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

[Extinction]

It’s Adam. Not Simon.

Exactly, my mistake.

 

[Berniece]

I think it's generally an asspulled number. I don't think they're ever talking about either %of peak W/kg or the the difference between form after winter break compared to peak form.

Remco does talk about this. Not exact numbers but he always analyses his data and lets the media know if it was his best or not. So if he says he’s at 85-90% I actually think that’s correct, based on whatever metric he uses and compares it with his Vuelta form.

 

[Andre]

Good start for Remco today. He got rid of Yates in the winds. Bilbao is still in there though.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Good start for Remco today. He got rid of Yates in the winds. Bilbao is still in there though.

We'll know more after the TTT, but it seems it's between him, Plapp and Bilbao.

 

[Eeslliw]

We'll know more after the TTT, but it seems it's between him, Plapp and Bilbao.

It's already in the bag.

 

[Salvarani]

No way he loses this now. It cannot happen.

 

[Extinction]

The TTT now could already seal the deal if there are big gaps after between Evenepoel, Bilbao and Plapp, unless UAE takes the time back on the others, which is not likely.

 

[Jagartrott]

Quite nice to see the world champion actively doing echelon riding, not hiding, just racing and seemingly enjoying it.

 

[Extinction]

Quite nice to see the world champion actively doing echelon riding, not hiding, just racing and seemingly enjoying it.

That's his Monster engine.

 

[Berniece]

The TTT now could already seal the deal if there are big gaps after between Evenepoel, Bilbao and Plapp, unless UAE takes the time back on the others, which is not likely.

TTT might make sure that Bilbao is out of the race, but doesn't INEOS have proper riders with them? It's not like SQ has brought their A-team for this type of work. It might be more likely that Plapp takes more time.

 

[Berflamand]

TTT might make sure that Bilbao is out of the race, but doesn't INEOS have proper riders with them? It's not like SQ has brought their A-team for this type of work. It might be more likely that Plapp takes more time.

I would be happy if QuickStep can keep up with INEOS, Bahrain and UAE or only lose a few seconds. I don't think they're gonna be able to take time on any of these teams with their line-up but I'd be very happy if I'm proven wrong tomorrow.

 

[steffr222]

Great performance by Remco. Well played. And what a pleasure to watch the World Champion racing like this.. just compare it to last year’s flat stages lol (I know, under different circumstances- but still).

 

[Red Rick]

Best rouleur in the world by some margin

 

[Extinction]

TTT might make sure that Bilbao is out of the race, but doesn't INEOS have proper riders with them? It's not like SQ has brought their A-team for this type of work. It might be more likely that Plapp takes more time.

Yes, this remains to be seen.

 

[Netserk]

Best rouleur in the world by some margin

Better than Van Aert on the flat by some margin? No.

 

[Extinction]

Better than Van Aert on the flat by some margin? No.

And vice versa.

 

[Bonimenier]

Better than Van Aert on the flat by some margin? No.

It's not even close. If they do a duo time trial where each does exactly 50% of the work, Van Aert gets demolished.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Better than Van Aert on the flat by some margin? No.

Quite sure he is, yes. If Van Aert were in the same ballpark as Evenepoel, he would win a lot more races with long solo efforts, especially since his sprinting in small groups is rather suspect.

 

[Oldermanish]

The TTT now could already seal the deal if there are big gaps after between Evenepoel, Bilbao and Plapp, unless UAE takes the time back on the others, which is not likely.

Add crosswinds and the TTT could be the most important stage.

 

[tobydawq]

Quite sure he is, yes. If Van Aert were in the same ballpark as Evenepoel, he would win a lot more races with long solo efforts, especially since his sprinting in small groups is rather suspect.

I don't think so. At Omloop last year (and Calais for that matter), it was quite evident that Van Aert is a monster there too. He just rides a bit too passively to show it often.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Remco was impressive today. Still if Adam Yates or van Aert is chasing. That in my opinion still does make some difference.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I don't think so. At Omloop last year (and Calais for that matter), it was quite evident that Van Aert is a monster there too. He just rides a bit too passively to show it often.

Van Aert is one of the best in the world, just not as good. Also Evenepoel definitely seems to keep fresh longer. After a hard race, he can still whip out a monster solo effort. Van Aert's solo efforts are generally much shorter. Remember Evenepoel's monster attack in Germany in his first season, where he had been doing a solo of i think over 100k and the peloton tore itself to shreds (and in the end needed to be motorpaced) to reel him back.
If you look at how Evenepoel (not even in top form) during the 2021 WCC was riding, and Van Aert was done while he had done 0 work himself. When Evenepoel goes, 9 out of 10 he's gone.

 

[Red Rick]

Better than Van Aert on the flat by some margin? No.

Flat ITT I take Van Aert. Taking turns in a long road race I take Evenepoel, especially if you have to do a solo after.

I may overrate Evenepoel a bit here because he climbs much better than Van Aert and is gonna be less affected by hills.

 

[Volderke]

The problem with Remco is that he generates so little draft, that he will demolish any rider that is willing to go mano a mano in any kind of Trofeo Baracchi (2 man attack).

Remco gets all the draft by other riders, but he doesn't give much back in return. Very selfish in terms of draft.

 

[Red Rick]

The problem with Remco is that he generates so little draft, that he will demolisch any rider that is willing to go mano a mano in any kind of Trofeo Baracchi (2 man attack).

Remco gets all the draft by other riders, but he doesn't give much back in return. Very selfish in terms of draft.

I wonder how big the difference is. I know some research group in Leuven/Eindhoven did a lot of work on CFD simulations about the effects of drafting in groups, TTTs, and even the effects of the car behind a rider in TTTs, but to my knowledge they haven't published anything about the dynamics of riders of different sizes.

I do think when riders complain "you have no draft behidn Evenepoel" they just mean it's less, not that there is none, and generally riders with a CdA that low (so even smaller riders than Evenepoel) will simply not go nearly as fast as Evenepoel does.