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

[rallybanana]

I don't think Remco will do this year's Vuelta as a couple of stages pass through France and he seems to be trying to avoid that country. Has he even raced in France since turning pro?

 

[Venge 82]

According to PCS, 1 single time (chrono des Nations).

 

[Mayomaniac]

Who even gets the starting money lol.

Lefevre running stuff like a small Italian PCT team and openly talking about it. I can't imagine that sponsors are actually happy with him always running his mouth and talking bs. He's the anti-Saronni. Saronni usually talked nice and reasonable stuff (besides throwing Aru under the bus during the 2020 Tour on live tv), but couldn't manage a Lidl store properly.

 

[rallybanana]

According to PCS, 1 single time (chrono des Nations).

Strictly speaking, time-trialing is a competition but not a race. So he still has to make his French pro-racing debut

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Strictly speaking, time-trialing is a competition but not a race. So he still has to make his French pro-racing debut

Chrono des nations is a pro race and winning it counts as a pro win, just like winning world ITT championships. So it's his only pro race day in France. Stop with this 'competition but not a race' nonsense and go have some fun on a nice Saturday.

 

[CyclistAbi]

There is the money aspect. Then again PL is likely trying to influence the GT race organizers in regards to the stages too. More flat ITT more likely Remco will participate.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Lefevre running stuff like a small Italian PCT team and openly talking about it.

I understand the comparison, but obviously this is not the case. First of all, this is the image he likes to create, that of being a poor schmo, the ultimate underdog who has to battle against titans. David and Goliath. Secondly, you don't get decades of results by running a team like PCT pseudo amateurs. And finally, there is some truth to the first point, but obviously not to the extent he likes to pretend. But it is true that in order to compete against bigger and richer teams, the team has to be run like a tight ship. I do believe that if you put another manager in his place with the same means, that the team would crumble. I believe the reason why the team has been as successful as it has been given the circumstances, is exactly because he is in full control.

This doesn't mean i agree with everything he does or that i think the team doesn't make mistakes.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I understand the comparison, but obviously this is not the case. First of all, this is the image he likes to create, that of being a poor schmo, the ultimate underdog who has to battle against titans. David and Goliath. Secondly, you don't get decades of results by running a team like PCT pseudo amateurs. And finally, there is some truth to the first point, but obviously not to the extent he likes to pretend. But it is true that in order to compete against bigger and richer teams, the team has to be run like a tight ship. I do believe that if you put another manager in his place with the same means, that the team would crumble. I believe the reason why the team has been as successful as it has been given the circumstances, is exactly because he is in full control.

This doesn't mean i agree with everything he does or that i think the team doesn't make mistakes.

Yeah, it was a bit of a hyperbole and mainly a jab at his obsession to monetize everything.

One can't deny his talent as a team ower and to pick the right people as ds/staff members an so on. That's why I called him the ani-Saronni. Lefevre can be a bit of a PR nightmare, but he has been running a top team for decades, that one is hard to deny.

 

[Andre]

After defending his Tour crown, next year fulfilled Vingegaard will get back to a calm fisherman's life.
Pogacar, after another year of Merckxian craziness, will be a crippled (he's almost there already) and burnt-out, old man.
Then Remco, a new sheriff in town, will enter the scene and beat all those wannabes at the Tour!

How much is it not just Lefevere angling for Vuelta appearance fees.

...good point Rick Moderator. I was also wondering how much influx or influence does Remco have in the decisions? i.e. Patrick says "no Vuelta" Remco says "yes Vuelta".

 

[peterfin]

Yeah, it was a bit of a hyperbole and mainly a jab at his obsession to monetize everything.

One can't deny his talent as a team ower and to pick the right people as ds/staff members an so on. That's why I called him the ani-Saronni. Lefevre can be a bit of a PR nightmare, but he has been running a top team for decades, that one is hard to deny.

He definitely succeeded in maximizing his opportunities with his budget. The bigger question is if Remco's ambitions are a good fit with Lefevre's plans? Lefevre may do the right things for the team and still damage Remco's career, in particular his GT ambitions. I think this is a clear risk now as SQS classic team evaporated and the decision to build a GT team conflicts with strengthening his classic team.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

...good point Rick Moderator. I was also wondering how much influx or influence does Remco have in the decisions? i.e. Patrick says "no Vuelta" Remco says "yes Vuelta".

Then it's yes Vuelta. Lefevere has already said a couple of times that when Evenepoel wants to ride a certain race, that he is the one to make the final call. Even after his Giro DNF, he said that Evenepoel would not go to the Tour... unless he really wanted to himself. Evenepoel was also the one to decide going to the 2020 Giro while that was not planned (he stalked Lefevere on whatsapp with Italian flags). Then he crashed, and again Evenepoel wanted to go to the 2021 Giro, which the team should have advised against more firmly.

 

[houtdffan]

Lefevre not happy that Remco is going to Suisse...

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Lefevre not happy that Remco is going to Suisse...

If he's good enough to go to le Suisse he's good enough to go to a training camp to prepare le tour

 

[Rob5091]

Lefevre not happy that Remco is going to Suisse...

The lack of funding seemed to be more the problem, "Eight days of racing in Switzerland, with the Swiss prices at the pump and in the shops, try to fund that with 8,500 euros."

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

He should just tell Remco to win all the stages, so he can cover the expenses with the prize won.
Hell, this can even solve the Giro boredome, no conservative riding if you have to win to pay the bills.

 

[Andre]

Then it's yes Vuelta. Lefevere has already said a couple of times that when Evenepoel wants to ride a certain race, that he is the one to make the final call. Even after his Giro DNF, he said that Evenepoel would not go to the Tour... unless he really wanted to himself. Evenepoel was also the one to decide going to the 2020 Giro while that was not planned (he stalked Lefevere on whatsapp with Italian flags). Then he crashed, and again Evenepoel wanted to go to the 2021 Giro, which the team should have advised against more firmly.

I learned something new

 

[Didinho]

I did the Haussire friday, toughest climb in the Benelux.
And saw Remco today on the Cote de Wanne (Liège hill). Just with 1 teamcar.

Bike weekend well spent.

 

[Oldermanish]

If he's good enough to go to le Suisse he's good enough to go to a training camp to prepare le tour

Or actually prepare to defend his Vuelta title against the prior victor. The one that crashed out of '22 Vuelta and just won the Giro. If that isn't a showdown to settle the score (at least for fans) I don't know of a race that would advance his WC ambitions better.
I'm sure Primoz would be happy for the company.

 

[Divergence]

Except that it makes perfect sense. He peaked for the Giro, had to recover from covid and just started training a few days ago. If he went to the Tour he would never be in top shape and he could never prolong his Giro peak throughout the Tour and into the WCC. Maybe he could do a top 10 in the TDF, but that's not where his ambitions lie. If he goes, he wants to win or at least contend for victory. Going for stages is a complete waste of time, they will automatically come whenever he goes in the future. Especially since winning a WCC (RR or TT) easily tops a stagewin in the Tour. Even more so because in that scenario he could still realistically ad Vuelta where he can go for a second GC win as well as multiple stage wins, with Lombardia afterwards.

So it makes one-zero-zero sense.

It is the biggest race and even if not at 100% he should go. One never knows what will happen in the race and how the body will react. All this waiting around for I do not even know what is pretty ridiculous.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It is the biggest race and even if not at 100% he should go. One never knows what will happen in the race and how the body will react. All this waiting around for I do not even know what is pretty ridiculous.

Basically the choice is between being able to ride the Tour unprepared, with dubious form, and not being able to compete for much else all year in peak form, except perhaps Lombardia.
And on the other hand ditching the Tour, getting ready to ride the WCC well prepared, in peak form, do San Sebastian and Vuelta and Lombardia and being able to compete for the win in all of them.

Basically, do you value a top 10 in the Tour higher than a podium in La Vuelta in addition to being able to go to the WCC at full strength? For me this is a no-brainer, even if you might describe it as "for I do not even know what".

 

[Valv.Piti]

Lets wait until Tour de Suisse to call his shape dubious and unprepared. I expect a strong Evenepoel winning the race.

I don't think he can win against Vingegaard, but all it takes it one crash. Pogacar's preparation on the other hand IS dubious, and the rest he can beat fair and square.

 

[Divergence]

Basically the choice is between being able to ride the Tour unprepared, with dubious form, and not being able to compete for much else all year in peak form, except perhaps Lombardia.
And on the other hand ditching the Tour, getting ready to ride the WCC well prepared, in peak form, do San Sebastian and Vuelta and Lombardia and being able to compete for the win in all of them.

Basically, do you value a top 10 in the Tour higher than a podium in La Vuelta in addition to being able to go to the WCC at full strength? For me this is a no-brainer, even if you might describe it as "for I do not even know what".

Grand Tours is what counts. WCC and Lombardia are nice but it is better to show yourself and have a decent result at the Tour (which I believe Remco can have) than it is to be the ITT WC.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Grand Tours is what counts. WCC and Lombardia are nice but it is better to show yourself and have a decent result at the Tour (which I believe Remco can have) than it is to be the ITT WC.

Grand Tours count. So do WCC and monuments.

So, even if you want to discard 1 day races, would you value a 6th place at the Tour over a win at the Vuelta?

 

[Berniece]

Grand Tours is what counts. WCC and Lombardia are nice but it is better to show yourself and have a decent result at the Tour (which I believe Remco can have) than it is to be the ITT WC.

I think Remco also just wants to check stuff off his list. WC ITT and Lombardia being one of them.

 

[Bonimenier]

I think Remco also just wants to check stuff off his list. WC ITT and Lombardia being one of them.

Actually being two of them.