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

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No, he said he already focused a long ti me on this TT.

No. In the interview he said he had a superday and could go faster than what was planned.
That doesn't mean it was his best performance. Just means he was better then his initial pacing plan which was put together based on his current form/expectations. Glad he felt better than his pacing plan though, otherwise he wouldn't have won.

The crosswind might made him look less fluent in my perception and thus giving me the illusion he wasn't riding comfortably.
 
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Great win. But he didn't seem that on top imo. I don't think he had a super day and hasn't reached his Giro level. (Mostly from when we had video of him riding, his tuck wasn't consistent, he was drifting all over the place. Maybe the crosswinds made that very hard...).

But WC ITT, great rider to show of a jersey (not like Foss). Last year it was WC on the road and Belgian on the ITT, this year its reversed.

Also what is up with that strange helmetpartial-visor. Seems like, as pictured, that it has very bad aero effects when his head isn't tucked.
The cross winds made it hard he said but he was feeling really good. He didn't feel his legs after 30 min racing and did 10-15 watts above his pacing plan. So I think both Ganna and Evenepoel where really good, maybe not absolute top but very close. It explains the 1m30-2m30 difference with the other main contenders although some have a bit of an excuse due to potential exhaustion of the road race (Van Aert, Kung and Pogacar). Tarling was of course exceptional and the new kid that can challenge both in the future.
 
Yeah great win for Evenepoel. This was his big goal and he pulled it off. Hopefully it doesn’t affect his Vuelta too much but GdL could be interested if he and Pog are in good shape.
He is actually 4/4 so far.

In LBL the fix was in.

Giro he left, while still in the lead. He didnt lose, he quit while still being on top.

San Sebastian he can win in his sleep.

Won worlds ITT, which was obviously the big target here. Road race was just prep and only a smokescreen to make everyone think he didnt have it. Real ones knew he would win it easy.

Only Vuelta left now. Others should be very afraid of him. Some should have second-thoughts about turning up, unless they want to be embarrassed by the almighty.

Win Lombardia for good measure and #Tour2024 is on big time. Remco rules!
 
Yeah great win for Evenepoel. This was his big goal and he pulled it off. Hopefully it doesn’t affect his Vuelta too much but GdL could be interested if he and Pog are in good shape.
There's no reason to believe that the OGTT affected Rogla's Vuelta in 2021, and there's no reason to believe that the WCTT will affect Evenepoel's Vuelta now.
 
He is actually 4/4 so far.

In LBL the fix was in.

Giro he left, while still in the lead. He didnt lose, he quit while still being on top.

San Sebastian he can win in his sleep.

Worlds ITT, which was obviously the big target here. Road race was just prep and only a smokescreen to make everyone think he didnt have it. Real ones knew he would win it easy.

Only Vuelta left now. Others should be very afraid of him. Some should have second-thoughts about turning up, unless they want to be embarrassed by the almighty.

Win Lombardia for good measure and #Tour2024 is on big time. Remco rules!
To the bolded, after his performance today and considering the level he needs to achieve to win the Vuelta, I believe he indeed held back in the WCRR to be fresher for the TT and build into Spain. It makes sense, because he could not after San Sebastian (where he was good enough to win, but not dominant like last year), be also flying in Worlds RR, nail the Worlds TT and then win the Vuelta. Something had to be sacrificed and it was the road race.
 
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To the bolded, after his performance today and considering the level he needs to achieve to win the Vuelta, I believe he indeed held back in the WCRR to be fresher for the TT and build into Spain. It makes sense, because he could not after San Sebastian (where he was good enough to win, but not dominant like last year), be also flying in Worlds RR, nail the Worlds TT and then win the Vuelta. Something had to be sacrificed and it was the road race.
I wonder how he would do that in practice because he is somebody that goes all in? The only thing that surprised me during the Worlds RR where his drop of 10-20 spots every time they did the punchy climb to the park. It is also what caused him an opportunity to join WVA in the attack. He explains it as not having the power to do it repeatedly. Maybe he also wanted to limit his exhaustion by not going all in during those punches? That would be a strange tactic during such an important race.
 
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There's no reason to believe that the OGTT affected Rogla's Vuelta in 2021, and there's no reason to believe that the WCTT will affect Evenepoel's Vuelta now.
2023 WCRR >>> 2020(21) ORR in difficulty on top of Evenepoel not being the top favorite for the Vuelta like Rolgic was. The biggest threat to Roglic was Bernal who was recovering from his Giro sickness and the injury. Otherwise everyone else you’d expect Roglic to beat. Evenepoel is up against Roglic and Vinge, plus the usual suspects that he should beat. So yes, going all in to hit his WCTT goal at the start of the year because he planned to do the Giro originally with the Vuelta being added on while Roglic and Vinge planned for the Vuelta could lead to him finishing third instead of a potential win.
 
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