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

[DNP-Old]

Ciro says that Mauro Schmid will also leave and is on the verge of signing with Jayco. This isn't going to make or break SQS hopes of building a decent team that can challenge for a Tour win, but Lefevere desperately needs a W.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

After Fausto, now also Mikel. Fed up of Lefevre signing my favourite riders to be as a gregarios for remco . Thank god Vincenzo retired instead of taking money to lead remco into la redoute

 

[Andy schleck]

Do you think Remco will be able to hang in with the best climbers in this Vuelta???

I hope he can but I think some of the stages are too tough........ there seems to be an insane amount of uphill/mountain finishes.

I think this time, he will be able to hang with Mas. Mas will not be at 100%, after what happened in the tour.

 

[Red Rick]

More than one team interested in the second best rider in the world. Who would have thought.

I honestly think he actually wants to stay with QuickStep if they'd just update his contract and give him the support he deserves. His current contract was signed years ago now, and doesn't represent his actual current value. So i think he is just pressuring the team to step it up and using other teams to get what he wants, more so than actually wanting to leave. But Lefevere will have to run back to Vic Swerts and plea on his bare knees. Soudal wanted a GT team, but so far their input hasn't been remotely enough to build a GT team. They'll need to show some serious commitment or take their nickel and dime shenanigans back to Lotto.

The problem I see is that they're no longer the team where most riders overperform their wages, so even if you threw money at them you wouldn't necessarily believe they'd be that competitive with Jumbo and UAE.

If anything getting better himself should be more important for Evenepoel than just the better team.

 

[Reynard]

If he really wants out and is interested in strong support in GTs then it's either Ineos or Bora (if Remco isn't delusional about Lidl and Israel). Ineos I think is a clear case. They have the money and not that much GT success in the last years. best performances came from Thomas (who's old) and Rodriguez (who's probably leaving). Bora pulled the same script together with specialized for Sagan so I think they could do it again. They would have to restructure their team I think rightaway. In a GC focused team with Remco their would be a lot of unhappy riders like Vlasov and Higuita who would be scrapped of their opportunities.

I alos think that's either Ineos or Soudal-QS with a better contract for Remco. The inability of Lefevre do bring in talent next to Remco with the secured budget is really strange though. Seems like he has his super powers limited to the classics and sprinters.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Ciro says that Mauro Schmid will also leave and is on the verge of signing with Jayco. This isn't going to make or break SQS hopes of building a decent team that can challenge for a Tour win, but Lefevere desperately needs a W.

No, but Schmid is a very good and versatile rider, who could fill the void in certain races where they need a leader or co-leader, and a rider that could pull his weight in a GC team.

The problem I see is that they're no longer the team where most riders overperform their wages, so even if you threw money at them you wouldn't necessarily believe they'd be that competitive with Jumbo and UAE.

If anything getting better himself should be more important for Evenepoel than just the better team.

I think they are behind on the science and nutrition. I have never felt Pelgrim is the guy to lead Evenepoel to TDF success either. So they should definitely put money towards that aspect, maybe as much or more than finding new riders. More money in itself won't change much, but it gives you options.

 

[Berniece]

If he really wants out and is interested in strong support in GTs then it's either Ineos or Bora (if Remco isn't delusional about Lidl and Israel). Ineos I think is a clear case. They have the money and not that much GT success in the last years. best performances came from Thomas (who's old) and Rodriguez (who's probably leaving). Bora pulled the same script together with specialized for Sagan so I think they could do it again. They would have to restructure their team I think rightaway. In a GC focused team with Remco their would be a lot of unhappy riders like Vlasov and Higuita who would be scrapped of their opportunities.

I alos think that's either Ineos or Soudal-QS with a better contract for Remco. The inability of Lefevre do bring in talent next to Remco with the secured budget is really strange though. Seems like he has his super powers limited to the classics and sprinters.

Would love to see him at bora

 

[Rob5091]

The problem I see is that they're no longer the team where most riders overperform their wages, so even if you threw money at them you wouldn't necessarily believe they'd be that competitive with Jumbo and UAE.

If anything getting better himself should be more important for Evenepoel than just the better team.

Agree with the second part - would it help though moving to another team? The crazy climbing at the Tour this year, shows he has to up his climbing to have a shot at the Tour.

 

[ManicJack]

Agree with the second part - would it help though moving to another team? The crazy climbing at the Tour this year, shows he has to up his climbing to have a shot at the Tour

If Remco doesn't destroy his competition in the mountains at this coming Vuelta, any team would be foolish to throw huge money at him and make him the singular focus of their future, IF they are looking at him as a GT rider.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

If Remco doesn't destroy his competition in the mountains at this coming Vuelta, any team would be foolish to throw huge money at him and make him the singular focus of their future, IF they are looking at him as a GT rider.

So if he does destroy the competition (including Ayuso, Almeida, Mas, Rodriguez, Vlasov, Roglic...), any team would be foolish to throw even less money at those other riders as focus of their future? Or does this wisdom of "dominate or bust" only apply to Evenepoel?

 

[Rob5091]

If Remco doesn't destroy his competition in the mountains at this coming Vuelta, any team would be foolish to throw huge money at him and make him the singular focus of their future, IF they are looking at him as a GT rider.

So you think he'll be going to Ineos then?!

 

[ManicJack]

So if he does destroy the competition (including Ayuso, Almeida, Mas, Rodriguez, Vlasov, Roglic...), any team would be foolish to throw even less money at those other riders as focus of their future? Or does this wisdom of "dominate or bust" only apply to Evenepoel?

The riders you mentioned, and the needs to aid their future development are not even remotely talked about in the same way as Remco and you know it.

 

[ManicJack]

So you think he'll be going to Ineos then?!

Probably the only team with money and an established infrastructure to help him without a complete make over.

 

[Andy schleck]

So you think he'll be going to Ineos then?!

He's got contract with quick step until 2026, very difficult to go to another team.

 

[ManicJack]

He's got contract with quick step until 2026, very difficult to go to another team.

Exactly. When I said throw $ at him I meant way more than his contract. It would take a buyout and the additional services of highly paid riders. I stand by my statement that a team would be foolish at this point.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The riders you mentioned, and the needs to aid their future development are not even remotely talked about in the same way as Remco and you know it.

That's not really the question here. Or would Remco only be worth his money if he dominates, where as others can get away with failure, just because they don't get talked about in the same way?

And is it possible that there is a reason those others do not get talked about in the same way? Any of the others won a GT, WCC and monuments at that age? Any of them won a WT classic at 19 years? Maybe Ayuso can win a GT in the next 2 years, but i doubt he'll become WCC, and i haven't really seen him competitive in 1 day WT races either. So while you initially stated "IF they are looking for a GT rider", you know as well as i do, that he will never "just" be a GT rider. He will always be a favourite in monuments, classics, WCCs... on top of being a GT rider.

 

[postmanhat]

I don't for a minute think he'll be moving to Ineos, but there's a lot of potential downside if he does. Belgian media scrutinise every minute detail of his career, and any perceived errors by the team will be massively amplified if he's on a foreign team. Especially Ineos, who are still the default team to dislike.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't for a minute think he'll be moving to Ineos, but there's a lot of potential downside if he does. Belgian media scrutinise every minute detail of his career, and any perceived errors by the team will be massively amplified if he's on a foreign team. Especially Ineos, who are still the default team to dislike.

"Pressure would be too much" is already given as a reason to not race the Tour anyway. It's such a bogus excuse for poor decision making.

If anything I don't think it would be that bad to leave the Belgian bubble.

 

[ManicJack]

That's not really the question here. Or would Remco only be worth his money if he dominates, where as others can get away with failure, just because they don't get talked about in the same way?

And is it possible that there is a reason those others do not get talked about in the same way? Any of the others won a GT, WCC and monuments at that age? Any of them won a WT classic at 19 years? Maybe Ayuso can win a GT in the next 2 years, but i doubt he'll become WCC, and i haven't really seen him competitive in 1 day WT races either. So while you initially stated "IF they are looking for a GT rider", you know as well as i do, that he will never "just" be a GT rider. He will always be a favourite in monuments, classics, WCCs... on top of being a GT rider.

Yeah, you win. I should have known better than to even engage. Later.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Just get him on Sky already so he can carry on the mantle of finishing 3rd 5-10 minutes down on Pogacar and Vingegaard in July

 

[Peyroteo94]

I'm a huge fan of him but he really doesn't have a chance against Pogi or Vingegaard. However I think he can be better than everyone bar these two. Roglic looks past his prime, Ayuso is still reaching his prime so he can win again this Vuelta.

 

[nightowl]

That's not really the question here. Or would Remco only be worth his money if he dominates, where as others can get away with failure, just because they don't get talked about in the same way?

And is it possible that there is a reason those others do not get talked about in the same way? Any of the others won a GT, WCC and monuments at that age? Any of them won a WT classic at 19 years? Maybe Ayuso can win a GT in the next 2 years, but i doubt he'll become WCC, and i haven't really seen him competitive in 1 day WT races either. So while you initially stated "IF they are looking for a GT rider", you know as well as i do, that he will never "just" be a GT rider. He will always be a favourite in monuments, classics, WCCs... on top of being a GT rider.

I think the question is more are Ineos or any other team going to pay up a big buyout fee and then also throw Pogacar money at him if he doesn’t dominate at the Vuelta. None of those other riders are getting that kind of money and no one would even consider that they hold that kind of value - for all the reasons you’ve listed - so the comparison to them is irrelevant.

Regardless, I think Ineos in particular would still go for it. He’s clearly shown he has the talent to compete with Pog and Jonas in GTs and Ineos have a proven track record of getting the most out of their riders for GTs, they just haven’t had one of the super-talents on their team so it hasn’t shown as much lately.

Plus the media circus surrounding him is already so toxic a lot of the time, I think it would be good for him to go somewhere where the team doesn’t actively feed into it.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think the question is more are Ineos or any other team going to pay up a big buyout fee and then also throw Pogacar money at him if he doesn’t dominate the climbs at the Vuelta. None of those other riders are getting that kind of money and no one would even consider that they hold that kind of value - for all the reasons you’ve listed - so the comparison to them is irrelevant.

Regardless, I think Ineos in particular would still go for it. He’s clearly shown he has the talent to compete with Pog and Jonas in GTs and Ineos have a proven track record of getting the most out of their riders for GTs, they just haven’t had one of the super-talents on their team so it hasn’t shown as much lately.

Plus the media circus surrounding him is already so toxic a lot of the time, I think it would be good for him to go somewhere where the team doesn’t actively feed into it.

What? Did I miss something?

 

[nightowl]

What? Did I miss something?

He’s a better TTer than them and has done plenty of incredible climbing performances, if not quite at the level of the other two. And he’s only 23 and spent his whole career on a team with little GC experience. Does that mean it’s a guarantee that he’ll be able to beat Pog and Jonas? Of course not - maybe he’ll never be able to consistently be at his peak level for 3 straight weeks. But the talent is certainly there, and a team like Ineos would be confident they can get him to the best version of himself to compete.

 

[Andy schleck]

He’s a better TTer than them and has done plenty of incredible climbing performances, if not quite at the level of the other two. And he’s only 23 and spent his whole career on a team with little GC experience. Does that mean it’s a guarantee that he’ll be able to beat Pog and Jonas? Of course not - maybe he’ll never be able to consistently be at his peak level for 3 straight weeks. But the talent is certainly there, and a team like Ineos would be confident they can get him to the best version of himself to compete.

You don't really know if remco is even a better TT than them in a grand tour, specially in the last week.