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

[peterfin]

I mean, his plan was to take as much time as possible in the TTs and defend the lead, wasn't it? Or is the idea that the others would have raced more aggressively then.

They had to.

 

[kingjr]

They had to.

Yeah, I just understood the post to mean that Remco himself would have initiated the action.

 

[Riek s]

Yeah, I just understood the post to mean that Remco himself would have initiated the action.

That, but i assume its also more bearable if your rider is doing well and riding in pink. (if that whould have been the case)

 

[Berniece]

They were pretty evenly matched then on the climbs, I don't think it would have been much different during the Giro over the whole three weeks.

Besides that this is a 3 week race and that that on its own is already a huge difference from a 1 week race. There’s also that the climbs are different, and yes, Remco was in better form now than at Catalunya.

I think he would’ve won this easily without covid. I don’t think he wouldn’t be able to follow Thomas. And when you see how close some other guys finish with him, I would even think Remco would be able to attack and take some time in the mountains. Hence the 5-10min gap.

 

[kingjr]

Besides that this is a 3 week race and that that on its own is already a huge difference from a 1 week race. There’s also that the climbs are different, and yes, Remco was in better form now than at Catalunya.

I think he would’ve won this easily without covid. I don’t think he wouldn’t be able to follow Thomas. And when you see how close some other guys finish with him, I would even think Remco would be able to attack and take some time in the mountains. Hence the 5-10min gap.

I don't think he would've won this easily; so there we are, at an impasse with no means to resolve it.

 

[Didinho]

Because of what he did on stage 4, 7 & 8?

I think he would've defended more than before, but he will also attack if he's feeling good or thinks he's the better climber that day. Others would've attacked earlier (if they could) because of the bigger gap in GC, maybe play it more tacticaly with multiple riders like Ineos. Trying to isolate him early etc. With what I've seen this week it is hard to get an even worse scenario, that's what I'm thinking now.
And I'm Belgian so there's that

 

[Netserk]

Besides that this is a 3 week race and that that on its own is already a huge difference from a 1 week race. There’s also that the climbs are different, and yes, Remco was in better form now than at Catalunya.

I think he would’ve won this easily without covid. I don’t think he wouldn’t be able to follow Thomas. And when you see how close some other guys finish with him, I would even think Remco would be able to attack and take some time in the mountains. Hence the 5-10min gap.

If Rogla hadn't crashed, he would lead by 6-11 min, so there's that.

 

[Berniece]

If Rogla hadn't crashed, he would lead by 6-11 min, so there's that.

Since he said that he didn’t have any issues due to the crashes when it happened I don’t think that’s true. It’s easy to fallback onto it afterwards when you’re not performing though. Suddenly a good excuse.

 

[Salvarani]

Since he said that he didn’t have any issues due to the crashes when it happened I don’t think that’s true. It’s easy to fallback onto it afterwards when you’re not performing though. Suddenly a good excuse.

It is only okay for other riders to have "excuses", I guess.

 

[Põhja Konn]

I think he would've defended more than before, but he will also attack if he's feeling good or thinks he's the better climber that day. Others would've attacked earlier (if they could) because of the bigger gap in GC, maybe play it more tacticaly with multiple riders like Ineos. Trying to isolate him early etc. With what I've seen this week it is hard to get an even worse scenario, that's what I'm thinking now.
And I'm Belgian so there's that

At the Vuelta last year his way of defending in the mountains was setting a strong controlling tempo from the bottom. That alone would have created more selection and opportunities for more aggressive racing than what we have got with the contenders that are currently still racing.

 

[Wvv]

we just say LOL as well

note: Some tried to make "kibvl" "kak in broek van lachen", but it never got lift off... (for obvious reasons)

Never heard of 'kibvl' before tbh.

 

[Oldermanish]

He looked good and then looked equal to the leaders. How the next days finish would be a better basis for your faith in Remco. Fact is: he didn't finish the race. Tears for him and many times more for Roglic's GT setbacks. Careers are made of what you actually do, however and this race's history is about to be written.

and so it has. This would have been a more exciting Giro with Remco. IMO he would have provided some more aggression but, in the end Primoz showed what he could do at the key, steepest moments which was what this race was always about strategically. Remco fans should appreciate what it took to come back and win a GT less than a year from being written off by many.

 

[Berniece]

and so it has. This would have been a more exciting Giro with Remco. IMO he would have provided some more aggression but, in the end Primoz showed what he could do at the key, steepest moments which was what this race was always about strategically. Remco fans should appreciate what it took to come back and win a GT less than a year from being written off by many.

He would’ve started that TT with more than 40s behind. He wouldn’t have won this Giro. Nonetheless, congrats to Roglic

 

[Andre]

It would have been a lot of fun to watch Remco on stage 20. I think he would have won the stage and the Giro. Oh well, let bygones be bygones. Go Remco Go!

 

[IndianCyclist]

and so it has. This would have been a more exciting Giro with Remco. IMO he would have provided some more aggression but, in the end Primoz showed what he could do at the key, steepest moments which was what this race was always about strategically. Remco fans should appreciate what it took to come back and win a GT less than a year from being written off by many.

yes since this Giro was tailor made for Remco, it would have been. Mano a Mano with the other leaders he could have won it but with his team being weak compared to the other leaders team, he would be repeatedly attacked by the other teams and it would be a tossup

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

yes since this Giro was tailor made for Remco, it would have been. Mano a Mano with the other leaders he could have won it but with his team being weak compared to the other leaders team, he would be repeatedly attacked by the other teams and it would be a tossup

You mean how Ineos and JV repeatedly attacked in this Giro

 

[Riek s]

and so it has. This would have been a more exciting Giro with Remco. IMO he would have provided some more aggression but, in the end Primoz showed what he could do at the key, steepest moments which was what this race was always about strategically. Remco fans should appreciate what it took to come back and win a GT less than a year from being written off by many.

Roglic was never written off. At worst he was put behind Pog,ving, Remco. And from what we saw that is still the case. Roglic won by 13s, nothing dominant . Roglic was dropped once, saved by kuss. Almeida dropped twice. Thomas lost in the mtt. Neither rog or Thomas deserved to win or loose the giro. You can call it tactical, but for the same flip of the coin Thomas won.
If hart didn't crash, he would have won it and let's not forget Ineos lost a lot of people so they couldn't make the race harder.

It was not tactical to put everything on the mtt, it was due to lack of choice/ability to do otherwise.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Roglic was never written off. At worst he was put behind Pog,ving, Remco. And from what we saw that is still the case. Roglic won by 13s, nothing dominant . Roglic was dropped once, saved by kuss. Almeida dropped twice. Thomas lost in the mtt. Neither rog or Thomas deserved to win or loose the giro. You can call it tactical, but for the same flip of the coin Thomas won.
If hart didn't crash, he would have won it and let's not forget Ineos lost a lot of people so they couldn't make the race harder.

It was not tactical to put everything on the mtt, it was due to lack of choice/ability to do otherwise.

I’ve seen this a few times. What are people basing this on? They hadn’t done a single mountain stage when he dropped out.

 

[Ulle97]

What is the plan for Remco now?
I know he'll probably do the WC and San Sebastian, but I really want to see him in a grand tour again this year.....

I think the Tour has possibilities for him and the Vuelta also.

I really enjoy watching Remco and hope he has a great career. However, I get the feeling that he is like the protected up and coming boxer who won't take on certain challenges for fear of losing. Maybe it's more his team management who is calling the shots.

Let's get Remco to the Tour, or at least defend his title at the Vuelta! Come on Remco!!

 

[IndianCyclist]

You mean how Ineos and JV repeatedly attacked in this Giro

If they were 1.5-2 minutes behind yes. remember Stage 8

 

[Red Rick]

What is the plan for Remco now?
I know he'll probably do the WC and San Sebastian, but I really want to see him in a grand tour again this year.....

I think the Tour has possibilities for him and the Vuelta also.

I really enjoy watching Remco and hope he has a great career. However, I get the feeling that he is like the protected up and coming boxer who won't take on certain challenges for fear of losing. Maybe it's more his team management who is calling the shots.

Let's get Remco to the Tour, or at least defend his title at the Vuelta! Come on Remco!!

He's just started training again, so I guess we'll hear the schedule soon.

My guess the Tour just comes too early.

 

[Riek s]

I’ve seen this a few times. What are people basing this on? They hadn’t done a single mountain stage when he dropped out.

Based on him being the better climber compared to Thomas, especially on the steeper stuff. (He was also doing his worst ability the flat TT on equal ground as Thomas). If we combine that with the difference between Thomas/Roglic being a coin toss...

(and being in the Remco thread, if Remco didn't got sick, Roglic/Thomas/Ameida should have ridden completely different if they wanted to be within a minute on the final podium. Hence why him dropping out, followed by Hart dropping out made this is a snore fest of riders waiting/(or just being absolute equal to each other) untill the last coin flip. Instead of needing to attack/do something to win.
We will never know if Hart/Remco would have won the race since it would have affected the riding style dramatically. The only thing i'm 100% sure of is that the Giro would have been more watchable having them in.

 

[Blanco]

I’ve seen this a few times. What are people basing this on? They hadn’t done a single mountain stage when he dropped out.

Me too. It looks like suddenly Hart is a major force. Maybe because he could've follow Roglic on one stage, and Remco couldn't

 

[theyoungest]

Based on him being the better climber compared to Thomas, especially on the steeper stuff. (He was also doing his worst ability the flat TT on equal ground as Thomas). If we combine that with the difference between Thomas/Roglic being a coin toss...

(and being in the Remco thread, if Remco didn't got sick, Roglic/Thomas/Ameida should have ridden completely different if they wanted to be within a minute on the final podium. Hence why him dropping out, followed by Hart dropping out made this is a snore fest of riders waiting/(or just being absolute equal to each other) untill the last coin flip. Instead of needing to attack/do something to win.
We will never know if Hart/Remco would have won the race since it would have affected the riding style dramatically. The only thing i'm 100% sure of is that the Giro would have been more watchable having them in.

Another comment in the 'if my grandma had wheels she'd have been a bike' category. Unsurprisingly, a lot of them come from Belgians. It's so pointless. Let me respond with another cliche: to finish first, first you have to finish. Roglic knows that all too well. And one more cliche: you have to strike when it matters. Another thing Roglic has found out the hard way. He's not here to entertain, he's here to win.

If we're talking in possible scenarios if this or that rider hadn't crashed or gotten sick, why not also consider the scenario that Roglic had stayed on his bike? He would have been a lot better as well. It seems the Michel Wuytses and Dirk De Wolfs of this world choose to ignore this option. So basically Roglic gets 'punished' for at least finishing the race. That's on par with the guy from Slovenian cycling calling Evenepoel a spoilsport for going home with covid.

 

[Lequack]

So is he going to the Tour or what?