Is GC really worth not pursuing if a team has arguably the best in the world behind Pogacar and Vingegaard, on par with Roglic? Or is it only not worth pursuing since QS is such a traditionally strong classics team?
In today's cycling, I guess that depends on the numbers Soudal has in hand and what they estimate Vingegaard and Pogacar have to work with. Mine simply was taking note of what others are saying, who seem to be Soudal fans, without, however, believing Remco has a shot at winning the Tour against those two. Given that position, I must admit raising the issue of is it worth investing in such a radical conversion, if their dauphine does not have the stuff to win the Tour under these circumstances, becomes a legitimate question/objection. That's because, yes, to answer your second question, the Belgian squad established a brand of being the best team in cycling when it came down to the beloved classics and wracking up single wins throughout the season as the famous "wolf-pack". So to give that up and bet on the "wrong horse", if such were the case, naturally would be foolish.
Now one can dispute their premise, namely that a categorical lack of faith in Remco's ability to achieve the biggest win in the sport and his greatest triumph is misplaced, given his talent and will to succeed; but not the logic behind it, considering the apparently unreachable climbing level of in particular Vingegaard. In any case, it's risky business. The problem, as everybody knows, is that, unfortunately for Soudal, Remco, who clearly is a generational talent, happened to arrive at a time when two (as of yet) unforeseen monsters came quickly into the limelight. In 2018 folks, and not just a few, were predicting the kid would be the next Merckx; while nobody could have anticipated just how bright the rising stars of first Pogacar and now especially Vingegaard would soon shine in the heavens, with performances already glowing among the pantheon of the sport. It's crazy. So much massive talent in the span of a few years arriving so suddenly (to say nothing of what other mutants might loom over the horizon). But that's sport.
Personally I think Soudal should go all in to try and help Evenepoel win the Grand Bouclé. Belgium has been waiting too long for a Tour winner and if anybody is their golden boy to bet on, it's Remco. But admittedly, with those two, it's going to be hard and both Evenepoel and the team climbing-wise must get themselves to the next level for any hope of achieving this biggest goal. For this reason, I honestly remain perplexed in Patrick's only reinforcement thus far being a, what, 34 year-old Landis? None of the younger talents (especially from Ineos) were persuaded to join Soudal. How come? Was Patrick too stingy with the offers? If so, now isn't the time for stingyness. Is it because they know Remco isn't staying at Soudal, but moving to Ineos, and so jumped ship to cash in on the most lucrative deals? Is all of Patrick's taking umbrage with Ineos and Remco's father, in reality just a smokescreen to save face and not have to invest heavily on domestiques for a rider he no longer believes in to win the Tour (or knows is going to leave)?
Many unanswered questions, while the Vuelta for Remco now becomes a huge test to see what he is capable of against rivals who arguably will be more like the calibre he will need to beat at the Tour next year.
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