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

[Salvarani]

Lol you doubt whether a guy who won LBL twice and CSS 3 times at the age of 23 can "compete" in Lombardia?

I think I said the complete opposite in the post… that he should be racking up wins. Expecting it.

 

[Big Doopie]

The case for Evenepoel would have more legs to stand on if he actually defeated Pogi in Liège.

And the same for Pog I am sure, if he even came close to doing anything at worlds?

Asking for a friend…

Having made the above point, I would say that Pog has definitely more versatility at this point, and has won more diverse one day races.

Then again, Remco is also capable of winning even largely flat races (as he has done on some semi-classics) - something Pog has failed to achieve.

Pog is better atm. But they will always be different riders with different strengths. I can enjoy them for that. And any truthful and objective observation would say that the “gap” between them is rather small.

 

[Big Doopie]

Remco is an exceptional one-trick pony. He can win many LBLs, Sebastians and maybe another worlds in the future as well. Having the best team to back him.

Ah, the backhanded compliment that he wins WC only because he benefits from having the best team. (Something I do not deny)

Should we then qualify all of Pog’s wins throughout the rest of the season - they must surely be equally due to riding on a MUCH stronger team (and one that is often THE strongest)?

No?

Oh we do not look at things objectively?

Shocker.

 

[Salvarani]

Ah, the backhanded compliment that he wins WC only because he benefits from having the best team. (Something I do not deny)

Should we then qualify all of Pog’s wins throughout the rest of the season - they must surely be equally due to riding on a MUCH stronger team (and one that is often THE strongest)?

No?

Oh we do not look at things objectively?

Shocker.

Obviously a joke, mate.

Um... UAE gets slewed every time for their tactics in races. Pog has often won on his own and from far-out, by attacking. Do you even watch the races or too blind by hatred?

QST has been pretty instrumental in launching Remco every time in LBL.

Shocker, indeed.

 

[Big Doopie]

Obviously a joke, mate.

Um... UAE gets slewed every time for their tactics in races. Pog has often won on his own and from far-out, by attacking. Do you even watch the races or too blind by hatred?

QST has been pretty instrumental in launching Remco every time in LBL.

Shocker, indeed.

Freaking hysterical. Yes, agreed, obviously joking.

Quickstep did a wonderful job of launching Remco from 70 km out yesterday. He actually said he attacked, because he thought he would not have any teammates left afterwards if he waited.

Meanwhile, pog has Majka or some other rider launching him, or staying with him on the last mountain, or he has Vingo leading him out.

As for the things people criticize UAE for, the only thing I’m aware of is their connection to Gianetti which, in and of itself is some thing to make any sensible person question the entire team.

I take it, you clearly do not describe yourself as a person with that particular trait.

 

[Ripper]

Remco is an exceptional one-trick pony.

I'm not sure how to interpret this. The rest of your posts suggests you think he is much more than a one-trick pony, yes? Which would make sense, because he obviously is much, much more given his performance to date and obvious capabilities. For such a young career his diversity of wins has been very impressive.

 

[Monte Serra]

Remco is an exceptional one-trick pony.

Such an exceptional one-trick pony that he can do more than one trick.

 

[Salvarani]

Freaking hysterical. Yes, agreed, obviously joking.

Quickstep did a wonderful job of launching Remco from 70 km out yesterday. He actually said he attacked, because he thought he would not have any teammates left afterwards if he waited.

Meanwhile, pog has Majka or some other rider launching him, or staying with him on the last mountain, or he has Vingo leading him out.

As for the things people criticize UAE for, the only thing I’m aware of is their connection to Gianetti which, in and of itself is some thing to make any sensible person question the entire team.

I take it, you clearly do not describe yourself as a person with that particular trait.

In LBL they done a pretty good job at protecting him and launching him.

UAE often gets ridiculed in race threads. Maybe watch the races?

Gianetti is a clinic topic. Same could be said between Remco and Bruyneel being a family friend.

I'm not sure how to interpret this. The rest of your posts suggests you think he is much more than a one-trick pony, yes? Which would make sense, because he obviously is much, much more given his performance to date and obvious capabilities. For such a young career his diversity of wins has been very impressive.

It was an obvious joke... people are just very stingy apparently.

 

[Riek s]

As for the things people criticize UAE for, the only thing I’m aware of is their connection to Gianetti which, in and of itself is some thing to make any sensible person question the entire team.

I take it, you clearly do not describe yourself as a person with that particular trait.

UAE has been criticized a lot tactically in races where Pog isn't in. Mostly because they ride after each other etc.. or make non sensical moves. Team seems to be in line when Pogacar is riding the race though.

Both teams don't seem to be very strong in classics though, but maybe i'm recalling it incorrectly. (at least not compared to JV)

 

[Volderke]

Let's resume:

1. Vingegaard is a 2-trick-pony: GT, avoiding stage wins;
2. MvdP is a 3-trick pony: off-road, cobbled classics, beating young girls;
3. Evenpoel is a 4-trick pony: GT, TT, hill classics, micky-mouse races;
4. Pogacar is a 5-trick pony: GT, TT, cobbled classics, hill classics, backflips;
5. WvA is a 6-trick pony: TT, CX, cobbled classics, sprints, 2nd places, expensive donkey;

 

[SHAD0W93]

Screw Tinkov’s 2015 GC challenge for Contador, Nibali, Quintana, and Froome to ride all three GTs, we need WVA, MVDP, Pog, and Evenepoel to race each other in every monument next year.

 

[Unchained]

And calling him a one trick pony. The trick being: being so strong nobody can follow you. Regardless of it being uphill, on the flat or on hilly terrain. And recently also uphill sprints, sprints from a select group, sprints-à-deux.
Well it's easy when you have a trick like that! Haha, man, you can't make this stuff up.

Watch him from kilometres near the end,,42-30....just him taking a normal pull at the front ..riders dropped, as if he was trying and he wasn't.. When it becomes a 3 man race..there is never any doubt that he is going to win..his leg speed was always outstanding, never looked to struggle ever.. Exceptional talent and his tactics are about as basic as they get.. attack a little get a selection and then just start picking people off..most of the time he just powered in the saddle.. He must not have felt perfect or he would not have waited for the sprint..real respect for Bilbao he did his work always contributed, looked really really great, good result.. And another note.. Grandfather.. Rui Costa..another solid top 10..he still has gas in the tank.
Remco is not a pony, but a stallion

 

[IndurainsTdF1994]

Screw Tinkov’s 2015 GC challenge for Contador, Nibali, Quintana, and Froome to ride all three GTs, we need WVA, MVDP, Pog, and Evenepoel to race each other in every monument next year.

Leaving all the GTs to Roglic. Count me in.

 

[frisenfruitig]

I think we can all agree Salvarini needs to work on his jokes.

 

[Didinho]

Isn’t everyone targeting the races they have the most chance of winning? Or did I miss something. And 50% chance to win, I will take that every race. And you can only beat those who are riding.

We just have to wait some pre-season years to have a better view. Mathieu and Wout might go for a Liege, maybe even Vingegaard. Remco will try the cobbles, Pogi someday in Roubaix. They’re all impressive in their races.

Just enjoy these monster riders when they’re racing.
We’re gonna see almost all of them next week.

 

[Salvarani]

I think we can all agree Salvarini needs to work on his jokes.

Or your comprehension skills need some work. I thought it was pretty obvious that part was satire. You just take things way too seriously. Thank you for giving me so much attention

 

[staubsauger]

Isn’t everyone targeting the races they have the most chance of winning?

Yes indeed, unless you're David Gaudu!

 

[Berniece]

Evenepol wiped the floor with Santi bitrago and Quentin Hermans in his Liege wins, and treats San Sebastian like a monument when for most riders it is a post-tour criterium.

This doesn't make him a better one-day racer than the guy who destroyed Mathieu van der poel at his own game in Tour of Flanders, whilst also dominating lombardia both times he did it.

Calling San Sebastián a post tour criterium while saying someone dominated Lombardia, the biggest “I’m out of shape and already thinking about my holiday”-race of the season

 

[Blanco]

Screw Tinkov’s 2015 GC challenge for Contador, Nibali, Quintana, and Froome to ride all three GTs, we need WVA, MVDP, Pog, and Evenepoel to race each other in every monument next year.

We will have them all at the Worlds in 10 days and in decent shape, it's going to be very interesting. I would really love to see Remco vs Van Der Poel there.

 

[Andy schleck]

Evenepol wiped the floor with Santi bitrago and Quentin Hermans in his Liege wins, and treats San Sebastian like a monument when for most riders it is a post-tour criterium.

This doesn't make him a better one-day racer than the guy who destroyed Mathieu van der poel at his own game in Tour of Flanders, whilst also dominating lombardia both times he did it.

Evenepol is always out from the most important one day races and the most important GT.
You can't say you are the best one day racer and then you're out from milan san remo, paris roubaix, tour flandres, travers la flandres, amstel, fleche avoiding face pogacar and van der poel.
Then, he goes to la vuelta or the giro, avoiding face a 100% top shape vingegaard. It's more easy winning this way avoiding the best, or have some luck like benefiting sometimes from facing pogacar because of his crash LBL, or because van der poel was arrested at the world championships.

Classica san sebastian is like the 5th monument for evenepol fanboys 🤣

 

[Big Doopie]

One thing we can all agree on is Remco’s merch needs a design overhaul. The latest San Sebastián T-shirt is an absolute travesty. A black silhouette of him wearing “the hat” that makes him look like ET.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Evenepol is always out from the most important one day races and the most important GT.

WCC is not one of the most important one day races.
Liège is not one of the most important one day races.

Historically Liège greatly trumps Lombardia, so according to you, Pogacar only won 1 of the most important one day races, Ronde van Vlaanderen.

 

[Salvarani]

Evenepol is always out from the most important one day races and the most important GT.
You can't say you are the best one day racer and then you're out from milan san remo, paris roubaix, tour flandres, travers la flandres, amstel, fleche avoiding face pogacar and van der poel.
Then, he goes to la vuelta or the giro, avoiding face a 100% top shape vingegaard. It's more easy winning this way avoiding the best, or have some luck like benefiting sometimes from facing pogacar because of his crash LBL, or because van der poel was arrested at the world championships.

Classica san sebastian is like the 5th monument for evenepol fanboys 🤣

You are making some good points.

 

[Riek s]

We will have them all at the Worlds in 10 days and in decent shape, it's going to be very interesting. I would really love to see Remco vs Van Der Poel there.

is Pog riding WC? i haven't seen his name popping up on the start list.
I guess from a belgium team pov we have WVA that should cover VDP.

 

[Panda Claws]

Gilbert was probably the best during his incredible peak.

He didnt make results all at once though through every terrain. He transitioned over time over from the hilly ones to the cobbles. He never did both at the same time. Being one of the best in both.

He wasnt doing what Pog is doing today. I think that is where you misunderstand the "logic".

That is not quite true. From 2009 to 2011 Gilbert was competitive in exactly the same races that Pogacar was competitive in today. In 2010 he was clearly 3rd best and in 2011 he plausibly could have won RVV. We also cannot give Pogacar any extra points because he is doing so as a GC rider as that is irrelevant (not saying you are doing this).

Generally I don't think you necessarily have to be the most versatile to be the best classics rider.

Your post also made the discrepancy between Pogacar and Evenepoel look larger than it was by listing all the races Pogacar competed in even though all of them apart from possibly SB and RVV were redundant because Evenepoel clearly could win them too.

Pogacar gets versatility points for SB (Evenepoel unproven on gravel, but that is just one race and nobody even used to care about gravel) and when there are lots of cobbles (not like Evenepoel never rode on cobbles though).
On the other hand Evenepoel has won races on easy parcours that Pogacar would probably struggle more on (WC, NC this year).

You could give Pogacar MSR but Evenepoel could definitely ride that too and it's not easy to win for Pogacar either.

Overall I do agree that Pogacar is a better classics rider at this point because winning RVV does show impressive versatility and because Evenepoel could likely struggle to drop Pogacar on hilly races. Evenepoel does have his own bit of versatility on flatter, easier races that should deserve mention as well. If Evenepoel can show more of that I might end up favoring him in this regard.