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

[Red Rick]

He said no more than 3 flemish classics.

Anything beyond E3 and maybe Dwars Door doesn't have much added value anyway, and DDV only because it fits nicely in the schedule. It's not like Evenepoel hasn't ever done rolling Flemish races.

If Evenepoel is serious about De Ronde, he'll probably need to do a 2.1 or 2.Pro race in February, then Tirreno or Paris-Nice in march before the classics season, so very similar to Pogacar.

 

[samhocking]

Meh I think it's just because he speaks Dutch. It's not that uncommon to say "normally yes" while pretty much meaning "yes".
I wouldn't read too much into it.

It's like lawyers phrasing everything with an "in principle"

Well if it's like a lawyer saying 'in principle' then that isn't a straight answer and my point. He would answer 'did you win Liege?' with a straight yes, not 'normally - yes' imo.

 

[Ricco']

Well if it's like a lawyer saying 'in principle' then that isn't a straight answer and my point. He would answer 'did you win Liege?' with a straight yes, not 'normally - yes' imo.

That's different. One is something that already happened and so cannot be changed and the other is an outcome in the future that despite being almost sure, is always subject to change due to some unforeseeable factor, whatever odds it may have.

I'm not dutch but I also have the tendency to say it like that whenever talking about something in the future. Not because I have doubts about the occurrence of some specific thing, but because something beyond my control can happen that invalidates my previous assertion.

 

[Panda Claws]

Well if it's like a lawyer saying 'in principle' then that isn't a straight answer and my point. He would answer 'did you win Liege?' with a straight yes, not 'normally - yes' imo.

I am not talking about lawyers in the context of their job but rather that it is a manner of speech they take home from it.

Similarly Remco, even if you don't buy me saying that this is a normal phrasing in Flanders, is absolutely in the public eye and will weigh his words whether anything is meant by it or not.

You never know what'll happen. Did you win Liège is a dumb example though because that already verifiably happened.

Bottom line is that I think Remco would have said "normally yes" no matter whether it was 80% or 99% sure. Therefore you really can't draw conclusions from it.

But I can't know if I am right and take no issue with you interpreting it differently.
It could be expressing doubt but in this case I don't think it is.

 

[Red Rick]

"Normally yes" is an answer so ambiguous you may as well not ask the question. That's not a criticism of Evenepoel, but rather that it's gonna be treated as 'breaking news' when really we don't learn anything new at all.

Be don't know that much other than Evenepoels managment probably has talked to Ineos about a potential buy out, but other than that we don't have anything. Additionally, if Jumb doesn't find a new sponsor Ineos may just get Vingegaard without having to buy anyone out.

 

[topcat]

Normally yes=yes unless they make me an offer I can’t refuse (Jim Ratcliffe plays Don Corleone in Godfather 4).

 

[peterfin]

His "normally yes" was followed by a fair assessment of the team and what can be done to be good enough for the TdF. So it looks like he believes things can still work out fine but by not fully saying "yes" he keeps the pressure on the management. He basically creates the same pressure as he wants for his domestiques. He wants his helpers to work hard for a spot in the tour team. He needs the same mindset from his managers and technical team. Yes, a contract is a contract but it wouldn't be a big surprise if the first cyclist with a soccer-like transfer is Evenepoel.

 

[red_flanders]

Oh, FFS...

 

[jmdirt]

I think that he and Sagan have talked about RE joining PS on the S Works dirt team.

 

[Big Doopie]

Thought the interview was great and real entertaining.

Just like with G’s podcast, he really comes across well. Very relaxed, honest, humble, aware of his weaknesses and yet super confident.

Surprised to hear him say that the World’s TT is his best victory so far. Recency bias? Or is it that it is such an achievement to do this against all these much bigger power guys?

Sivakov and DePlus would have been nice.

Interested also in his TDS take. Knew he did not have it after Covid, but took it as an opportunity to practice defending against riders who were flying.

 

[pastronef]

Oh, FFS...

ffs for "we could quickly be at UAE/Jumbo level" or for ""normally" stay but demands improvements"

 

[Valv.Piti]

I really loved the interview. When you have 50 km to work, that works about right with a just under 2 hours interview. That and together with his YT-channel, it easily makes him the most accessible rider. And he does have a lot of very good points and you can tell he analyzes stuff as well, lots of intelligent stuff coming out his mouth contrary to some other riders who barely know what stage they have to ride tomorrow.

 

[Andre]

Thought the interview was great and real entertaining.

Just like with G’s podcast, he really comes across well. Very relaxed, honest, humble, aware of his weaknesses and yet super confident.

Surprised to hear him say that the World’s TT is his best victory so far. Recency bias? Or is it that it is such an achievement to do this against all these much bigger power guys?

Sivakov and DePlus would have been nice.

Interested also in his TDS take. Knew he did not have it after Covid, but took it as an opportunity to practice defending against riders who were flying.

Sivakov and DePlus to Quickstep?

 

[Big Doopie]

Sivakov and DePlus to Quickstep?

No.

They tried to get them.

 

[Andre]

I just thought of something, and call me crazy if you have to: what if Bora and Quickstep merged into one super team? Then they would immediately be as strong as Jumbo/Visma and UAE.

 

[pastronef]

I just thought of something, and call me crazy if you have to: what if Bora and Quickstep merged into one super team? Then they would immediately be as strong as Jumbo/Visma and UAE.

it would be a 40 riders team at least for 2024. so, not possible

 

[Andre]

it would be a 40 riders team at least for 2024. so, not possible

so there's no way around that? Maybe sell some riders?

 

[pastronef]

so there's no way around that? Maybe sell some riders?

no, no way. well, one of the team should fold for lack of funds. it won't happen.

 

[Unchained]

Oh, FFS...

So you see how people in life have limitations.. Remco is an excellent bike racer, if as a very very young man, he thinks he he sees a couple of obvious tweaks that can make Quickstep equal to Jumbo maybe he is younger and less experienced than his age indicates. This interview and his observations spell chaos for Quickstep..if he feels that he is being held back by the organization and says so publicly.. Probably advice from his father to make these kind of corrosive comments..

 

[Nick2413]

He always comes across well when you actually listen to the interview instead of just read the clickbait headlines. I wonder if he’s required to speak a certain way about certain topics though, regarding contracts especially. He seems sincere but it’s not that special to say he wants to stay with Quickstep, of course anyone would say that. If it makes logical and financial sense to leave then he will. Just have to wait and see.

 

[red_flanders]

So you see how people in life have limitations.. Remco is an excellent bike racer, if as a very very young man, he thinks he he sees a couple of obvious tweaks that can make Quickstep equal to Jumbo maybe he is younger and less experienced than his age indicates. This interview and his observations spell chaos for Quickstep..if he feels that he is being held back by the organization and says so publicly.. Probably advice from his father to make these kind of corrosive comments..

I can’t tell if you’re serious or this is dripping with sarcasm.

 

[red_flanders]

ffs for "we could quickly be at UAE/Jumbo level" or for ""normally" stay but demands improvements"

FFS for taking a nearly 2 hour interview full of interesting insights and comments and running with the most misleading and clickbait headline, completely mischaracterizing his comments.

 

[Unchained]

I can’t tell if you’re serious or this is dripping with sarcasm.

A little of my normal stupid snark, but seriously I think that the sudden explosion of poor judgment from Camp Remco is uncalled for.. Reminds of father Ball ruining NBA basketball careers of his kids by creating a weird love triangle between the athlete, organization and some full of themselves parent.
Remco is on top of the world, literally and now is the time he needs direction and grounding.. History says that when you give young dudes unlimited power, pocket full of money, sense of invincibility and weak social circle you have problems.. Maybe Tom Boonen can swing by for a coffee or a tasty kreik or goooooze and tell Remco some of the trouble you can get into when you actually believe you are king..
Up until now I have always been impressed by his humility and composure.. Letting his legs do the talking. I think any passive aggressive team ownership manipulation through media is going to be a distraction, disadvantage and disaster for Quickstep..the team he has a contract with..

 

[red_flanders]

A little of my normal stupid snark, but seriously I think that the sudden explosion of poor judgment from Camp Remco is uncalled for.. Reminds of father Ball ruining NBA basketball careers of his kids by creating a weird love triangle between the athlete, organization and some full of themselves parent.
Remco is on top of the world, literally and now is the time he needs direction and grounding.. History says that when you give young dudes unlimited power, pocket full of money, sense of invincibility and weak social circle you have problems.. Maybe Tom Boonen can swing by for a coffee or a tasty kreik or goooooze and tell Remco some of the trouble you can get into when you actually believe you are king..
Up until now I have always been impressed by his humility and composure.. Letting his legs do the talking. I think any passive aggressive team ownership manipulation through media is going to be a distraction, disadvantage and disaster for Quickstep..the team he has a contract with..

Agree on the parental interference. As far as Remco’s comments, well, I don’t have a big problem with them. But I don’t disagree probably better handled internally.

 

[Extinction]

A lot of harsh, yet interesting comments to the latest CN Remco article about "normally" staying with SQS. The general tenor is that Remco won't be able to beat Jonas or Tadej at the Tour, so why invest in a losing proposition, when you sacrifice the tried and true Belgian-style classics dominance and GT stage success? Thus let him go. Well his performance at this Vuelta could give some indication of his likelyhood (or not) of ever challenging for yellow. However, with that attitude it's better he leave. Soudal must have data that suggests or not if Remco might possibly compete with them. Perhaps Patrick is willfully hedging his bets to fetch the highest buy-out price to sell off a liability he no longer believes in, otherwise he would be offering top salaries to acquiring premium domestiques to support the new objective. Yet thus far an aged Landa is all he has come up with, which frankly seems little convincing. On the other hand, with MVDP, Pogacar, Van Aert on other teams, isn't it a bit late to hope to recover that classics edge? It's like a trap. Either Remco pulls through or you are f-ed.