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

[Froome]

Remco to Ineos, Ineos, Ineos. let it happen. When was the last time we had 4 top form riders compete at the TDF. In 2015, Froome and Quintana were in form but Nibali and Contador were not.

I continue to think, that even if we have the four riders in different teams, i think in the end, the fight for the win, will be again between pogi and vingegaard.

 

[Red Rick]

There is (and I say this carefully) not much difference in that regard with Ineos or Quickstep... so that would be quite a BS reason.

Remco may want to lead a TDF team, and at Ineos he'll probably get that chance, but I think for him it would actually be better to not have the complete pressure at what will be his first TDF. Vingegaard doesn't need him, but he could use Vingegaard.

There is no such thing as Evenepoel going for TdF GC without pressure. I don't get why people are so obsessed with that.

 

[samhocking]

There is (and I say this carefully) not much difference in that regard with Ineos or Quickstep... so that would be quite a BS reason.

Remco may want to lead a TDF team, and at Ineos he'll probably get that chance, but I think for him it would actually be better to not have the complete pressure at what will be his first TDF. Vingegaard doesn't need him, but he could use Vingegaard.

It seems Remco's main issue with Quickstep was their lack of GT sports science and know-how / investing in the GC strategy in order to be on a level playing field with Ineos, Jumbo & UAE. I think to some extent UAE are still in the phase of working it all out. Pogacar isn't clear of having bad/off days over 3 weeks yet so more investment needed there to resolve that issue too. Like Quickstep had with Remco, even Jumbo had wobbles with Roglic for several years and still haven't quite get him to win the race.
I don't think there's a huge amount between Ineos, UAE & Jumbo, it's primarily just the leading rider making the difference, below them is there really much difference between say Thomas, Kuss, Yates etc? I'd say all 3 teams could win with all 3 riders on their day in their current form.

 

[Rackham]

I'm surprised to see wielerflits & such sites running with the "Evenepoel chooses Ineos in case of merger" headlines based off L'Equipe's vague report.

A/L'Equipe are really not what they used to be & B/there could be a negotiation angle here because I assume conversations about Evenepoel's contract with Plugge's team are currently underway, i.e. if the merger is indeed happening.

His father (aka his agent) did float a notion in the media a few months ago about how Evenepoel deserves a wage in line with Pog's at UAE. So his demands will likely explode Jumbo's wage structure, for sure.

If he dangles Ineos' offer in front of Jumbo, they have to either bite or wave goodbye to the only real cycling asset worth keeping from the merger with Soudal.

who tf is Ten Hag?

Jumbo Visma's chief strategist for the 2022 Tour de France.

And part time (interim?) football manager at Man Utd.

 

[yaco]

If the merger happens then riders have a choice if they stay or not - I cant see any reason why Remco would ride for the merged team - It's not just a matter of him riding GC at the TDF, but its more that he's at the level for the TDF, so whether its GC or not, he will have more opportunities at another team.

 

[dennisdy]

If the merger happens then riders have a choice if they stay or not - I cant see any reason why Remco would ride for the merged team - It's not just a matter of him riding GC at the TDF, but its more that he's at the level for the TDF, so whether its GC or not, he will have more opportunities at another team.

I completely agree. Remco will have much better support at Ineos. He is an awesome one-day competitor, but he's not yet at the level to challenge for the Tour. He needs to show that he can compete in high-altitude mountain stages.

 

[theyoungest]

There is no such thing as Evenepoel going for TdF GC without pressure. I don't get why people are so obsessed with that.

But the pressure couldn't be higher than at a team desperate for a Tour contender, paying big money for you, building their whole team around you, only for you to get dropped on the first real mountain stage. At Jumbo it would be: okay, too bad. Better luck next time. At Ineos it's a disaster.

 

[pman]

Jonas is far and away the best GC guy on Planet Earth right now. Most guys at the top level can hold it for 4-6 years which means we should still have a few years of Jonas running the show. But the reality is, especially with how these teams approach the Tour, I am sure the big teams are figuring out Jonas' weaknesses the same way Jumbo did for Pog. The Jonas fans talk about him like he's going to win all three grand tours in the same year, win 8 Tours and maybe a few monuments just for the fun of it. Everyone is great when they're on top. Who knows. But I wouldn't count Remco out, especially on a team like Ineos. Plus, you don't think Remco will improve training with Ineos? Let's get real here, Remco on a team like Ineos is a scary prospect to someone like Jonas and Plugge. You don't believe me? Why else send 3 top riders to Spain when your only real competition is Remco. They did that because they know what Remco's ceiling is. And that was in a race with what, 25 k of individual time trials? Throw in more time trials and give him Ineos' marginal gains training approach and I am not saying he'll beat Jonas or even Pogacar or Roglic but he'll make them sweat.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

I think it’s possible Remco is the man to dethrone Vingegaard, or that Pogacar will reclaim his throne for years to come, but it seems that history would suggest the more likely outcome is a young rider explodes onto the scene Pogacar style. I know Remco is young, but he’s 5 years into his WT career and been winning the entire time. Any historians able to test my assertion above. I’m thinking about how Roglic, Vingegard, Pogacar, Froome, Contador, Lance, etc took more or less one violent leap forward and then were more or less what they were. Like an s curve. Remco has had that leap - had it years ago - and is not looking like the next Tour winner. Could happen but seems historically unusual. Could be wrong though.

 

[joseph89]

I think remco is set to become the highest paid cyclist with his more to ineos.

 

[Bolder]

I think it’s possible Remco is the man to dethrone Vingegaard, or that Pogacar will reclaim his throne for years to come, but it seems that history would suggest the more likely outcome is a young rider explodes onto the scene Pogacar style. I know Remco is young, but he’s 5 years into his WT career and been winning the entire time. Any historians able to test my assertion above. I’m thinking about how Roglic, Vingegard, Pogacar, Froome, Contador, Lance, etc took more or less one violent leap forward and then were more or less what they were. Like an s curve. Remco has had that leap - had it years ago - and is not looking like the next Tour winner. Could happen but seems historically unusual. Could be wrong though.

Maybe. He's impressed me by improving every year in some way. I was pleasantly surprised that Remco developed a nice kick this year. So I would never say he can't win the Tour. He has the power to weight ratio in spades. Could just be he needs to work on recovery.

 

[Salvarani]

But the pressure couldn't be higher than at a team desperate for a Tour contender, paying big money for you, building their whole team around you, only for you to get dropped on the first real mountain stage. At Jumbo it would be: okay, too bad. Better luck next time. At Ineos it's a disaster.

Shouldnt he be able to handle all of this? He is the best!

 

[theyoungest]

Jonas is far and away the best GC guy on Planet Earth right now. Most guys at the top level can hold it for 4-6 years which means we should still have a few years of Jonas running the show. But the reality is, especially with how these teams approach the Tour, I am sure the big teams are figuring out Jonas' weaknesses the same way Jumbo did for Pog. The Jonas fans talk about him like he's going to win all three grand tours in the same year, win 8 Tours and maybe a few monuments just for the fun of it. Everyone is great when they're on top. Who knows. But I wouldn't count Remco out, especially on a team like Ineos. Plus, you don't think Remco will improve training with Ineos? Let's get real here, Remco on a team like Ineos is a scary prospect to someone like Jonas and Plugge. You don't believe me? Why else send 3 top riders to Spain when your only real competition is Remco. They did that because they know what Remco's ceiling is. And that was in a race with what, 25 k of individual time trials? Throw in more time trials and give him Ineos' marginal gains training approach and I am not saying he'll beat Jonas or even Pogacar or Roglic but he'll make them sweat.

They already decided during winter training camp that Roglic, Vingegaard, and Kuss would do the Vuelta. So that didn't have anything to do with Evenepoel.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

That’s why they really want Evenepoel so desperately at JV

Do they?
It seems they want Soudal's money mostly.

 

[Berniece]

Do they?
It seems they want Soudal's money mostly.

Based on the news we heard they really want Evenepoel as well, which would make sense if you let Roglic go

 

[Bolder]

Based on the news we heard they really want Evenepoel as well, which would make sense if you let Roglic go

In theory, they SHOULD want Remco. But that would cause friction with Wout, I think, and it would also limit Remco's ambitions at the Tour. But you don't want him to go to a rival, either...kind of a dilemma assuming money is not the issue. If I were Remco I'd be heading for Ineos, if that's an option, just because I think they can offer him more opportunities than at VismazonSoudal with equal support.

 

[Berniece]

In theory, they SHOULD want Remco. But that would cause friction with Wout, I think, and it would also limit Remco's ambitions at the Tour. But you don't want him to go to a rival, either...kind of a dilemma assuming money is not the issue. If I were Remco I'd be heading for Ineos, if that's an option, just because I think they can offer him more opportunities than at VismazonSoudal with equal support.

I think people exaggerate the dislikes between riders. Wout and Remco don't love each other, but they also don't hate each other. It's been 2 years since Leuven, they've talked on multiple occasions, they both grew as a person. It's water under the bridge.

If I was Remco I would go to Visma, purely because they will get the best performance out of him. This doesn't mean the best results, but his best numbers physically. Evenepoel is confident/arrogant enough to think that if he's able to get the best out of his body, he will be the best rider in the peloton.

 

[Extinction]

I think people exaggerate the dislikes between riders. Wout and Remco don't love each other, but they also don't hate each other. It's been 2 years since Leuven, they've talked on multiple occasions, they both grew as a person. It's water under the bridge.

If I was Remco I would go to Visma, purely because they will get the best performance out of him. This doesn't mean the best results, but his best numbers physically. Evenepoel is confident/arrogant enough to think that if he's able to get the best out of his body, he will be the best rider in the peloton.

I think Ineos would do that too. The only reason they haven't been dominating the Tour, is because they don't have Vingegaard or Pogacar. I don't think Ineos is any worse than Jumbo-Visma, it's just they haven't got the riders to get the job done. They put all their eggs in Bernal's basket, but didn't see bigger talents on the rise. So if Evenepoel goes to Ineos he'll get the best out of himself. Whether or not that's good enough, only time will tell. Whereas I think a move to Jumbo with Vingegaard would be a disaster.

 

[theyoungest]

I think Ineos would do that too. The only reason they haven't been dominating the Tour, is because they don't have Vingegaard or Pogacar. I don't think Ineos is any worse than Jumbo-Visma, it's just they haven't got the riders to get the job done. They put all their eggs in Bernal's basket, but didn't see bigger talents on the rise. So if Evenepoel goes to Ineos he'll get the best out of himself. Whether or not that's good enough, only time will tell. Whereas I think a move to Jumbo with Vingegaard would be a disaster.

I disagree. Maybe purely performance-wise there isn't that much of a difference, but Ineos have dropped the ball tactically in the last couple of years. That is, they know only one tactic, riding in the Sky train. But if you don't have the strongest rider, that's not going to work. Look at what they did in the Giro, by far the strongest team in the race, but how did they use that team? In the oldfashioned Sky way, that's how.

 

[Berniece]

Seems a bit late to start the project. Not sure what to expect of him this Saturday.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Seems a bit late to start the project. Not sure what to expect of him this Saturday.

He had his first "Project Lombardia" post at Strava September 23rd, so no reason to assume he started the project with this ride.

 

[Berniece]

He had his first "Project Lombardia" post at Strava September 23rd, so no reason to assume he started the project with this ride.

Oh, ok, in that case he started early enough

 

[bNator]

Seems a bit late to start the project. Not sure what to expect of him this Saturday.

I think this definitely constitutes suboptimal prep, wouldn't you say?

 

[Berniece]

I think this definitely constitutes suboptimal prep, wouldn't you say?

It's the end of an extremely long season, I don't expect Pogacar and Evenepoel ride at 100% like they did Tour of Flanders and Liege for example. Definitely great chance for Roglic to win it.

 

[KenFiamingo]

Seems a bit late to start the project. Not sure what to expect of him this Saturday.

Personal record on the Tiegemberg. He has Lombardia in the bag, i tell you.