

[houtdffan]

hmm. Not sure whether to believe that. I thought it was to be a very light spring. That seems verging on ridiculous with the races that have already been announced.

Reading it now, there is no mention of Catalunya (conflict with T-A?). It also says he “could” do all of the Ardennaises (they seem to be making it up as they write the article). Well, sure anything is POSSIBLE.

Amstel seems a no-brainer tho.

Seems similar to Merckx 1968. Very heavy start, with a very light second half

 

[houtdffan]

According to RTBF he will be doing Amstel, FB, UAE and Tirreno as well.

https://www.rtbf.be/article/flandriennes-giro-tour-de-france-le-calendrier-2023-a-travers-le-chasse-croise-entre-van-aert-et-evenepoel-11130911

That article seems to hint the Vuelta may be in play depending upon results

 

[Big Doopie]

He certainly does not lack in confidence, the dear boy.

 

[red_flanders]

It's clear to those of us who understand the sport that in the current climate of Italian cycling, with very few up and coming gc rider, that Masnada would have been the only one with the abilities to come close to the great Vincenzo. If not for illness, injuries, bad luck, he would be likely the next Nibali

View: https://youtube.com/watch?v=QHdx1ASKKdQ&feature=shares

I’m glad someone here can “understand the sport”. I am a more simple man who evaluates people on their performances.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Seems similar to Merckx 1968. Very heavy start, with a very light second half

As Doopie B. pointed out, they said this year they would put him on a light program early on and ramp it up. But so far it doesn't really seem light at all, if indeed he's doing all those races.

 

[houtdffan]

As Doopie B. pointed out, they said this year they would put him on a light program early on and ramp it up. But so far it doesn't really seem light at all, if indeed he's doing all those races.

Maybe the light program was with the idea that the sponsors were going to force him to the Tour. Thus, they were saying light start, very intense middle.

Perhaps the sponsors were convinced to back off on the Tour, allowing him to do a 1968 Merckx-type schedule

 

[Extinction]

How can he do a full Ardennes block and still prepare optimally for the Giro. I'd have imagined a period at altitude interfering with being at the Ardennes classics save Liege.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

hmm. Not sure whether to believe that. I thought it was to be a very light spring. That seems verging on ridiculous with the races that have already been announced.

Reading it now, there is no mention of Catalunya (conflict with T-A?). It also says he “could” do all of the Ardennaises (they seem to be making it up as they write the article). Well, sure anything is POSSIBLE.

Amstel seems a no-brainer tho.

As Doopie B. pointed out, they said this year they would put him on a light program early on and ramp it up. But so far it doesn't really seem light at all, if indeed he's doing all those races.

How can he do a full Ardennes block and still prepare optimally for the Giro. I'd have imagined a period at altitude interfering with being at the Ardennes classics save Liege.

-San Juan in January
-February Training camp in Teide
-UAE Tour
-Tirreno Adriatico
-1 month between 12th March and 12th April to rest and do another training camp at Sierra Nevada
-Brabantse Pijl, Amstel, Fleche and LBL, then 10 days to Giro to freshen up.

One example of how it could work. Maybe not exactly optimal but it's ambitious and I like that. He can also do Sanremo with this program. And he has better chance to repeat at Liege than to win Giro so make sense to be top form for that. Hopefully Masnada get opportunities of his own in the spring.

 

[Berniece]

The first four names of the Giro team of Remco have been "released".

Ballerini, Vervaeke, Cattaneo and Masnada

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The first four names of the Giro team of Remco have been "released".

Ballerini, Vervaeke, Cattaneo and Masnada

Ballerini is somewhat surprising but it makes sense as i mentioned earlier, because he is also fast enough to go for a stagewin in some less sprinter-friendly stages if he can survive. I'd expect Van Wilder, Hirt and Serry to fill in the other slots.

 

[Salvarani]

The first four names of the Giro team of Remco have been "released".

Ballerini, Vervaeke, Cattaneo and Masnada

Masnada is probably there as co-leader.

 

[Berflamand]

Remco confirmed his participation in the RVV 2025.

(context: he was asked when he would ride the RVV and jokingly answered: when I won the three grand tours)