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

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Pogacar beat Yates last two times on this mountain, if I remember correctly...

But he got dropped by over a minute in 2020, in between Pog's Vuelta podium, and Pog's first TDF win.

 

[Boes]

Sure he could. But he will not be in any close distance in either the Giro or TdF.

I am amazed how many believe his Vuelta victory suddenly turned him into a legit GT contender. Ever wondered if the Vuelta 22 was a weak edition?

Remco is off the charts but he is no legit gt rider.

Make me eat my hat, please.

Adam Blythe, is that you?

You sure have a lot of aliases on this forum. ' insert suprised pikachu meme here '

 

[Riek s]

The only question is, could Remco have beaten Vingegaard this week in Gran Camino?

Hard to say, Vingegaard looked redonculous impressive.... on the other hand his competition in Gran Camino are not guys i would rate high at the top... so unless someone has his power numbers... I think I rate Vingegaard a bit higher at this point in time.

 

[DNP-Old]

Pogacar beat Yates last two times on this mountain, if I remember correctly...

Doesn't change the fact that he got smoked for a full minute by Yates on this very climb.

 

[Blanco]

But he got dropped by over a minute in 2020, in between Pog's Vuelta podium, and Pog's first TDF win.

Yeah, I know.
If this happened between Remco's first Giro and Vuelta win, it would not be a big deal. But Remco is a GT winner now, and he did that with supreme climbing performance.
This, today, was not a supreme climbing performance.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Yeah, I know.
If this happened between Remco's first Giro and Vuelta win, it would not be a big deal. But Remco is a GT winner now, and he did that with supreme climbing performance.
This, today, was not a supreme climbing performance.

He set the 2nd fastest time ever on this climb. So i would say it was "pretty good", to put it mildly. He has not yet gone on altitude, he is doing the Giro, which means he needs to manage his form differently from riders who will target the Tour. He needs to gradually improve towards the Giro, while riders who target the Tour, can have a first peak early in the season, get a rest period, and then work towards their big peak for the TDF.

 

[DNP-Old]

Evenepoel and Yates Obliterate Hafeet Record | UAE Tour 2023 Stage 7 - Lanterne Rouge

The Queen stage of the 2023 UAE Tour did not disappoint, with Remco Evenepoel and Adam Yates pushing huge watts on Jebel Hafeet and setting a new climbing record into a headwind.

lanternerouge.com

 

[Blanco]

He set the 2nd fastest time ever on this climb. So i would say it was "pretty good", to put it mildly. He has not yet gone on altitude, he is doing the Giro, which means he needs to manage his form differently from riders who will target the Tour. He needs to gradually improve towards the Giro, while riders who target the Tour, can have a first peak early in the season, get a rest period, and then work towards their big peak for the TDF.

I know all that, you're kind of right, of course, but I still think his level now should be a little higher.
Or I have a greater expectations after last year's monster season.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I know all that, you're kind of right, of course, but I still think his level now should be a little higher.
Or I have a greater expectations after last year's monster season.

He had the disadvantage of climbing into a headwind, of which he did large portions up front, and that he should not come into the Giro overcooked since there is no time for a break in between, as opposed to riders who go to the Tour. And yet, he climbs 10 s faster than Pogacar's fastest time, who did in fact target the Tour (don't know the exact conditions of Pog's ascent, headwind or not) and still you expect more of him. With the risk of being called a strawman's argument, while in reality it is simple logical deduction, that means you also must have thought that Pogacar's level should have been higher here in 2021 and 2022.

I'm sorry but your expectations, and predictions (regarding form to beat Roglic) simply do not sound very realistic or credible.

 

[HelloDolly]

Remco is wining no Giro

Cant climb well enough ( and dont cite a sub level field Vuelta win in 2022)

Roglic and Vlasov will beat him (if they stay upright)

 

[topcat]

Remco will win the giro (banker) and could also win the tour if he doubles up. Simply the best.

 

[Oldermanish]

He set the 2nd fastest time ever on this climb. So i would say it was "pretty good", to put it mildly. He has not yet gone on altitude, he is doing the Giro, which means he needs to manage his form differently from riders who will target the Tour. He needs to gradually improve towards the Giro, while riders who target the Tour, can have a first peak early in the season, get a rest period, and then work towards their big peak for the TDF.

Let's be real about "fastest" and "2nd fastest time ever" when discussing the finish. No one in the race before or at this edition of the climb was attempting to set a climbing record. Yate's team, who hadn't hadn't worked much absolutely drilled if from the start of the hill. When they tired and the pack was shredded, Yates did the rest pretty much by himself. He wanted a podium; which he nailed down by 3 seconds! That's what the race was about and Remco got a free ride. Kudos to both of them and to a overheated Sepp Kuss for hanging on. I'll bet he's ready for some cooler climbing.

As for Remco's form; he's going well and not too well as you've noted.

 

[Andy schleck]

Remco allegedly did 6.8 W/KG for 26 minutes in 38 degree heat in February? Contador 7.1 for 20 on Verbier for comparison.

Yates also at an insane level.

Naichaca does calculations to weight standard 60 kg.

 

[Andy schleck]

He set the 2nd fastest time ever on this climb. So i would say it was "pretty good", to put it mildly. He has not yet gone on altitude, he is doing the Giro, which means he needs to manage his form differently from riders who will target the Tour. He needs to gradually improve towards the Giro, while riders who target the Tour, can have a first peak early in the season, get a rest period, and then work towards their big peak for the TDF.

Third fastest time* ever but he is good shape.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1629827989327298561

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1629827989327298561

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Third fastest time* ever but he is good shape.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1629827989327298561

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1629827989327298561

According to Strava he was 10s faster than Pogacar in 2021. I'll take data i can verify over data i can not verify.

Jebel Hafeet | Strava Ride Segment in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

www.strava.com

A different Strava segment puts him 1 minute 7 seconds faster than Pogacar 2020.

Full Jebel Hafeet | Strava Ride Segment in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

www.strava.com

That's what the race was about and Remco got a free ride. Kudos to both of them and to a overheated Sepp Kuss for hanging on. I'll bet he's ready for some cooler climbing.

Remco got a free ride? Remco did a 5.8km solo effort into a headwind. Yates did 3.2km solo, as he had been hanging in Evenepoel's wheel until he attacked the second time. That means Evenepoel was roughly 3.5km in somebody else's wheel before he took over from Yates and rode his own pace until the finish. If you want to talk about free rides, maybe you should take a look at previous editions.

 

[houtdffan]

Let's be real about "fastest" and "2nd fastest time ever" when discussing the finish. No one in the race before or at this edition of the climb was attempting to set a climbing record. Yate's team, who hadn't hadn't worked much absolutely drilled if from the start of the hill. When they tired and the pack was shredded, Yates did the rest pretty much by himself. He wanted a podium; which he nailed down by 3 seconds! That's what the race was about and Remco got a free ride. Kudos to both of them and to a overheated Sepp Kuss for hanging on. I'll bet he's ready for some cooler climbing.

As for Remco's form; he's going well and not too well as you've noted.

Remco got a free ride? He set the pace for about 3 km, making sure Plapp and Bilbao stayed dropped

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Evenepoel and Yates Obliterate Hafeet Record | UAE Tour 2023 Stage 7 - Lanterne Rouge

The Queen stage of the 2023 UAE Tour did not disappoint, with Remco Evenepoel and Adam Yates pushing huge watts on Jebel Hafeet and setting a new climbing record into a headwind.

lanternerouge.com

One of the top 10 greatest w/kg climbing performances of the century, he says…

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

One of the top 10 greatest w/kg climbing performances of the century, he says…

Take it with a grain of salt, but i think it's clear it was a very good effort, especially considering the circumstances (headwind, no altitude training, early season) and the fact that he got beaten by Yates doesn't change that. People are acting like he's underperforming or way behind on schedule, they should look at last year's results. Hindley finishing 2 m 30s behind Pogacar... he won the Giro a few months later.

 

[red_flanders]

Wins 7-stage race in February. Races smart on the flat stages, stays up front, rides with power looking great in the echelons, dropping other GC contenders. Leads his team to a TTT win. Climbs really well, trouncing the group in a mountain sprint. Drops everyone but a fully in-form Yates, setting the third fastest time ever up the final, definitive climb. Again, wins the race. By a minute.

Conclusion? He's not a GT contender. He's off form for the Giro.

I mean, some of it is clear trolling. But some of ya...I mean...seek help.

 

[Oldermanish]

According to Strava he was 10s faster than Pogacar in 2021. I'll take data i can verify over data i can not verify.

Jebel Hafeet | Strava Ride Segment in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

www.strava.com

A different Strava segment puts him 1 minute 7 seconds faster than Pogacar 2020.

Full Jebel Hafeet | Strava Ride Segment in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

www.strava.com

Remco got a free ride? Remco did a 5.8km solo effort into a headwind. Yates did 3.2km solo, as he had been hanging in Evenepoel's wheel until he attacked the second time. That means Evenepoel was roughly 3.5km in somebody else's wheel before he took over from Yates and rode his own pace until the finish. If you want to talk about free rides, maybe you should take a look at previous editions.

It's a race, Dude. Remco had every motivation to ride his tempo as long as he kept his rivals behind him. When a higher tempo was applied he had nothing to gain by following it; even if he could. UAE drove the pack pace until everyone was gone except a few. Those few didn't get down to Remco and Yates until the stage winner knew he needed more time. His DS was no doubt coaching him on the effort needed to gain the podium.
Strava is the history of the race....not the race. The fixation with it and output is lost on me. A motivated ride by Yates proved a few points....if not for a windblown gap who would've won?

 

[DNP-Old]

One of the top 10 greatest w/kg climbing performances of the century, he says…

How much weight you wish to put onto that statement is up to you, but speaking about Remco not having a high level or expecting a higher level when he just objectively, factually dropped the second quickest ascent ever is weird and lame.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It's a race, Dude. Remco had every motivation to ride his tempo as long as he kept his rivals behind him. When a higher tempo was applied he had nothing to gain by following it; even if he could. UAE drove the pack pace until everyone was gone except a few. Those few didn't get down to Remco and Yates until the stage winner knew he needed more time. His DS was no doubt coaching him on the effort needed to gain the podium.
Strava is the history of the race....not the race. The fixation with it and output is lost on me. A motivated ride by Yates proved a few points....if not for a windblown gap who would've won?

What are you even arguing about? You claimed he got a free ride, he didn't. He only got paced the first ~1/3rd of the climb, the rest he was pulling himself into a headwind with 0 help. Furthermore, i am dismissing the importance of it being 10 s slower than Yates or 10s faster than Pogacar. I am simply countering people who are insinuating he is in way behind on schedule, bad, unimpressive, or claiming other riders who have never ridden this fast on this climb, would have made minced meat out of the competition.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Wins 7-stage race in February. Races smart on the flat stages, stays up front, rides with power looking great in the echelons, dropping other GC contenders. Leads his team to a TTT win. Climbs really well, trouncing the group in a mountain sprint. Drops everyone but a fully in-form Yates, setting the third fastest time ever up the final, definitive climb. Again, wins the race. By a minute.

Conclusion? He's not a GT contender. He's off form for the Giro.

I mean, some of it is clear trolling. But some of ya...I mean...seek help.

Some of it? You're being very generous. Trolling is very much applauded here. Don't ever mention anything doping-related though, mods can't have that. That has to be done in a part of the forum nobody reads.

As far as Remco is concerned. It's clear that he is on track for the Giro. Pretty big improvement compared to San Juan a month ago and still has a lot of room for improvement. Still has to do altitude training and can lose some more weight. Probably have to wait until LBL to see him in his best shape, curious to see who will be able to hold his wheel there.

Also curious to see what he can do against Roglic at 100%, should be an interesting battle.

 

[gregrowlerson]

So there seems to be a simple formula for success at the Giro.
Win something worthless in Jan/Feb.
Tone it down, cool off for 2 months (so forumites can flog a dead horse about the rider’s chances in the Giro).
Russian roulette at the Giro.

Richie Porte should have targeted the Giro multiple times.

Is this your own early season mini peak?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Richie Porte should have targeted the Giro multiple times.

Is this your own early season mini peak?

Hindley, Bernal, Hart all won zilch before their Giro win. You have to go back to Carapaz in 2019 to find a Giro winner who also won something beforehand, but in his case, the win didn't come early season but just before the Giro, in Asturias. Froome in 2018 also didn't win anything prior, neither did Dumoulin in 2017.

So it seems like topcat is trying to bamboozle us.