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

[BR2]

Pog has won his classics in a sprint. Only Strade did he win solo. Evenepoel won Liēge, Worldchampionships, Classica twice and a bunch of minor classics, all solo.

Of those, Pog won 1 race with Evenepoel competing.
Evenepoel won 3 with Pog competing.

Pogacar is considered a favourite for today. Even if Evenepoel raced it, he wouldn't be among the favourites. Pogacar can ride Strade and Flanders and be among the favourites, Evenepoel mostly avoids such terrain.
Evenepoel's strength, so far, are Liège/San Sebastian courses and ITT.
Oh, man, this thread.

 

[Red Rick]

Uh I think Evenepoel is much better suited to the WC RR as a format, so on a lot of routes.

 

[Andy schleck]

FTFY

It's fake.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Pogacar is considered a favourite for today. Even if Evenepoel raced it, he wouldn't be among the favourites. Pogacar can ride Strade and Flanders and be among the favourites, Evenepoel mostly avoids such terrain.
Evenepoel's strength, so far, are Liège/San Sebastian courses and ITT.
Oh, man, this thread.

My post was factual. Up to you to interprete it as you wish.

Pogacar didn't race Flanders until last year. He's older, lest you forever.

If Evenepoel started Flanders next year, you don't think he'd be considered a favourite, as much as Pogacar was last year? I think he would.

 

[Riek s]

Pogacar is considered a favourite for today. Even if Evenepoel raced it, he wouldn't be among the favourites. Pogacar can ride Strade and Flanders and be among the favourites, Evenepoel mostly avoids such terrain.
Evenepoel's strength, so far, are Liège/San Sebastian courses and ITT.
Oh, man, this thread.

Pogacar is the most accomplished young rider so far, Remco however isn't that far behind, especially if we consider his trajectory.
Given Remco's last year performance, which was arguably slightly above the year of Pogacar. He deserves to be named on the same level for the next year.

I'm pretty sure that if Remco started MSR... he would have been one of the favorite for sure. And not just an outsider... and every other racer will mark him as well. I don't know if he can win it, but the moment he starts, everybody will take note of him. Even in PR/RVV where he isn't suited for... the protocol in the teambus will be... don't let him ride away, no matter what

 

[Salvarani]

Remco is better than pogi in classics? Oh god...
The only thing remco is better than pogi is the TT.

Yup, Pog has won three monuments. He has also won SB, Tre Valli Varesini, Montreal and Jaen.

Evenepole has won LBL, WC and two San Sebastians. A couple of minor Belgian races with weak fields.

I would rate Pog higher up as a classics rider and the more complete rider. Especially how he has showed he can also handle the cobbles. Something Evenepole has not been able to showcase that he could handle yet.

On his day, Evenpole has shown he can be unbeatable and simply been able to ride away from the peloton and gone solo. It means he was the best that day, but he will have to have a lot more of those days to match the pace of how Pog is adding big victories to his name. Pog could win in so many more ways. Evenpole has to drop everybody and arrive solo each time, which he has shown he is very capable of.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Even a Pole can't compare.

 

[Nick2413]

Based on current classics palmares they’re pretty similar. Based on GTs obviously Pog so far. Based on solo efforts it’s Remco. Based on all terrain and the least weaknesses I think Pog. Based on PCS points per km raced its Pog, although Remco was slowed down when recovering from injury. Based on PCS points per km of classics it’s Remco. Based on future potential it’s pretty similar.

Whenever you have 2 really strong riders with a fair degree of overlap and you try to say one is universally better, you’re going to end up with arguments like this. Just enjoy the show.

 

[Gargamel35]

This is getting crazy. Remco is no where near Pogačar in GC picture. Winning 2 TdF and one 2nd TdF + 3rd Vuelta dwarfs 1 Vuelta win anytime anywhere.

Pogačar won more Classics also. Remco fans then bring out HOW someone won a race to prove a point which is crazy.

This is so dilusional. And Remco gets no favores with this kind of "fans".

 

[Salvarani]

Uh I think Evenepoel is much better suited to the WC RR as a format, so on a lot of routes.

He rides for one of the best nations and there is no radio. Difficult to control in the end and a strong rider could go far, if being let to roam free. Ignore orders and do his own thing. Sometimes it might lead to turmoil within the team... sometimes it might lead to victory.

 

[KZD]

Pog has won his classics in a sprint. Only Strade did he win solo. Evenepoel won Liēge, Worldchampionships, Classica twice and a bunch of minor classics, all solo.

Of those, Pog won 1 race with Evenepoel competing.
Evenepoel won 3 with Pog competing.

Cycling is not like boxing, H2H is not a good way of analysing who is better. Pogačar and Remco are both very well suited to the hilly classics but Pogačar sprint will mean that he is going to win more of them and in races like MSR or Flanders, I give Pogačar the upperhand.

As for actually climbing, hopefully the Giro will tells us more but for now at least in 15-30 minute climbs, Pogačar > Evenepoel.

In TTs, Remco is better, especially in flat ones.

 

[BR2]

Aha. Evenepoel would be able to keep up with Pogacar in all those races, MSR, Flanders, Tour, but somehow his team decides he better races the Giro.

I very much said I don't know what will happen in the future. I don't know how he will develop or if Pog will decline fast.
Of course you wouldn't let him ride away. You also wouldn't let Tim Wellens just ride away - not saying Wellens is on the same level, but that argument just isn't it.

AT THIS POINT I find it incredible to state that Evenepoel is the better classics rider or that he is on Pogacar's level in general.

 

[Riek s]

Aha. Evenepoel would be able to keep up with Pogacar in all those races, MSR, Flanders, Tour, but somehow his team decides he better races the Giro.

List of favorites for MSR:

Pogacar
Van Aert
Van Der Poel
Pedersen
Mohoric, Alaphilippe
Philipsen
Ewan
Girmay
Ganna, De Lie, Cort
Stuyven
Turgis, Laporte,
Powless, Demare, Kwiatkowski


and you believe Remco wouldn't be part of this list? really?

 

[peterfin]

It looks like the Remco vs Tadej discussion is going to blow up this thread to epic proportions. I need to block an hour a day in my agenda just to keep up! Imagine what happens when they actually race against each other in a GT and there is something relevant to discuss.

 

[topcat]

Personally I refuse to get excited about the whole thing. I’m glad most of you are working yourselves up into a tizzy about Remco’s virtual ranking.
Happy to oblige.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Aha. Evenepoel would be able to keep up with Pogacar in all those races, MSR, Flanders, Tour, but somehow his team decides he better races the Giro.

I very much said I don't know what will happen in the future. I don't know how he will develop or if Pog will decline fast.
Of course you wouldn't let him ride away. You also wouldn't let Tim Wellens just ride away - not saying Wellens is on the same level, but that argument just isn't it.

AT THIS POINT I find it incredible to state that Evenepoel is the better classics rider or that he is on Pogacar's level in general.

So Remco has to prove he can virtually keep up with Tadej in by you selected races, while we have already seen Tadej can't keep up with Remco in races like WCC in reality.
Evenepoel having his personal schedule is further proof that he would not be able to follow in MSR.

Really.

This is basically a Boonen vs Cancellara debate. One could finish it in a sprint, the other was prone to do it in long solos. Pogacar will always be faster than Evenepoel, but i believe Evenepoel has the bigger engine when it comes to long endurance races. So far he has done three 250+ races, out of those 3, he has won 2 (and if it weren't for a senile DS, he could have won all 3). So far Pogacar has shown to be more handy on a bike (not surprising given their history). The biggest trump card Pogacar has, is that he has the luxury that he doesn't have to drop his rivals, he can even win a race when he isn't the best.

 

[Big Doopie]

Oh, man, this thread.

Best.

Evah.

Keep it coming u all. Thread to reign supreme!

 

[Big Doopie]

This is so dilusional. And Remco gets no favores with this kind of "fans".

As I am quite clearly the only reasonable poster amongst all this delusion:

1. Pog has achieved more and is obviously more proven in GTs and big mountain stages.
2. Pog has the opportunity to win more individual victories also because he has a much better sprint.
3. Pog is ahead in all points rankings…but…

1. Remco is not far behind in those point rankings (and may briefly jump ahead if he hits the mark at the Giro).
2. Remco may reach 50 wins earlier than Pog did (despite losing a year of progress).
3. Remco has a slightly better TT, but how much does that truly matter in todays cycling?

If they were both at this years TDF, I would predict Pog.

But that is not the end all of cycling.

We are extremely fortunate to be able to experience this era.

I started a thread several years back: Pog vs Bernal vs Remco. Unfortunately Bernal is on hold and really never had the all around abilities of the other two.

 

[Netserk]

Evenepoel was lucky that Alaphilippe crashed out and that Pogi didn't start Liège last year. He has been far more lucky than Pogi, yet the latter still has the far superior palmarès.

 

[Venge 82]

I'm with Big Doopie.

I'm a Remco fan, but it's not hard to admit that Pog has achieved more so far. Whether this is thanks to his final sprint (weapon Remco does not possess) or the way he wins, it does not matter. The wins are ultimately what matter and you have to play with the cards you have. If you use them optimally, you are a smart and good rider.

But, do I believe (and hope) that Remco might become better and achieve better results in the end: YES.
Future will tell. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

 

[Venge 82]

Anyway, we are approaching Catalunya and I'm thrilled to see how he can turn his training on the Teide into performance.

 

[Netserk]

Pog has the opportunity to win more individual victories also because he has a much better sprint.

How unfair. You know, a strong sprint is part of the palette of a strong rider.

 

[Riek s]

Evenepoel was lucky that Alaphilippe crashed out and that Pogi didn't start Liège last year. He has been far more lucky than Pogi, yet the latter still has the far superior palmarès.

yes crashing in Lombardia while being in very good position and losing the rest of that season( which was postponed due to covid) + struggling to get back in the next year (while also loosing the first half of it) due to that crash is luck.

Thanks!

 

[Venge 82]

How unfair. You know, a strong sprint is part of the palette of a strong rider.

Why would that be unfair? It's just a fact not a value judgement. Or do I get this wrong?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Evenepoel was lucky that Alaphilippe crashed out and that Pogi didn't start Liège last year. He has been far more lucky than Pogi, yet the latter still has the far superior palmarès.