Yea, but he's coming in as the defending champion and he doesn't say I'm here to defend my title. That's noteworthy in my book. Of course, this doesn't mean he's out of contention, but it does speak of extra caution in the declarations. My point is that I think without the addition of Vingegaard, he'd be saying categorically he goes to try for a second win (even if now, until no longer possible, he'll try just that). But he doesn't say so.
This is speculation which goes against past behavior. I think you’re seeing something that simply isn’t there.
What am I seeing that isn't there? He did not say he's showing up to defend his title. One might say that's a given, but it's odd he doesn't state so. Whatever he's proclaimed in the past is irrelevant, in my book, because before he had not yet won a GT. Now he's earned the right to say he comes to fight for victory without drama. There's nothing brazen nor sensational about it.
Allright, fair enough, I never saw that one. However, in fairness, that was on 10 July, before, that is, Vingegaard announced he'd be taking on the Vuelta too (and certainly not just to show up). Evenepoel's recent statements have interestingly changed tune. So your correction unwittingly seems to provide proof of the validity of what I'm suggesting, as it certainly is no coincidence that he has since not said he comes to win, but speaks with more caution to tone down expectations. Now it's I go for the podium, even to win multiple stages.
Is it though, really? This race is probably followed with more interest in Belgium than it is in Denmark or Slovenia. Vingegaard has won the Tour, his season is a success. If he crashes out on the second stage, well, too bad. Evenepoel has a little more to prove.
Evenepoel does not have to prove anything, just focus on his performance. If he must "prove" something it's at the Tour. If I were his coach, I'd tell him to concentrate on the task at hand, be ready to descend into the depths of hell and fight to come back again with honor. Tight lips, stoic outlook and strong legs. Everything else is salt in his sack.
“Extra caution”. He said the same thing before the Giro. And yes, he had won a GT.
But the Giro he had not won. The Vuelta is different for the reigning champion; and it was a surprise that the Tour victor decide to show up. The philosophy of SQS seems to have been, following Merckx's trajectory, win the Giro first (that failed twice and the Vuelta came as an afterthought the first time, possibly with Bruyneel's imput, who knows?) and then tackle the Tour, without having to face the Tour champion. Hence his non-commitment on winning this Vuelta, must be bound to the Tour, its champion and what this potentially implies for the difficulty in winning.
I think I read in an interview somewhere that with the Belgian press, Evenepoel is always having to prove himself
Be aware that Remco changed his approach regarding answering questions that are about his future performance. As he said in that LR interview, he has learned to be more reserved because his words are seen as arrogant, especially if the media quotes his words without context. He is right of course. We know it doesn't matter if he wins or not, if he says he goes for the title he will be labeled as arrogant. What we also know is that he always goes for the title and never settles for 2nd or 3rd during a race. He will do everything within his capabilities to defend his title.
Of course, but he must think like Marcus Aurelius, who wrote: "Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason (legs) which today arm you against the present."
Well that didn't prevent him from declaring on 10 July that he intends to return to the Vuelta to win (see up thread), only to tone it down a bit after Vingegaard said he's participating. It's rightly a show of respect, after the stratospheric level the Dane showed in France. The point is he should not worry about saying he comes to win, just focus on the task at hand, with full knowledge it implies the harrowing of Hell.
It’s also because he wants to temper expectations and get some weight of his shoulders.
Who said he's working with Bruyneel? The point is Johan's banned from the sport, but that doesn't mean his voice goes unheard in Belgium.
Indeed, if he says something on the Armstrong podcast some Belgian newspapers will publish an article about it
From a strategic and tactical standpoint, all doping issues aside (which has nothing to do with these considerations), you'd be stupid not to listen to an expert's input, which clearly he makes.
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