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

[peterfin]

Like I said, it's fun because it's tongue in cheek. We could have a boring thread title like "Jonas Vingegaard", which is so boring compared to "The chicken who eats Riis for breakfast". When he was a junior he was compared to Merckx, because he won in crazy ways. It dates back from back then, so why would we change it? Why do people have so much issue with this comparison that doesn't mean anything?

I am on the same page but I do wonder if the seriousness of the debate here and the continuous focus on Remco's 'abysmal' GT abilities, GT failures etc is partly influenced by the title.

 

[Volderke]

And what makes this the strongest Vuelta field of the last 10 years?

It was a combination of a very strong field (I'm talking about podium candidates, that's more than enough if those are head and shoulders above the others) and a race that was raced really hard (in terms of high-level intensity, notwithstanding the neutralisation in the second stage), up until Angliru.

If it was the strongest field is a question that cannot be answered easily. It's clear though that having both the Giro and Tour winner, together in the same (strongest) team, isn't something you often see.
(but I'm done with discussing the obvious, i.e. that this Vuelta had a seriously overpowered JV team + 2 top favourites that would be favourites in any GT, making it hard from the start for any other contender, be it Remco or anybody else, to aim for the top spot on the podium, unless having a very strong team and a Vingegaard climbing level)

 

[AmRacer]

Like I said, it's fun because it's tongue in cheek. We could have a boring thread title like "Jonas Vingegaard", which is so boring compared to "The chicken who eats Riis for breakfast". When he was a junior he was compared to Merckx, because he won in crazy ways. It dates back from back then, so why would we change it? Why do people have so much issue with this comparison that doesn't mean anything?

Remco asked to not be compared?

 

[Berniece]

I am on the same page but I do wonder if the seriousness of the debate here and the continuous focus on Remco's 'abysmal' GT abilities, GT failures etc is partly influenced by the title.

If it's really about GT, Remco was 22 when he won his first GT, Merckx 23. Actually Remco and Pogacar have much bigger wins compared to Merckx when you compare by their age. Yes, I'm aware different times, different measures. The comparison is ridiculous.

Remco asked to not be compared?

He asked not to be called the next Merckx.

 

[topcat]

Keep the thread title-it’s funny

I am on the same page but I do wonder if the seriousness of the debate here and the continuous focus on Remco's 'abysmal' GT abilities, GT failures etc is partly influenced by the title.

No, they just want a fight. Most of them are Roglic fans who are still crying about the 2020 tour.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Who? Where? Which ones?

Oh an by the way 2021 Vuelta field was not week at all. You had Roglic, Bernal - current Giro champ, Carapaz - 3rd from the Tour, Adam Yates, Enric Mas, Miguel Angel Lopez, Landa, Jack Haig, Hugh Carthy, Vlasov, Bardet, Ciccone.
Jumbo team was very strong - Kuss, Kruijswijk, Gesink, Bouwman, Oomen, Van Hooydonck, Hofstede. Ineos was even stronger, Movistar also very strong, Bahrain too.
So I don't agree that was a week edition.

Yet the 2021 Vuelta was massively memed as having a weak field, especially since Mas finished second.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Mas is always being under rated.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Mas is always being under rated.

Facts, always getting hated on/ridiculed by the majority.

 

[Salvarani]

Facts, always getting hated on/ridiculed by the majority.

His GC-results are very solid and consistent. More than you can say for some other riders.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Mas is always being under rated.

Only Mas in Spain is underrated, when he leaves the country he usually gets a lot worse. Oh, and in Bologna he‘s good, it seems.

 

[will-10]

Mas is always being under rated.

A Vuelta specialist who's never won one.

 

[Blanco]

And what makes this the strongest Vuelta field of the last 10 years? Who did Remco face?
Roglic-Vingegaard-Kuss, ok, yes, those 2 plus due to the team the third

Landa? After the season he had? And while he finally was decent again here, it was not all that impressive either. Still not the old Landa.
Ayuso? He didn't seem to have progressed much compared to 22
Almeida? Got sick, lost time, then his usual drop+chase self.
Mas? Coming from a Tour crash, clearly weaker than 21
Thomas: An announced failure here almost. The chances that he wouldn't manage to get a second peak, in his first try, at an estimated age of 59 were quite big.
Arensman, crashed out.
Vlasov underperformed too. Cian did very well.

Roglic-Vingegaard, that's it. Don't think anybody predicted anybody other than Roglic-Vingegaard-Remco.

2014 Vuelta was the strongest field in last 10 years
2014-2017 Vueltas all had a very strong field
2018-2022 had a decent field, often stronger than the Giro
2023 had a very strong field, again.

 

[Salvarani]

A Vuelta specialist who's never won one.

He has finished 5th and 6th in the Tour.

 

[Andre]

what type of training will Remco do in preparation for Lombardia?

 

[ManicJack]

what type of training will Remco do in preparation for Lombardia?

We won't know until after we find out if he wins or not.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

what type of training will Remco do in preparation for Lombardia?

His GT season is over so probably a lot of pizzas and donuts, maybe also some gym to impress ladies. He'll be big and strong scaring Pog & Rog away before the race even starts.

 

[Andre]

His GT season is over so probably a lot of pizzas and donuts, maybe some gym to impress ladies. He'll be big and strong scaring Pog & Rog away before the race even starts.

donuts in Belgium? no way. you mean Craquelin

​

 

[wheresmybrakes]

donuts in Belgium? no way. you mean Craquelin

​

Is that overcooked pig fat?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

what type of training will Remco do in preparation for Lombardia?

He's in Belgium now (watching Anderlecht yesterday and he's been posting trainings in Belgium on Strava), and with only 12-13 days to go until Lombardia I guess it's probably not time to go to altitude?

We won't know until after we find out if he wins or not.

Not a bad attempt at being funny, but Remco regularly posts his trainings on Strava and therefore people that want to know about his training can get a bit of insight if they are looking for it. Of course we don't get any real details, but it's very useful for knowing for example if he is training at altitude or not.

 

[Berniece]

Wonder how he's handling the current situation. Both him and his father said they don't know about anything. If this is really early stages of the merger, I can imagine that this is true. They must be nervous for being out of the loop.

 

[Andre]

He's in Belgium now (watching Anderlecht yesterday and he's been posting trainings in Belgium on Strava), and with only 12-13 days to go until Lombardia I guess it's probably not time to go to altitude?


Not a bad attempt at being funny, but Remco regularly posts his trainings on Strava and therefore people that want to know about his training can get a bit of insight if they are looking for it. Of course we don't get any real details, but it's very useful for knowing for example if he is training at altitude or not.

thank you Eddy Evenepoel. one day I will learn how to use Strava

 

[Andre]

Wonder how he's handling the current situation. Both him and his father said they don't know about anything. If this is really early stages of the merger, I can imagine that this is true. They must be nervous for being out of the loop.

I'm thinking that if there was some validity to that "merge rumour", Remco would know, or at least know something about it.

 

[Berniece]

I'm thinking that if there was some validity to that "merge rumour", Remco would know, or at least know something about it.

I don't doubt the validity anymore, multiple people have heard this now through their channels. We don't know how far along the talks are though, but that the talks are actually happening is true.

I don't know at what point you would start informing some of your top riders like Vingegaard/Evenepoel/WVA etc. I would think when it's much more concrete.

 

[Andre]

I don't doubt the validity anymore, multiple people have heard this now through their channels. We don't know how far along the talks are though, but that the talks are actually happening is true.

I don't know at what point you would start informing some of your top riders like Vingegaard/Evenepoel/WVA etc. I would think when it's much more concrete.

The whole thing seems so strange and inopportune, and hopefully impossible to achieve. When I suggested that Bora and QS merge I was told and explained to that it would be an impossibility for various reasons. With all the insinuations and clinical facts lately, this could be the undoing (I hope to hell) of the strongest team ever. There can be no way Remco would join. Plus Roglic is probably leaving and I don't know how much longer is WVA contract for but I'm also hoping he goes to a different team. The Fish and Kuss would be the leaders along with all the young talent they already have. I'm also wondering now in the back of my head how Contador told us all that Remco to Ineos was a done deal.

 

[Berniece]

The whole thing seems so strange and inopportune, and hopefully impossible to achieve. When I suggested that Bora and QS merge I was told and explained to that it would be an impossibility for various reasons. With all the insinuations and clinical facts lately, this could be the undoing (I hope to hell) of the strongest team ever. There can be no way Remco would join. Plus Roglic is probably leaving and I don't know how much longer is WVA contract for but I'm also hoping he goes to a different team. The Fish and Kuss would be the leaders along with all the young talent they already have. I'm also wondering now in the back of my head how Contador told us all that Remco to Ineos was a done deal.

I think it would be good for Remco to stay if they merge. Roglic can leave, and next year in the TDF they can go with 2 leaders again. I don't think Remco has an issue with riding for someone else if they are much better. And Jumbo will definitely make Remco better.