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

[red_flanders]

Remco Evenepoel krijgt 3 Belgen mee naar Catalonië: "Ritwinst en goed klassement zijn de doelen" | sporza

Volgende maandag begint Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) aan zijn laatste rittenkoers voor de Giro d'Italia. In de Ronde van Catalonië krijgt de wereldkampioen het gezelschap van onder meer Pieter Serry, Ilan Van Wilder en Louis Vervaeke.

sporza.be

Seems like a very modest goal to me.

Also, read that Egan Bernal would start in Catalunya.

Pretty typical for the stated goals of Remco in basically any stage race. Win a stage and do a good classification.

Allow me to translate from athlete-speak..."Stage win and overall are the goals. We'll be OK with a podium...but...ah, no, actually we'll be super pissed if we don't win".

 

[Extinction]

Pretty typical for the stated goals of Remco in basically any stage race. Win a stage and do a good classification.

Allow me to translate from athlete-speak..."Stage win and overall are the goals. We'll be OK with a podium...but...ah, no, actually we'll be super pissed if we don't win".

And in such a relatively short stage race, if you win a stage (i.e. one of the three mountain stages), then unless you drop big in another, you can't not be racing for the GC win.

 

[repre]

Not likely, as there is little or no snow in the mountains, owing to a warm, dry winter. It should be all go in May.

not sure it's good for nature, but definitely good for racing!

 

[houtdffan]

Remco Evenepoel krijgt 3 Belgen mee naar Catalonië: "Ritwinst en goed klassement zijn de doelen" | sporza

Volgende maandag begint Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) aan zijn laatste rittenkoers voor de Giro d'Italia. In de Ronde van Catalonië krijgt de wereldkampioen het gezelschap van onder meer Pieter Serry, Ilan Van Wilder en Louis Vervaeke.

sporza.be

Seems like a very modest goal to me.

Also, read that Egan Bernal would start in Catalunya.

every time Remco says that, he crushes the race

 

[Extinction]

not sure it's good for nature, but definitely good for racing!

Ah, well, in Italy May in the mountains can be like June or March, it just depends on the year (global warming aside). This year appears it will be a June rather than a March one, which, yes, is good for racing. Of course, now that I've stated this, surely it will snow in the high passes!

 

[Sciatic]

Ah, well, in Italy May in the mountains can be like June or March, it just depends on the year (global warming aside). This year appears it will be a June rather than a March one, which, yes, is good for racing. Of course, now that I've stated this, surely it will snow on the high passes!

If there’s a huge snowpack from the winter still left in May it can creates closures due to avalanches or from walls of snow caving in, but I think we see more stages shortened or cancelled from when it’s actively snowing and sticking to the road. That is just as likely to happen in the Alps in May after a warm dry winter as after a cold, wet one.

 

[houtdffan]

If there’s a huge snowpack from the winter still left in May it can creates closures due to avalanches or from walls of snow caving in, but I think we see more stages shortened or cancelled from when it’s actively snowing and sticking to the road. That is just as likely to happen in the Alps in May after a warm dry winter as after a cold, wet one.

If the passes are open, the race should continue as scheduled. Just as Gavia 1988 did, as did Stelvio 2014

 

[Extinction]

If there’s a huge snowpack from the winter still left in May it can creates closures due to avalanches or from walls of snow caving in, but I think we see more stages shortened or cancelled from when it’s actively snowing and sticking to the road. That is just as likely to happen in the Alps in May after a warm dry winter as after a cold, wet one.

But this year there was no huge snowpack, it snowed little, so everything, bar an unforeseen return to a winter that hardly was, should be ok.

 

[Sciatic]

But this year there was no huge snowpack, it snowed little, so everything, bar an unforeseen return to a winter that hardly was, should be ok.

I hope so. My point is it’s not at all unusual to have occasional snowfalls in the mountains in May, and whether that happens or not isn’t related to the type of winter preceded it. Snow in high mountains in springtime isn’t a return to winter—it’s simply spring weather in the mountains, which is extremely variable.

 

[Sciatic]

If the passes are open, the race should continue as scheduled. Just as Gavia 1988 did, as did Stelvio 2014

Of course we’d like to see that, but we don’t decide. And I’m quite confident we’ll not see a Gavia ‘88 again given the chances in the nature and organizational structure of cycling.

 

[Extinction]

I hope so. My point is it’s not at all unusual to have occasional snowfalls in the mountains in May, and whether that happens or not isn’t related to the type of winter preceded it. Snow in high mountains in springtime isn’t a return to winter—it’s simply spring weather in the mountains, which is extremely variable.

Right, but there is a difference between a mild winter and a frigid one. When winter has been rather mild and dry,
it's less likely (although not impossible) that you'd get a sudden drop in temps in May with snow at elevation, thus my May like June versus May like March analogy.

 

[Venge 82]

Pretty typical for the stated goals of Remco in basically any stage race. Win a stage and do a good classification.

Allow me to translate from athlete-speak..."Stage win and overall are the goals. We'll be OK with a podium...but...ah, no, actually we'll be super pissed if we don't win".

The problem is that whatever Remco says, he will be criticized.
In the past he would have definitely said: "I go for the win" - Consequence = he's arrogant
So, he started another way of communicating, more down to earth. Consequence = oh, we wants to keep off the pressure. Not a real champ.

It's really difficult for Remco to find the right balance. My feeling is that for GT's he can still be modest, but for 1-week races he can say without being arrogant that he goes for the win (which doesn't necessarily mean he will win).

A nice example of Remco being criticized more than others. The stage in Paris-Nice where Pogacar was laughing in the camera while Vingegaard was pulling. Imagine Remco doing that...
No criticism to Pogacar, as I can appreciate these things as a spectator (I would probably less appreciate if I were Vingegaard), but it clearly shows some riders can afford more than others.

 

[Red Rick]

The problem is that whatever Remco says, he will be criticized.
In the past he would have definitely said: "I go for the win" - Consequence = he's arrogant
So, he started another way of communicating, more down to earth. Consequence = oh, we wants to keep off the pressure. Not a real champ.

It's really difficult for Remco to find the right balance. My feeling is that for GT's he can still be modest, but for 1-week races he can say without being arrogant that he goes for the win (which doesn't necessarily mean he will win).

A nice example of Remco being criticized more than others. The stage in Paris-Nice where Pogacar was laughing in the camera while Vingegaard was pulling. Imagine Remco doing that...
No criticism to Pogacar, as I can appreciate these things as a spectator (I would probably less appreciate if I were Vingegaard), but it clearly shows some riders can afford more than others.

It's just some light sandbagging I don't know why it would be a problem. It's just a little different from the Vuelta when he could probably downplay expectations a bit more effectively. Now the only reason to lose Catalunya is cause it's 'only' Catalunya which should be no big deal if you still get like top 3 or something.

 

[Big Doopie]

A nice example of Remco being criticized more than others. The stage in Paris-Nice where Pogacar was laughing in the camera while Vingegaard was pulling. Imagine Remco doing that...

I almost posted this exact comment in the P-N thread when it happened. Then decided (for once!) not to derail a race Remco wasnt even riding into a debate about him.

However, the double-standard has always been stunning. Yes just imagine Remco doing exactly that while responding to a Rog attack in Catalunya. The press and these threads would explode with criticism and negativity. But when Pog does it it’s adorable!

It’s like when Daniel Friebe says that it is hard to like Remco because he has had no challenges in his career while lauding Pog as the greatest cyclist he has ever seen. I’m sorry, what? Pog has had literally no real challenges in his career. Everything has come incredibly easy, even his first TDF at age 21. He has only been “challenged” when he “only” finished second last year. Big whoop! Meanwhile Remco has had the pressure of the Belgian press, hyper criticism of others and…a career (if not life) altering crash from which he had to come back from. No one has to like Remco, but the double-standards have been truly mind-blowing since day 1.

None of the above is a criticism of Pog who is absolutely amazing, but leaves me kind of “meh” in terms of pulling for him. On the other hand the only benefit of the double-standard is it makes Remco basically an underdog at almost every race because of the detractors and doubters. Each one of his amazing wins (often done in a fashion that is reminiscent of the “old days”) feels like a massive F@&k you. And I love it!

 

[Andre]

The problem is that whatever Remco says, he will be criticized.
In the past he would have definitely said: "I go for the win" - Consequence = he's arrogant
So, he started another way of communicating, more down to earth. Consequence = oh, we wants to keep off the pressure. Not a real champ.

It's really difficult for Remco to find the right balance. My feeling is that for GT's he can still be modest, but for 1-week races he can say without being arrogant that he goes for the win (which doesn't necessarily mean he will win).

A nice example of Remco being criticized more than others. The stage in Paris-Nice where Pogacar was laughing in the camera while Vingegaard was pulling. Imagine Remco doing that...
No criticism to Pogacar, as I can appreciate these things as a spectator (I would probably less appreciate if I were Vingegaard), but it clearly shows some riders can afford more than others.

He will let the pedals do the talking

 

[red_flanders]

The problem is that whatever Remco says, he will be criticized.
In the past he would have definitely said: "I go for the win" - Consequence = he's arrogant
So, he started another way of communicating, more down to earth. Consequence = oh, we wants to keep off the pressure. Not a real champ.

It's really difficult for Remco to find the right balance. My feeling is that for GT's he can still be modest, but for 1-week races he can say without being arrogant that he goes for the win (which doesn't necessarily mean he will win).

A nice example of Remco being criticized more than others. The stage in Paris-Nice where Pogacar was laughing in the camera while Vingegaard was pulling. Imagine Remco doing that...
No criticism to Pogacar, as I can appreciate these things as a spectator (I would probably less appreciate if I were Vingegaard), but it clearly shows some riders can afford more than others.

I'm not criticizing him, I just think it's pretty obvious he's going for the win. I think it's good not to say it given the history of "arrogance" by RE.

 

[Venge 82]

I'm not criticizing him, I just think it's pretty obvious he's going for the win. I think it's good not to say it given the history of "arrogance" by RE.

@red_flanders I know your comment wasn't meant to criticize him. I read these kind of comments yesterday on social media. Hence my reaction.

 

[Extinction]

All he has to say is, "I always ride to do my very best and in the end it's the legs that give the result." Short and sweet.

 

[Venge 82]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1636055786697678856

View: https://twitter.com/EvenepoelRemco/status/1636055786697678856?t=kX_M8kHKay9OxSXCFHBn2Q&s=19


What a great picture

 

[QueenStagiaire]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1636055786697678856

View: https://twitter.com/EvenepoelRemco/status/1636055786697678856?t=kX_M8kHKay9OxSXCFHBn2Q&s=19


What a great picture

Motopacing

 

[Oldermanish]

I hope so. My point is it’s not at all unusual to have occasional snowfalls in the mountains in May, and whether that happens or not isn’t related to the type of winter preceded it. Snow in high mountains in springtime isn’t a return to winter—it’s simply spring weather in the mountains, which is extremely variable.

You're right. That French, Swiss, Italian Alps convergence can have snow after a week of hot weather. Or serious heat.

 

[Nick2413]

I almost posted this exact comment in the P-N thread when it happened. Then decided (for once!) not to derail a race Remco wasnt even riding into a debate about him.

However, the double-standard has always been stunning. Yes just imagine Remco doing exactly that while responding to a Rog attack in Catalunya. The press and these threads would explode with criticism and negativity. But when Pog does it it’s adorable!

It’s like when Daniel Friebe says that it is hard to like Remco because he has had no challenges in his career while lauding Pog as the greatest cyclist he has ever seen. I’m sorry, what? Pog has had literally no real challenges in his career. Everything has come incredibly easy, even his first TDF at age 21. He has only been “challenged” when he “only” finished second last year. Big whoop! Meanwhile Remco has had the pressure of the Belgian press, hyper criticism of others and…a career (if not life) altering crash from which he had to come back from. No one has to like Remco, but the double-standards have been truly mind-blowing since day 1.

None of the above is a criticism of Pog who is absolutely amazing, but leaves me kind of “meh” in terms of pulling for him. On the other hand the only benefit of the double-standard is it makes Remco basically an underdog at almost every race because of the detractors and doubters. Each one of his amazing wins (often done in a fashion that is reminiscent of the “old days”) feels like a massive F@&k you. And I love it!

As an outsider not from Europe, it’s always amazed me how big of a deal nationality is in the amount of press and pressure a rider gets. It’s not something that remotely registers to me normally. He certainly is one of the top dogs, but even compared to a guy like Pog he has infinitely higher pressure. That said though, I’m not really sure why there’s so much polarization around him in particular. He’s really the only one people seem to get so worked up about.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

As an outsider not from Europe, it’s always amazed me how big of a deal nationality is in the amount of press and pressure a rider gets. It’s not something that remotely registers to me normally. He certainly is one of the top dogs, but even compared to a guy like Pog he has infinitely higher pressure. That said though, I’m not really sure why there’s so much polarization around him in particular. He’s really the only one people seem to get so worked up about.

If you are a football player in Argentina, you will also get more pressure than if you are a football player in Canada. But i'm sure if you practice curling or ice hockey, that there will be more pressure in Canada than in Argentina. Belgium, together with Italy and France are probably the three biggest cycling nations historically speaking, with Spain and the Netherlands following at a distance. But of those countries, it had been the longest for Belgium to have a GT winner. Yet generations still witnessed Merckx, De Vlaeminck, etc so the anticipation was immense.

Comes along a kid who rides the entire peloton into dust, wins by doing 100k solo rides, by up to 11 minutes, by having the peloton taken out of the race because he lapped them, repeatedly. Some bloke on an internet forum drops the name Merckx and the average Belgian cycling fan gets ecstatic and starts frantically hoping for it to be true. However, many non-Belgians don't exactly like the prospect of a new Merckx-like racer, so lots of people rather ridicule the idea (so many others were heralded as 2nd coming of Merckx and all failed miserably, so why would this one be any different). So the Evenepoel Trials were called into life. A series of neverending trials where the kid has to prove he is the 2nd coming. With every trial he successfully completes, hope warms the hearts of some, fear chills the hearts of others. But either way, tension rises. Add to that, that the kid is outspoken, so plenty to opportunities to berate him and his character.

Unlike Evenepoel, Pogacar was never heralded as an upcoming worldbeater until he actually was a worldbeater. Pog also comes from a cycling nation where there is 0 pressure. To Slovenians, i imagine Pog and Rog are a bit like Clijsters and Henin were in Belgium. In a country with little history in a certain sport, nobody expected anything to happen, so when it did actually happen, it was all good and people were happy for whatever did happen.

 

[Ripper]

FFS, he's a fun guy to watch race. It's also nice to see that he is human. Given his late start to racing, it's also interesting to watch his progression ... many his age have had more years to adapt to cycling's pack dynamics, particular endurance characteristics, etc.

And yes, it seems many sports fans (e.g lots of people in this forum) have double standards.

 

[Extinction]

You're right. That French, Swiss, Italian Alps convergence can have snow after a week of hot weather. Or serious heat.

After a Jan-Feb-March-April with temps generally above the norm, however, with light precipitation over the period, snow is less likely in May. By 2050 the Alpine glaciers, bar perhaps Mont Blanc, shall be no more. The permafrost is melting.