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

[DNP-Old]

Don't worry guys, the so desired reinforcements are on the way. UAE and Jumbo are surely to be scared now, as I can hear sweat trickling down their cheeks. This is reminiscent of the Dream Team in Barcelona, I can already picture them steaming up Alpe d'Huez like Heras did for Armstrong. I present to you: Ayco Bastiaens and Antoine Huby.

🫠

 

[Angelo1985]

I read a rumour Carlos Rodriguez from Ineos would maybe come to SQS.

 

[Venge 82]

According to a source close to Remco, Ineos and Remco would be really flirting.
Ineos might be ready to put some €€€ on the table to break the contract of Remco with SQS...

As I told end of May, Ineos is pushing really hard for Remco. I guess we will know more after the Vuelta...

 

[Peter von]

As I told end of May, Ineos is pushing really hard for Remco. I guess we will know more after the Vuelta...

Remco with the INEOS train can be a scary thought. But let's see what happens.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I read a rumour Carlos Rodriguez from Ineos would maybe come to SQS.

Hes going to Movistar.

 

[Angelo1985]

Remco with the INEOS train can be a scary thought. But let's see what happens.

Remco with Ineos could become almost unbeatable.

 

[Andre]

Remco please don't go to Ineos. I prefer for you to stay and if not then maybe Bora.

 

[Extinction]

Jakobsen is leaving, so what does that mean for Soudal? They are still planning for the Tour with Remco?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Jakobson is leaving, so what does that mean for Soudal? They are still planning for the Tour with Remco?

That's the reason, according to Jakobsen, that he's leaving. Because he wants to ride the Tour and knows if he stays that chance is slim with Evenepoel going for GC.

 

[Extinction]

That's the reason, according to Jakobsen, that he's leaving. Because he wants to ride the Tour and knows if he stays that chance is slim with Evenepoel going for GC.

Right, so what does that mean for Remco staying at Soudal?

 

[red_flanders]

Right, so what does that mean for Remco staying at Soudal?

Remco potentially leaving is a long shot, and as such, Jakobsen has to plan assuming nothing changes. If you're Jakobsen you're both looking for a team where you can sprint, and you're looking for a team who isn't looking to spend your contract money on help for Remco.

I think the latter is a real thing which isn't being actively talked about in the media, likely for good reason.

 

[Extinction]

Remco potentially leaving is a long shot, and as such, Jakobsen has to plan assuming nothing changes. If you're Jakobsen you're both looking for a team where you can sprint, and you're looking for a team who isn't looking to spend your contract money on help for Remco.

I think the latter is a real thing which isn't being actively talked about in the media, likely for good reason.

Of course, but all this intrigue about Remco leaving is likely lots of smoke, but no steak!

 

[Riek s]

Remco is not leaving before his contract is due.

If Ineos is sincere, they can already start riding for Remco in the Vuelta

 

[Oldermanish]

Remco is not leaving before his contract is due.

If Ineos is sincere, they can already start riding for Remco in the Vuelta

It'd be easier/cheaper to buy Remco's team, keep a sprinter maybe.

 

[Andy schleck]

Remco with Ineos could become almost unbeatable.

Maybe, if pogacar and vingegaard did not exist.

 

[Salvarani]

Jakobsen leaving frees up some space on the wage bill... but Ala still has a year left on his contract. Asgreen also has another year left and I could see him leaving after next season.

I think 2025 is where they could potentially have an opportunity to build the best team possible for Remco, if their budget is not getting increased before that.

2024 they could probably field an okay/decent team for the Tour. They still wont be able to compete with Jumbo or UAE strength-wise, so maybe just let Remco try to follow the wheels of them.

Right now, there are only 9 riders on the roster for next year. I assume a few of the current squad will be renewed and some will be let go. They probably have a few signings lined up already. They just havent been announced yet.

Interesting to see what happens.

 

[DNP-Old]

It came out today in French press that Bernaudeau is interested in signing Alaphilippe this year and that the interest is mutual. However, Bernaudeau also has no intention of buying out his contract which makes it a tough situation, but it's not completely ruled out. Secondly, also published today, it is said that QuickStep lost out on each and every single rider they targeted to strengthen the Remco core. Matteo Jorgenson is going to Jumbo, Carlos Verona is going to INEOS, Pavel Sivakov is going to UAE and the last piece to fall today is Laurens De Plus, who is going to extend his contract. They are now looking at Geoffrey Bouchard.

The latter is bogus and mind boggling to me. For '23 Lefevere decided not to do much, which I think was a brilliant decision. You can only get what the market offers. It is better to keep your cash and wait a year to go for the big guns, than to do something purely for the purpose of doing something. It's a mistake teams often make, like Trek getting a big bag of money and deciding to spend it on Sam Oomen, that is ridiculous. A year later, however, having missed out on all four targets, he looks like he is about to make the mistake he avoided a year earlier, for Bouchard is nothing special and never will be. Desperation? Who knows. Lefevere says he has two cards up his sleeve and is in talks with two riders who are in the top 10/top 15 range in this very Tour, but I can't figure out who it would be. The only ones to run out of contract are Carlos Rodriguez, who signed a contract with Movistar yesterday, Louis Meintjes, who is likely staying with Intermarche, and Mikel Landa.

In regards to other contracts yet to be announced QuickStep has had a deal with William Junior Lecerf for quite some time and which will be activated per 2024. Lecerf's profile does fit the mould, but he is way too young to be a reliable piece for at least a few years. They will also bring in Ayco Bastiaens, who is a Tim Declerq replacement who is likely leaving. French press say there is a deal with Antoine Huby, also not the climber Remco needs. Luke Lamperti has signed, sprinter. Bert Van Lerberghe, Mattia Cattaneo and James Knox will extend, on top of an earlier agreement with Ilan Van Wilder. The other Italians will leave.

tl;dr: Lefevere disaster class.

 

[Salvarani]

Landa wouldnt be super-bad as climbing support for a year or two. He has had that role before at both Astana and Ineos.

He was great in the spring but seems completely out of form now.

Landas days as a GC-rider in the GTs is probably numbered after this showing.

He should forget about GC after this in the GTs. He could still be great as a super-dom in the high mountains for someone. Why not for Remco.

 

[Riek s]

UAE/JV seem to be getting stronger and stronger, while those teams are already filled with the biggest talents one can get.


While VDP and Remco are left with a team that looks barely 'meh' on paper. Luckily for VDP he isn't a GC rider.

And even more unfortunate for SQS is that besides Remco .. for Classics and GC... they have barely anyone. (or at least anyone who is performing like they should), with the ongoing rumours this will even get worse...

 

[Extinction]

UAE/JV seem to be getting stronger and stronger, while those teams are already filled with the biggest talents one can get.


While VDP and Remco are left with a team that looks barely 'meh' on paper. Luckily for VDP he isn't a GC rider.

And even more unfortunate for SQS is that besides Remco .. for Classics and GC... they have barely anyone. (or at least anyone who is performing like they should), with the ongoing rumours this will even get worse...

It's like Soudal is still in the artisanal days with Don Patrick the miser, when going out and riding a lot could net you the Tour if you were Bernard Hinault. Belgium needs big money to win the Tour, whatever that means. Contador himself said he couldn't compete without the money!

 

[Netserk]

Man I hope he does leave. Take his talent to Chemical Beach, Ineos.

Thank you for the cue. I have now realised the anthem of the remconistas is:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRKJiM9Njr8

 

[laarsland]

It came out today in French press that Bernaudeau is interested in signing Alaphilippe this year and that the interest is mutual. However, Bernaudeau also has no intention of buying out his contract which makes it a tough situation, but it's not completely ruled out. Secondly, also published today, it is said that QuickStep lost out on each and every single rider they targeted to strengthen the Remco core. Matteo Jorgenson is going to Jumbo, Carlos Verona is going to INEOS, Pavel Sivakov is going to UAE and the last piece to fall today is Laurens De Plus, who is going to extend his contract. They are now looking at Geoffrey Bouchard.

The latter is bogus and mind boggling to me. For '23 Lefevere decided not to do much, which I think was a brilliant decision. You can only get what the market offers. It is better to keep your cash and wait a year to go for the big guns, than to do something purely for the purpose of doing something. It's a mistake teams often make, like Trek getting a big bag of money and deciding to spend it on Sam Oomen, that is ridiculous. A year later, however, having missed out on all four targets, he looks like he is about to make the mistake he avoided a year earlier, for Bouchard is nothing special and never will be. Desperation? Who knows. Lefevere says he has two cards up his sleeve and is in talks with two riders who are in the top 10/top 15 range in this very Tour, but I can't figure out who it would be. The only ones to run out of contract are Carlos Rodriguez, who signed a contract with Movistar yesterday, Louis Meintjes, who is likely staying with Intermarche, and Mikel Landa.

In regards to other contracts yet to be announced QuickStep has had a deal with William Junior Lecerf for quite some time and which will be activated per 2024. Lecerf's profile does fit the mould, but he is way too young to be a reliable piece for at least a few years. They will also bring in Ayco Bastiaens, who is a Tim Declerq replacement who is likely leaving. French press say there is a deal with Antoine Huby, also not the climber Remco needs. Luke Lamperti has signed, sprinter. Bert Van Lerberghe, Mattia Cattaneo and James Knox will extend, on top of an earlier agreement with Ilan Van Wilder. The other Italians will leave.

tl;dr: Lefevere disaster class.

Big Pat dismantling the classics squad whilst simultaneously not strengthening the support for his one GT-gem.

 

[Venge 82]

Big Pat dismantling the classics squad whilst simultaneously not strengthening the support for his one GT-gem.

That's exactly the problem...

I believe Patrick Lefèvre might have made a historical mistake. They were top of the world in classics and nowhere in GT.
To build a GT squad, you need more than 1 champ (Remco in this case), but also strong domestiques. I think he has underestimated the budget/time needed for that.
There is not 1 single reinforcement of the squad and that is probably due to not enough money (while losing riders as Fabio, probably Julian, maybe Tim Declercq, Remi Cavagna,...)

If Patrick Lefèvre doesn't contract real TOP domestiques both PL and Remco will be in a "catch 22" (in Dutch PATstelling - pun intended). I fear PL is already too late.
Remco will start pushing to leave SQS to go to Ineos (in not already too late - what I believe), but PL cannot afford to let him go. In that case, he has no longer a classics team and no longer a potential GT-winner. Soudal will not be pleased as they stepped in for more exposure (read: go for the TdF with Remco). Also, selling the team will be harder... Who wants to pay for a team that has nothing to offer (no GT's, no classics)? But, that means Remco is also in a difficult position. If PL really plays it hard, Remco will not be able to leave unless astronomic €€€ are being paid. In that case, Remco will be stuck for another 3 years with a squad that is not strong enough and a team that is not experienced enough... There is only 1 possibility left in that case - injection of extra money to buy experience and domestiques --> 2024 will have to be seen as a learning year for Remco in TdF. Hopefully, not a wasted year...

 

[Monte Serra]

I heard from Michel Wuyts (on his latest podcast), that no significant investments in the team are to be expected in the short term. As both Soudal and QuickStep are doing relatively poorly financially, owing to a downturn in the construction business. So it's quite understandable that Remco is not super happy with the current situation.

 

[Red Rick]

They're really acting as if theyre a 8M budget team now