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

[Akuryo]

But so much for all the experts who said he peaked too early or the crashes affected him... none of it was true. Guy was battling Covid and still best everyone in the TT.

 

[houtdffan]

Remco just won a TT with Covid?

Guess we know he's going to the tour

 

[Wvv]

This is just f*ed up.

And a testimony of him being much better than the opposition, if healthy. At least that's how I'll be comforting myself.

 

[Extinction]

I think a positive from this stage that fans and detractors are overlooking is Evenepoel still won the stage and gained time on everyone. Now, it was certainly not the amount of time that he would have liked nor am I sure did he expect to be this fatigued after the fact. But whatever the reason; crashes, illness, fatigue, and/or form dropping he still in the moment of feeling all of that won. While that may not come into play this Giro, it could in future GTs of everything going against you but you knowing you can mentally push on to overcome it. We’ve already seen a great champion crumble after finding out how much time he was losing in a time trial.

I think context here is everything, in that winning alone was not a sign of victory. He had hoped to come out with 2+ minutes on his main GC rivals, to only find himself less than 1 minute ahead. And considering the time gained in the opening TT, with then getting dropped on a cat 4 climb yesterday, it demonstrates he has clearly experienced a drop in form, which you would not have expected only 9 stages in, except for the crashes (and/or illness?). He looked absolutely wrecked in the photo Lequack posted. I'm not saying Thomas looked fresh as a daisy after his effort, but compared to Evenepoel yes. The issue, of course, is that Remco now can't just defend in the mountains alla Indurain, but has to be aggressive; only he seems spent. And the next few stages look to be pretty miserable weather wise, which isn't helpful to recovery. I'll withhold a final verdict till after his ride on Crans Montagna. On the surface of things, however, he will need to get out of what appears to be a problematical slump if he has any real chance of winning this Giro. To further complicate matters for the Belgian, moreover, is that his team doesn't seem at a high enough level to support him on the big climbs. This is just an honest assessment of how things realistically look going into the first rest day.

 

[Lequack]

Remco Evenepoel out of Giro d'Italia following COVID-19 positive

Remco Evenepoel out of Giro d'Italia following COVID-19 positive

Race leader leaves the race after stage 9 time trial

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Didinho]

This really s*cks, never seen him like this so something was brewing. Months of work down the drain.

Bring on the Tour now.

 

[Gargamel35]

It's only a matter of time who else will drop out of this race because of stupid Covid.

But, why do i mostly see only Jumbo guys wearing masks and they probably try to do a maximum not to get sick?

 

[Ricco']

Not gonna lie, my first reaction when I saw the Benji Naesen retweet was to check if it was one of those fake parody twitter accounts.

 

[houtdffan]

Now,

I wish he'd wait until after the rest day to decide to drop out or not. Unless sponsors want the TDF as a backup regardless. If so, he got a nice week long stage race in. Come bac, kick ass at the Dauphine and win the TDF

 

[BR2]

Wow. At first I thought the news were made up, because it's so... oof. Don't know what to say. Not even I wished this.

 

[Lequack]

Now,

I wish he'd wait until after the rest day to decide to drop out or not. Unless sponsors want the TDF as a backup regardless. If so, he got a nice week long stage race in. Come bac, kick ass at the Dauphine and win the TDF

Me too. Especially if it's something with low symptoms.

 

[Berniece]

This is just f*ed up.

And a testimony of him being much better than the opposition, if healthy. At least that's how I'll be comforting myself.

Haha I was thinking the same. For me this explains the last 2 days. He also would’ve won the Giro without this for me

 

[Gargamel35]

Me too. Especially if it's something with low symptoms.

Aren't there some rules that Covid positive need to drop out? If not, i'm sure they want to protect him from getting too sick. Covid can have bad effects on heart, etc.

 

[houtdffan]

Aren't there some rules that Covid positive need to drop out? If not, i'm sure they want to protect him from getting too sick. Covid can have bad effects on heart, etc.

Auyso finished 3rd at the Vuelta with Covid. There were rumors Pog had covid at the tour. Majka most certainly had it

 

[Poursuivant]

I’m getting really tired of GT’s being spoiled by crash/injury/illness

 

[Nick2413]

I wasn’t pulling for him but never want to see anyone go down this way. Between illness and crashes it’s too rare to get proper battles. He deserved a full shot.

 

[Andy schleck]

Bad news, but now he can go to the Tour. Certainly he could be there in top shape.

 

[Didinho]

Going solo in the Itzulia Tour stages, solid plan B.

The World Championship should be his next goal. Retain the jersey.

 

[Extinction]

He clearly was affected by COVID, which explains his drop in form over the last days.

 

[Akuryo]

Remco just won a TT with Covid?

Guess we know he's going to the tour

With what support team though? It's not like they're gonna pull all of his climbing domestiques out of the race as well. And can he compete without Van Wilder or Hirt? Even if Remco himself recovers and finds the needed form for the Tour, his team won't be anywhere near the rest of the competitors.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

What a nightmare. Think switching to another Vuelta bid may be easier than the Tour actually, he needs less support there whereas Soudal can probably offer him more.

 

[Gargamel35]

All in all, he's got plenty of time to win it all. It's a testament how crazy these guys are. Roglič crashes badly, transforms into a mummy and still returns to ride and fight. Remco crashes, catches Covid and still wins TT stage. It was enough, but i'm afraid Covid just started to take it's toll. It' going to take out more riders...

 

[Red Rick]

Aren't there some rules that Covid positive need to drop out? If not, i'm sure they want to protect him from getting too sick. Covid can have bad effects on heart, etc.

I think the rule is asymptomatic and below a certain threshold for whatever COVID marker.

But if you're symptomatic you really shouldn't wanna go race in the rain and cold and high mountains the next two weeks.

 

[houtdffan]

With what support team though? It's not like they're gonna pull all of his climbing domestiques out of the race as well. And can he compete without Van Wilder or Hirt? Even if Remco himself recovers and finds the needed form for the Tour, his team won't be anywhere near the rest of the competitors.

Alap, if he can find the form of 4 years ago. The climbing doms will be soft peddling the rest of the race if they even stay in

This may totally screw the sprinter who was supposed to do the tour, however

 

[Oldermanish]

Remco just won a TT with Covid?

Guess we know he's going to the tour

Hopefully but that depends on loss of training. I lost a month last June and all of my altitude acclimation. It took until August to train and recover enough to maintain any pace on a long climb. I was not at my peak.
I really hope not!