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

[Berniece]

Masnada is probably there as co-leader.

Doubt it, if quickstep takes the initiative in the first mountain stage, Masnada will have to be part of the train. But maybe they’ll let JV take the lead

 

[Salvarani]

Doubt it, if quickstep takes the initiative in the first mountain stage, Masnada will have to be part if the train. But maybe they’ll let JV take the lead

Masnada should probably be protected and a have free-role in the beginning. It would be foolish to put all their eggs in one basket with Evenepole.

 

[LucVdB]

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

Ballerini, Vervaeke, Cattaneo and Masnada

Those are different than the name Remco mentioned in this interview:

Remco Evenepoel blikvanger bij ploegvoorstelling Soudal-Quick-Step: “Thuis moet ik nog altijd de afwas doen”

Het is weer eens wat anders. Niet Kabouter Plop, maar wel Remco Evenepoel (22) die over Plopsaland regeert. Bij de voorstelling van Soudal-Quick-Step in het attractiepark aan zee waren alle ogen gericht op de wereldkampioen. En die had er zin in. Al tempert hij wel de al te grote verwachtingen...

www.gva.be

"First this: there is a report circulating that for three-fourths I may make the selection myself. That's not correct. What I meant: for three fourths I have my say in that selection. Small difference. But in any case I have my regular pawns that I would like to have and that will normally be there: Vervaeke, Van Wilder and Serry. I would have loved to have Julian Alaphilippe in the team, but since he is riding the Flemish classics, it will be hard to combine. And furthermore, we will need someone for the flat stages, someone who can set his body when needed. Genre: Lampaert, Asgreen or Ballerini. In short: three to four names are fixed, but certainly not everything yet."

 

[Extinction]

-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.

-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.

Si, a parte le classiche, in theory he will need high altitude to deal with the third week of the Giro. I mean what is Roglic's approach? Thomas's? Vlasov's? That is the question. I think, he should sacrifice the Ardennes (I know he is Belgian), but the bigger goal Is Italy..

 

[Berniece]

Those are different than the name Remco mentioned in this interview:

Remco Evenepoel blikvanger bij ploegvoorstelling Soudal-Quick-Step: “Thuis moet ik nog altijd de afwas doen”

Het is weer eens wat anders. Niet Kabouter Plop, maar wel Remco Evenepoel (22) die over Plopsaland regeert. Bij de voorstelling van Soudal-Quick-Step in het attractiepark aan zee waren alle ogen gericht op de wereldkampioen. En die had er zin in. Al tempert hij wel de al te grote verwachtingen...

www.gva.be

"First this: there is a report circulating that for three-fourths I may make the selection myself. That's not correct. What I meant: for three fourths I have my say in that selection. Small difference. But in any case I have my regular pawns that I would like to have and that will normally be there: Vervaeke, Van Wilder and Serry. I would have loved to have Julian Alaphilippe in the team, but since he is riding the Flemish classics, it will be hard to combine. And furthermore, we will need someone for the flat stages, someone who can set his body when needed. Genre: Lampaert, Asgreen or Ballerini. In short: three to four names are fixed, but certainly not everything yet."

I got mine from HLN

 

[Salvarani]

Si, a parte le classiche, in theory he will need high altitude to deal with the third week of the Giro. I mean what is Roglic's approach? Thomas's? Vlasov's? That is the question. I think, he should sacrifice the Ardennes (I know he is Belgian), but the bigger goal Is Italy..

Shouldnt be a problem for the best rider in the world to go for both. He should only continue to get even better. Thats what I been hearing.

 

[Extinction]

Shouldnt be a problem for the best rider in the world to go for both. He should only continue to get even better. Thats what I been hearing.

I understand that, however, in today's cycling, even the "best in the world" can't afford to arrive at a GT appointment anything less than optimally prepared. He needs staying Power in the third week, which is no joke. Against Roglic poi...

 

[Salvarani]

I understand that, however, in today's cycling, even the "best in the world" can't afford to arrive at a GT appointment anything less than optimally prepared. He needs staying Power in the third week, which is no joke. Against Roglic poi...

Roglic is getting old. He is 33.

Remco should be able to beat him and anyone else easily, no problem. Especially when he should evolve even more this season.

 

[Extinction]

Roglic is getting old. He is 33.

Remco should be able to beat him and anyone else easily, no problem. Especially when he should evolve even more this season.

Easily is a big statement, especially as the teams are concerned.

 

[Salvarani]

Easily is a big statement, especially as the teams are concerned.

His progress was only delayed by his crash. He will continue to improve and win everything. Anything less would be a huge failure.

 

[Extinction]

His progress was only delayed by his crash. He will continue to improve and win everything. Anything less would be a huge failure.

That is the promise, but only results have the final word.

 

[red_flanders]

Doubt it, if quickstep takes the initiative in the first mountain stage, Masnada will have to be part of the train. But maybe they’ll let JV take the lead

You may be missing the sarcasm here...

...lawd, I HAVE to believe it's sarcasm...

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Salvarini on a troll mission it seems.

 

[Salvarani]

That is the promise, but only results have the final word.

He won San Sebastian before the Vuelta, so winning L-B-L again before the Giro shouldnt be a problem for this rider.

 

[Salvarani]

2022 must have been a miserable year for you.

It was a great year, actually, if I exclude everything else going on in the world. Why would you think it was miserable? That is a weird thing to just blurt out to someone and had nothing to do with the discussion.

And when it comes to cycling there were some great races and deserving winners. I have not said anything else. Tell me where, if I have.

 

[Extinction]

He won San Sebastian before the Vuelta, so winning L-B-L again before the Giro shouldnt be a problem for this rider.

That depends on his condition coming down from altitude, although, as noted, he won San Sebastian this way. After Liege his got basically 2 weeks before la grande partenza of the Giro and he plans to do one more spell at altitude in between. Since the Giro starts with a TT he'll want to already be in top shape, which he will need to hold for 3 weeks. Now to win Liege a second time he will need to be at or near his best, but how can he then hold such form for the next 5 weeks? It's unlikely that he would have a mini peak for Liege and then go down slightly, to then peak again for la grande partenza on 6 May. Rather it's more logical that he is still building form at Liege to peak for the start of the Giro. But in this case would his Liege shape be sufficient to win? Whatever the case, I think the Liege-Giro combo will be trickier for him than San Sebastian-Vuelta.

 

[Salvarani]

That depends on his condition coming down from altitude, although, as noted, he won San Sebastian this way. After Liege his got basically 2 weeks before la grande partenza of the Giro and he plans to do one more spell at altitude in between. Since the Giro starts with a TT he'll want to already be in top shape, which he will need to hold for 3 weeks. Now to win Liege a second time he will need to be at or near his best, but how can he then hold such form for the next 5 weeks? It's unlikely that he would have a mini peak for Liege and then go down slightly, to then peak again for la grande partenza on 6 May. Rather it's more logical that he is still building form at Liege to peak for the start of the Giro. But in this case would his Liege shape be sufficient to win? Whatever the case, I think the Liege-Giro combo will be trickier for him than San Sebastian-Vuelta.

Yes, agreed that it could be a bit trickier since he should be a little undercooked but at the level he has been riding he should still have a pretty good chance to win it again. Even at 90-95% it should be hard for most riders to match him, especially since he should naturally progress even further.

At the same time, it could be good to ride a hard race here? To be in peak form when the Giro start, as you speak of. A short camp to fine tune in between.

I would find it strange, if he does not start in the WC jersey on home soil after winning L-B-L last year.

 

[Extinction]

Yes, agreed that it could be a bit trickier since he should be a little undercooked but at the level he has been riding he should still have a pretty good chance to win it again. Even at 90-95% it should be hard for most riders to match him, especially since he should naturally progress even further.

At the same time, it could be good to ride a hard race here? To be in peak form when the Giro start, as you speak of. A short camp to fine tune in between.

I would find it strange, if he does not start in the WC jersey on home soil after winning L-B-L last year.

I'd agree with you at 90-95 percent with most riders, but I don't think so against a top Pogacar. For if Pogacar is firing on all cylinders at Liege, than a sub-top form Remco would be pressed to beat him, and rightly so, because Tadej is another phenom. Now if he is at 98 percent for Liege and plans to gain that last 2 percent for la grande partenza the scenario becomes interesting. But again it will be tricky.

 

[Salvarani]

I'd agree with you at 90-95 percent with most riders, but I don't think so against a top Pogacar. For if Pogacar is firing on all cylinders at Liege, than a sub-top form Remco would be pressed to beat him, and rightly so, because Tadej is another phenom. Now if he is at 98 percent for Liege and plans to gain that last 2 percent for la grande partenza the scenario becomes interesting. But again it will be tricky.

Still, if he lines up he will have the ambition and condition to be able to win. L-B-L and Giro should be his biggest targets for the spring. He should be the main favorite for both.

 

[Extinction]

Still, if he lines up he will have the ambition and condition to be able to win. L-B-L and Giro should be his biggest targets for the spring. He should be the main favorite for both.

Again, he will be challenged to be that good over a 5+ week period, but, yes, if there is anyone who can it's likely him (and perhaps Pagacar) at the moment.

 

[Salvarani]

Again, he will be challenged to be that good over a 5+ week period, but, yes, if there is anyone who can it's likely him (and perhaps Pagacar) at the moment.

He should be good enough to win both the L-B-L and go on to win the Giro. He could win both, because he should be pretty close to top form by the time of L-B-L anyway and he should be very motivated to win in the WC jersey I assume. If he is not in good form here, he is probably in trouble or something has happened before that.

I dont think holding his form for 5 weeks is the issue. Because L-B-L is a one-day race and he has done similar stuff in the past.

His form should not drop drastically like that towards or during the Giro. Not with a camp both before and in between to fine tune, something else would have to had gone wrong in that case in the preparation. As been said, he should still just be getting even better.

 

[Extinction]

He should be good enough to win both the L-B-L and go on to win the Giro. He could win both, because he should be pretty close to top form by the time of L-B-L anyway and he should be very motivated to win in the WC jersey I assume. If he is not in good form here, he is probably in trouble or something has happened before that.

I dont think holding his form for 5 weeks is the issue. Because L-B-L is a one-day race and he has done similar stuff in the past.

His form should not drop drastically like that towards or during the Giro. Not with a camp both before and in between to fine tune, something else would have to had gone wrong in that case in the preparation. As been said, he should still just be getting even better.

I agree that he should be stronger in 2023, which is a frightful prospect for the competition, however, it's also true that the best laid plans don't always come to fruition. He could crash or get sick at the wrong time or the even higher expectations in Belgium could weigh upon him psychologically (he himself gave a hint of this by recently saying "people need to understand I can't win all the races"). Of course, with only four events before the Giro he might be understandably insincere, but the statement shows he is aware folks just expect success from him, but even he is only human after all. Look at what happened to Pogacar last year, everyone thought a third consecutive Tour victory was a foregone conclusion, but then he unexpectedly met his match.

And the Giro will be a different beast than the Vuelta. It will be much colder and the amount of climbing, the length and altitudine of the climbs in the third week will be something he hasn't tackled before racing. And, if Roglic, Thomas and Vlasov are in top shape, the competition will likely be tougher than at last year's Vuelta. Of course the same is true for the others facing a smashing Evenepoel. But I go by the philosophy of don't count your chickens before they are hatched. Remco wisely, at least publicly, seems to agree, saying he is going for a couple of stage victories and a top 5 GC, adding that he'd be satisfied with a podium like a victory. Of course, privately he may only be happy with overall victory and doubtless it is within his reach, but just say Roglic is really super too? It would be a great battle and Remco could not afford to go down as at the Vuelta and then ship time to Primoz in the next mountain stages.

Sure there is every reason to be optimistic, even confident, about his chances for victory, but in cycling there are so many variables that make execution of the plan not always easy or possible. If anything, Liege should give a pretty clear indication of what Evenepoel will show up at la grande partenza. And then from there it all has to go according to plan or, at any rate, with the least mistakes and bad luck possible.

 

[houtdffan]

we're talking about Remco not being able to hold peak form for 5 weeks?

He held it for 5 MONTHS last year. Suisse was not a loss of form, it was a near heat stroke, same as Armstrong in the 2003 TDF

 

[Salvarani]

I agree that he should be stronger in 2023, which is a frightful prospect for the competition, however, it's also true that the best laid plans don't always come to fruition. He could crash or get sick at the wrong time or the even higher expectations in Belgium could weigh upon him psychologically (he himself gave a hint of this by recently saying "people need to understand I can't win all the races"). Of course, with only four events before the Giro he might be understandably insincere, but the statement shows he is aware folks just expect success from him, but even he is only human after all. Look at what happened to Pogacar last year, everyone thought a third consecutive Tour victory was a foregone conclusion, but then he unexpectedly met his match.

And the Giro will be a different beast than the Vuelta. It will be much colder and the amount of climbing, the length and altitudine of the climbs in the third week will be something he hasn't tackled before racing. And, if Roglic, Thomas and Vlasov are in top shape, the competition will likely be tougher than at last year's Vuelta. Of course the same is true for the others facing a smashing Evenepoel. But I go by the philosophy of don't count your chickens before they are hatched. Remco wisely, at least publicly, seems to agree, saying he is going for a couple of stage victories and a top 5 GC, adding that he'd be satisfied with a podium like a victory. Of course, privately he may only be happy with overall victory and doubtless it is within his reach, but just say Roglic is really super too? It would be a great battle and Remco could not afford to go down as at the Vuelta and then ship time to Primoz in the next mountain stages.

Sure there is every reason to be optimistic, even confident, about his chances for victory, but in cycling there are so many variables that make execution of the plan not always easy or possible. If anything, Liege should give a pretty clear indication of what Evenepoel will show up at la grande partenza. And then from there it all has to go according to plan or, at any rate, with the least mistakes and bad luck possible.

Great post.

He still remains the clear favorite for both races whether he wants to downplay it or not. Which is just the wise thing to do as you say.

If all goes well in the preparation and he naturally evolves like a lot of people has said that he will do, I dont see how he could be able to lose the Giro at least. It would be a great upset if he did lose and according to plan if he does.

Giro is one of the greatest races on the calendar, so I am hoping there will at least be someone that is able to challenge but I doubt it. His to lose in my opinion, unless something unexpected happens.

 

[theyoungest]

Great post.

He still remains the clear favorite for both races whether he wants to downplay it or not. Which is just the wise thing to do as you say.

If all goes well in the preparation and he naturally evolves like a lot of people has said that he will do, I dont see how he could be able to lose the Giro at least. It would be a great upset if he did lose and according to plan if he does.

Giro is one of the greatest races on the calendar, so I am hoping there will at least be someone that is able to challenge but I doubt it. His to lose in my opinion, unless something unexpected happens.

I seem to remember Roglic, when he came into form a bit during the Vuelta, definitely being able to challenge Evenepoel. You expect that now he's specifically gearing toward the Giro, and hopefully starting fit rather than just returning from injury, he's suddenly a lot worse?