Have to agree here. Schachmann will finish 2nd in the GC at worst (and Evenepoel will finish 1st at worst). He’s a beast and continues to grow as a rider. He’ll be a huge favorite for all the Ardennes classics too. But Evenepoel has only gotten better since his TT in the Tour of Belgium. Difference won’t be enormous though.
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Using Alaf as a climbing dom would be a waste of his talent. He's a stage hunter and overall disruptor at GTs. Not saying he wouldn't or couldn't do it but do you really think that if he's feeling great he's going to sacrifice chances of a stage win for Remco?
Plus, in France, Alaphilippe is the chouchou so DQS would have some explaining to do as to why they're using the Velo d'Or and sportsman of the year as a domestique in the country's biggest sporting even.
Yes, I know all those things (we even have the exact same saying in Denmark with the bearskin) but Schachmann seemed like he had taken a massive step up last year from 2018.
It's true that his 2018 ITT level wouldn't be a problem for Evenepoel and the problem is that he didn't ride one flat TT last year. So there's really no way of knowing how close he can get.
Schachmann shouldn't be an issue surely. Also I don't think Schachman is the type of rider that does well on the Malhao.
I wouldn't worry about Schachmann. Algarve is most likely a done deal. Let's see if Remco can win Tirreno as well.
Yes. He ist too heavy and he didn't perform well on long steep climbs in the past. This climb isn't really very long that's why I think he won't be too far back. He seems to get leaner.
I am curious to see what Evenepoel can do there.
I am curious to see what Evenepoel can do there.
Like when he was fifth and eighth (even after a long break) on the Mur de Huy in the Flèche Wallonne?
I think it's right up his wheelhouse.
Very impressive performance by Evenepoel once again, should have the GC for Algarve in the bag.
But the big question marks (to me), his ability on big mountain stages and 3-week recovery ability, still won't be answered until the Giro. Even T-A can't tell us much imo.
I don't see any indication why he shouldn't be great in that too, but it's unproven so far.
But the big question marks (to me), his ability on big mountain stages and 3-week recovery ability, still won't be answered until the Giro. Even T-A can't tell us much imo.
I don't see any indication why he shouldn't be great in that too, but it's unproven so far.
Based on how Max rode in the Itzulia last year I would not think the malhao would be too steep
Stages he won were far easier finishes than Malhao. Malhao is over 7 minutes, Mur de Huy is more like 3.
If Evenpeol has a good chance at winning the GC, absolutely, Alap should be on donkey duty. Not sure Alap can quite get over the hump and win the overall
agreed. Since EP is going to the Giro, let Alap lead the team again this year. However, unless he wins the overall, he should be EPs final dom in the mountains starting next year
Lefevre: "I know this will sound pretentious, but he's actually not quite in form yet. He needs to lose another 2 kg leading up to the Giro."
www.hln.be
Lefevere verrast: “Evenepoel is nog niet in vorm. Er kunnen nog een paar kilo’s af”
HLN - Het Laatste Nieuws - Volg het nieuws op de nr1 nieuwssite in België, HLN.be brengt je het allerlaatste nieuws 24/24 en 7/7, uit binnen - en buitenland, evenals dichtbij met nieuws uit je eigen regio.
www.hln.be
Lefevre: "I know this will sound pretentious, but he's actually not quite in form yet. He needs to lose another 2 kg leading up to the Giro."
Lefevere verrast: “Evenepoel is nog niet in vorm. Er kunnen nog een paar kilo’s af”
HLN - Het Laatste Nieuws - Volg het nieuws op de nr1 nieuwssite in België, HLN.be brengt je het allerlaatste nieuws 24/24 en 7/7, uit binnen - en buitenland, evenals dichtbij met nieuws uit je eigen regio.
loooooooooool
On another note, the most interesting thing about his win yesterday wasn’t that it came on a pretty big (if rather easy) mountain. It’s that he showed that he has at least enough kick to create a gap. At which point he can hold a lot of watts. He’s never going to be a good puncheur, but there‘s a very big difference between having some kick and having absolutely none (as was feared about him). If your only choice is to steadily ride everyone off your wheel, you are in a much weaker position.
Yes, I think the high pace they rode the last few KM was helpful in tiring everyone else out. But Remco obviously was not even close to his limit. It would’ve been hard to go earlier because the climb was too shallow. If Remco gets good at these 1-2 minute uphill attacks he will win a lot more races.
And I don’t think there’s any scenario in which Alaphilippe becomes a mountain domestique at the Tour de France
And I don’t think there’s any scenario in which Alaphilippe becomes a mountain domestique at the Tour de France
If EP is as good as Merckx (or even as dominant in a GT as Armstrong), he will get the entire team dedicated to him
A question concerning his finish yesterday in Portugal.
He attacked with 500 meters to go and quickly took 10-20 meters himself in 200-ish meters.
What if he was to save his punch/accelleration for the last 200 meters, would he have made a chance in the sprint or would, f.e. Schachmann have flooded over him.
He attacked with 500 meters to go and quickly took 10-20 meters himself in 200-ish meters.
What if he was to save his punch/accelleration for the last 200 meters, would he have made a chance in the sprint or would, f.e. Schachmann have flooded over him.
His attack was well timed. First of all, it was from "too far" which took some other guys by surprise. It was also with a fierce headwind. He knew that if he could make a gap there, when his rivals were not ready and/or willing he could make a gap that he could defend in timetrial mode, into the wind. The real punchers would want to wait until they were closer to the line.
While he clearly packs more punch than i (or anyone) previously imagined, i don't think he could have beaten Schachmann or Wellens in a sprint in the final 200m. As such, his attack was carefully planned. The only way they could have beaten him was had they started their effort 300m sooner, which would be a risk for them, as they could burn out too soon.
Just watch his attack again. It is not so much Remco goes so fast, the other actually are slowing down. They are all waiting for the others to follow Remco. And the first one to follow has some mechanical. Once the other riders organize themselves they come back but not enough. And that is most probable because of the harsh tempo in the last kms by the domestic.
It would surprise me if this type of ending will happen more.
It would surprise me if this type of ending will happen more.
That's not what I see at all. They are all actually standing up when he attacks, en danseuse. That's not something you do when you slow down.
Sure they lost a couple meters because of Lopez, but Rui Costa didn't wait that long at all and couldn't bring him back either.
I don't even think Rui Costa was hindered that much by Lopez, he wasn't behind him at first when he got out of the saddle, tried to grap Lopez' wheel, but quickly got past him and continued chasing Remco.
Sure they lost a couple meters because of Lopez, but Rui Costa didn't wait that long at all and couldn't bring him back either.
I don't even think Rui Costa was hindered that much by Lopez, he wasn't behind him at first when he got out of the saddle, tried to grap Lopez' wheel, but quickly got past him and continued chasing Remco.
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