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

[Gigs_98]

Yup just checked it. The section between La Redoute and RaF is now 4 km longer but it seems like there is another short climb in between.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Situation now: Remco must win on Sunday to save Soudal‘s 2023 classics spring campaign. He has to (!) win vs Pogacar. Hard…

In May, he has to (!) win the Giro vs Roglic. Also, hard…

Now Remco will face Pogacar and Roglic in LBL and Giro, respectively. That is going to be interesting…

 

[red_flanders]

Situation now: Remco must win on Sunday to save Soudal‘s 2023 classics spring campaign. He has to (!) win vs Pogacar. Hard…

In May, he has to (!) win the Giro vs Roglic. Also, hard…

Now Remco will face Pogacar and Roglic in LBL and Giro, respectively. That is going to be interesting…

One of the things I like most about Remco is that when he's faced defeats or adversity, he's seemed to be able to ratchet it up and meet the challenge. Huge challenges ahead. Win or lose, I feel like he's going to get better.

I used to want him to win everything. Having watched him respond, I don't mind when he loses. Seems to piss him off. Love it.

 

[Extinction]

One of the things I like most about Remco is that when he's faced defeats or adversity, he's seemed to be able to ratchet it up and meet the challenge. Huge challenges ahead. Win or lose, I feel like he's going to get better.

I used to want him to win everything. Having watched him respond, I don't mind when he loses. Seems to piss him off. Love it.

These are just the exams he needs, because if he can be very competitive or win against them, especially Rog in the Giro, then he's on schedule to tackle the Tour for a high GC. In fact, thank goodness a stellar Roglic is at the Giro (who Nibali in today's la Gazzetta dello Sport seems to think has the advantage over Evenepoel, because he "knows the Italian roads better"), because finally we get a corsa rosa worthy of its mythos (which Nibali thinks is harder than the Vuelta), since Roglic is a viable Tour winner.

 

[rallybanana]

Yup just checked it. The section between La Redoute and RaF is now 4 km longer but it seems like there is another short climb in between.

Cote des Forges is also in that section. It was not in last year's route.

 

[Nick2413]

Why would Evenepoel be more inclined to work with Pogacar than the other way around? Pogacar is the new Merckx. Pogacar is the better sprinter. Why on earth should Evenepoel be the one to do the work, lol. If Pogacar fancies his chances better in a group sprint with 20 other guys, he is free not to work of course.

That would be suicide for Evenepoel more than Pogacar, and he’s strong enough to win this race so I think he will ride if Pogacar sits up, rather than letting it come back together.

 

[Red Rick]

Shortening La Redoute is an awful mistake.

 

[Extinction]

Situation now: Remco must win on Sunday to save Soudal‘s 2023 classics spring campaign. He has to (!) win vs Pogacar. Hard…

In May, he has to (!) win the Giro vs Roglic. Also, hard…

Now Remco will face Pogacar and Roglic in LBL and Giro, respectively. That is going to be interesting…

The pressure on this guy's shoulders must be oppressive. He's carrying the whole hopes of, not just Soudal, but all of Belgium and the whole world of cycling that has a soft spot for Belgium (me).

 

[Red Rick]

Evenepoel: makes first succesful long range attack in Liege in 20 years

ASO: removes that section immediately

 

[CyclistAbi]

If Remco beats Pogi at LBL he is going to the Tour this year. And will skip Giro. If Remco won't win at LBL then he is going to Giro to face Rogla.

It's up to him now.

 

[Berniece]

At first I was in doubt, but now I think he’s going to destroy the competition on Sunday.

 

[Salvarani]

Situation now: Remco must win on Sunday to save Soudal‘s 2023 classics spring campaign. He has to (!) win vs Pogacar. Hard…

In May, he has to (!) win the Giro vs Roglic. Also, hard…

Now Remco will face Pogacar and Roglic in LBL and Giro, respectively. That is going to be interesting…

The way the rest of the team is performing... the pressure on his shoulders just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

 

[houtdffan]

If Remco beats Pogi at LBL he is going to the Tour this year. And will skip Giro. If Remco won't win at LBL then he is going to Giro to face Rogla.

It's up to him now.

He's not skipping the Giro

If he goes to the tour, it would be after the giro

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

At first I was in doubt, but now I think he’s going to destroy the competition on Sunday.

Thank god, then i can now bet my life savings on him winning, with confidence. Thanks.

 

[topcat]

Remco can beat Pog, but I don’t know if he can overcome Ben Healy

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

That would be suicide for Evenepoel more than Pogacar, and he’s strong enough to win this race so I think he will ride if Pogacar sits up, rather than letting it come back together.

How would that be suicide for Evenepoel more than for Pogacar? Going to the line with Pogacar by sharing the work will result in a near certain defeat anyway. Finishing 2nd or finishing 6th doesn't really matter for Evenepoel.

But i don't expect him to ride like that. He will cooperate and try to attack if he feels he is better.

 

[peterfin]

But i don't expect him to ride like that. He will cooperate and try to attack if he feels he is better.

My prediction: Pogacar attacks early on La Redoutte, Remco grinds back to his wheel, keeps his wheel, attacks on that uncategorized climb directly after La Redoutte, keeps a gap of a few seconds and slowly extends his lead to 30 seconds while flying towards Liege. At 3 km from the finish he starts to pump his fist and it's game over! Assuming that Remco has little chance to win a sprint, it looks like one of the more probable scenarios of a Remco victory. I do like an other one more: a repeat of the 1999 showdown between Bartoli and VDB. The new Belgian "enfant terrible" as the media has cast him in the past has the right to do a similar "exploit" as the previous one, right? I am aware that this is an unrealistic scenario unless Pogi has emptied his tank and needs a bit of rest.

 

[Red Rick]

Kinda feel that if Evenepoel wants a gap he has to get it when the peloton is still big and Pogacar is boxed or he has to get a gap in a descent somewhere.

 

[Berniece]

Thank god, then i can now bet my life savings on him winning, with confidence. Thanks.

I would take out a loan too if I was you. More winnings

 

[Tommy Gun]

Remco is the true people's champ, ala Rocky Balboa.
He is mankind's last hope against current super-mutants Pogi, Vingo and Rogla.

Anyone who really loves cycling should make it their duty to back Remco this Sunday, otherwise we will enter a very dark age in professional racing.

One can dream... I'm slightly drunk, sorry !

 

[RedheadDane]

Remco is the true people's champ, ala Rocky Balboa.
He is mankind's last hope against current super-mutants Pogi, Vingo and Rogla.

Sorry, that kid's a mutant too.
He won LBL, the Vuelta, and the World Championship (RR) in one season, while still not old enough to grow a beard!

 

[Tommy Gun]

Sorry, that kid's a mutant too.
He won LBL, the Vuelta, and the World Championship (RR) in one season, while still not old enough to grow a beard!

I kind of agree, however if you look closely, Remco had many moments of vulnerability and somewhat spectular failures in the last two seasons: he does not win half of week races's stages like his counterparts. You can sense that he carefully picks his peaks and that each stage victory is really hard fought.

 

[houtdffan]

Sorry, that kid's a mutant too.
He won LBL, the Vuelta, and the World Championship (RR) in one season, while still not old enough to grow a beard!

and he did it at the same age where Merckx could only finish 9th at the giro with 2 stage wins

 

[Extinction]

Remco is the true people's champ, ala Rocky Balboa.
He is mankind's last hope against current super-mutants Pogi, Vingo and Rogla.

Anyone who really loves cycling should make it their duty to back Remco this Sunday, otherwise we will enter a very dark age in professional racing.

One can dream... I'm slightly drunk, sorry !

Only slightly drunk? I'm full blown, but I think Remco shall surprise us yet again.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

The way the rest of the team is performing... the pressure on his shoulders just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Exactly…

It‘s quite strange how „badly“ some of their riders recently did.

I was happy for Steimle that last year he got to ride both, RVV and Roubaix. He wants to win RVV in a few years. This spring, it was rather poor. But let‘s see what the rest of the season will bring.

Also Ballerini - after his Omloop victory, he seemed ready for the next step. But was also not that great this spring until now.

Merlier was good. Although he said he hates the cold (being a former cyclo crosser!)…

Lampaert not so great.

Alaphilippe… Well, … .

Now it‘s up to Remco and his men to score big in LBL and Giro… Good luck, young man!…

I noticed that his teammate Stan van Tricht looks like he was Remco‘s twin. He really looks exactly like Remco, also practically same height and weight.

So his „twin“ rides for Soudal, yet. And if Remco searches for another loyal future teammate, I‘d advise him Remkhe, who rides for Astana Devo.

Remco‘s twin brother: https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/stan-van-tricht

Remco‘s maybe future domestique: https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/andrey-remkhe