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

[Ulle97]

I wish the thread titles were the names of the cyclist.
The Joao Almeida thread.
The Geraint Thomas thread etc.

I nearly have a mini seizure having look for the cyclists' name in a thread that reads 'Eddy Merckx is the next Nairo Quintana fanboy fishmonger thread.'

 

[Extinction]

I'm curious to see how Remco does in Itzulia. In my book he doesn't need to beat Vingegaard, but climb well enough to gain confidence in light of future goals. My biggest concern is how his team manages him and their general approach to competing for GT success. For they seem to not know exactly what is required. For instance going for the WCITT last year was a nice project, but should it have been a main goal before such a demanding Vuelta they also wanted him to win? They can't afford to make such egregious errors with the likes of Vingegaard, Pogacar and Roglic (who, however, does not seem as good so far at Bora) to contend with, but they just don't seem to get this. At any rate, after Itzulia and Liege we should know what level he is at compared to the last couple of years. Vingo and of course Pogacar just keep drilling it, so it's now the moment to show the world what Evenepoel is made of if he has any chance of doing something noteworthy in his first Tour later on.

 

[Berniece]

I'm curious to see how Remco does in Itzulia. In my book he doesn't need to beat Vingegaard, but climb well enough to gain confidence in light of future goals. My biggest concern is how his team manages him and their general approach to competing for GT success. For they seem to not know exactly what is required.

I agree, it'll be a good test to see how he compares with Vingegaard. No one expects him to win, so just ride, do your best, and learn. At the same time we can see if his team learned anything in the previous races. I doubt it.

 

[tobydawq]

I wish the thread titles were the names of the cyclist.
The Joao Almeida thread.
The Geraint Thomas thread etc.

I nearly have a mini seizure having look for the cyclists' name in a thread that reads 'Eddy Merckx is the next Nairo Quintana fanboy fishmonger thread.'

You should have your heart checked, then.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

My biggest concern is how his team manages him and their general approach to competing for GT success. For they seem to not know exactly what is required. For instance going for the WCITT last year was a nice project, but should it have been a main goal before such a demanding Vuelta they also wanted him to win?

to be fair to QS and Remco: last season the three targets before the season was Liege, Giro and WC ITT. Vuelta was a late add-on after he DNF’ed Giro. So it’s fair to say that the WCITT was the main goal and Vuelta a secondary target of the autumn season.

 

[Extinction]

to be fair to QS and Remco: last season the three targets before the season was Liege, Giro and WC ITT. Vuelta was a late add-on after he DNF’ed Giro. So it’s fair to say that the WCITT was the main goal and Vuelta a secondary target of the autumn season.

Right, but in terms of confidence building, once the Giro went up in smoke, I'd have either done WCITT as planned and skipped the Vuelta or ditch it to go to the Vuelta best prepared. That seems to be smarter than making both attempts to win.

 

[Ulle97]

You should have your heart checked, then.

Ah no my heart is ok actually........ thank God.

It's something I find annoying with the forum, but a small price to pay in general for being privy to all the interesting opinions and stories here.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Thanks for changing the thread title back! Don't know why I care, but I do...

Maybe due to Eddy being the GOAT and you want Remco to be associated with him. Whilst the lord almighty might not even know on how to ride a bike.

 

[Andre]

I agree, it'll be a good test to see how he compares with Vingegaard. No one expects him to win, so just ride, do your best, and learn. At the same time we can see if his team learned anything in the previous races. I doubt it.

If we indeed learn from our mistakes, then Soudal would at least learn a little bit about something. Let's have faith. Go Remco Go!

 

[Extinction]

I agree, it'll be a good test to see how he compares with Vingegaard. No one expects him to win, so just ride, do your best, and learn. At the same time we can see if his team learned anything in the previous races. I doubt it.

You seem discouraged. Soudal, for the team it was, should have signed a WVA or a MVDP, but chose Evenepoel, a gamble they may come to regret. You see, Don Pat's squadra knows how to win classics and monuments, but GTs have been mostly unchartered territory, yet for other teams are bread and butter. So Soudal must reinvent itself. But have they been able to do it?

 

[Berniece]

You seem discouraged. Soudal, for the team it was, should have signed a WVA or a MVDP, but chose Evenepoel, a gamble they may come to regret. You see, Don Pat's squadra knows how to win classics and monuments, but GTs have been mostly uncharted territory, yet for other teams are bread and butter. So Soudal must reinvent itself. But have they been able to do it?

Then also get the proper directors. It's not only about the riders, you also need the right staff for a GT team.

 

[Froome]

You seem discouraged. Soudal, for the team it was, should have signed a WVA or a MVDP, but chose Evenepoel, a gamble they may come to regret. You see, Don Pat's squadra knows how to win classics and monuments, but GTs have been mostly uncharted territory, yet for other teams are bread and butter. So Soudal must reinvent itself. But have they been able to do it?

They already won a GT in 2022.

Soudal have a very decent good team to backup Remco, and the staff of the team is very good. They know how to develop riders, even Landa is in really good shape in these first months.

 

[Extinction]

Then also get the proper directors. It's not only about the riders, you also need the right staff for a GT team.

Ah, but they have not done that, too much too soon? Who knows, perhaps Evenepoel shall be the catalyst for the next Belgian phenomenon to win the Tour, but history, with all those beautiful classics, is not working in favor.

 

[Extinction]

They already won a GT in 2022.

Soudal have a very decent good team to backup Remco, and the staff of the team is very good. They know how to develop riders, even Landa is in really good shape in these first months.

The Vuelta 2022 though came with a big GT fart in the 2023 Spanish edition. And Landa used to be a GT contender, but has now assumed the domestique-delux role. He's good, but has always been when not having to be the leader (which evidently weighs upon him). Let's see where Remco is at ITZULIA.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Maybe due to Eddy being the GOAT and you want Remco to be associated with him. Whilst the lord almighty might not even know on how to ride a bike.

If he is omniscient, he would know how to ride a bike. But as a non-physical being, he would not be able to ride a bike.
I'll stop now, in case I have to warn myself for breaking the GRAPES rule.

 

[Froome]

The Vuelta 2022 though came with a big GT fart in the 2023 Spanish edition. And Landa used to be a GT contender, but has now assumed the domestique-delux role. He's good, but has always been when not having to be the leader (which evidently weighs upon him. Let's see where Remco is at ITZULIA.

Soudal squad is not that vast in quality, they can't make 3 good teams like Visma or Emirates, for each GT, but they have enough quality to go with a very good team to help Remco in the Tour.

Guys like Landa, van wilder for the mountains, vansevenant, knox, cattaneo and vervaeke who is a great all rounder, lampaert and asgreen who can protect Remco in the flat stages.

Unfortunately for them Alaphilippe and Masnada can't be at 100% due some issues, it would be great addictions for Remco.

Soudal should focus just in Remco ambitions and Merlier for the sprints, i think they're time in classics it's over(except the ones suited for Remco).

They have a good staff, the perfomances guys, nutritionists, sports diretors, they still have a good staff, capable of support especially Remco. Certainly they played a strong role on how they developed Remco since 2019, and helped him on winning so much.

 

[Ulle97]

Do you guys feel Remco has chance to win Amstel??

In terms of the classics, it's already clear he can win Liege and may well add a couple more Liege titles to his name over the course of his career.

Can he take an Amstel title? Is the parcours suitable for his ability?
Other classics like Roubaix or Flanders seem to be out of his reach.

 

[Keldergoat]

You genuinely doubt his ability to win Amstel? A hilly circuit that favours the big engines, I think AGR has Evenepoel written all over it. I think Evenepoel can win any Ardennes/Limburg classic. I even think he can win Flanders and Roubaix if he wants to. Question is more whether a certain Tadej P. is riding the same race or not.

 

[Extinction]

Soudal squad is not that vast in quality, they can't make 3 good teams like Visma or Emirates, for each GT, but they have enough quality to go with a very good team to help Remco in the Tour.

Guys like Landa, van wilder for the mountains, vansevenant, knox, cattaneo and vervaeke who is a great all rounder, lampaert and asgreen who can protect Remco in the flat stages.

Unfortunately for them Alaphilippe and Masnada can't be at 100% due some issues, it would be great addictions for Remco.

Soudal should focus just in Remco ambitions and Merlier for the sprints, i think they're time in classics it's over(except the ones suited for Remco).

They have a good staff, the perfomances guys, nutritionists, sports diretors, they still have a good staff, capable of support especially Remco. Certainly they played a strong role on how they developed Remco since 2019, and helped him on winning so much.

That's a rather optimistic outlook, no? Cattaneo is hit or miss, Van Wilder too, Landa is an old fox, Vansevenant a lucky charm at best. However, if the cards fall into place and the team strategists don't plan things wrong, then maybe. There are too many variables to predict much, but have doubts yes.

 

[Extinction]

You genuinely doubt his ability to win Amstel? A hilly circuit that favours the big engines, I think AGR has Evenepoel written all over it. I think Evenepoel can win any Ardennes/Limburg classic. I even think he can win Flanders and Roubaix if he wants to. Question is more whether a certain Tadej P. is riding the same race or not.

Well, bar incident, Liege shall tell.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Do you guys feel Remco has chance to win Amstel??

In terms of the classics, it's already clear he can win Liege and may well add a couple more Liege titles to his name over the course of his career.

Can he take an Amstel title? Is the parcours suitable for his ability?
Other classics like Roubaix or Flanders seem to be out of his reach.

Yes. It is probably the most fitting of all classics for him. He has been dominant on such profiles since he was a junior. But he has to break guys like Pogacar and Van der Poel on the flats in order to be able to drop them, because if he only tries on the hills, he won't win, as they are also faster at the finish.

You genuinely doubt his ability to win Amstel? A hilly circuit that favours the big engines, I think AGR has Evenepoel written all over it. I think Evenepoel can win any Ardennes/Limburg classic. I even think he can win Flanders and Roubaix if he wants to. Question is more whether a certain Tadej P. is riding the same race or not.

Other than Pogacar having a better sprint, Amstel is far more Evenepoel territory than it is Pogacar. He'll have to lose the Slovenian, which is in the latter's advantage. But the race itself is more tailored to Evenepoel's skillset.

 

[red_flanders]

Maybe due to Eddy being the GOAT and you want Remco to be associated with him. Whilst the lord almighty might not even know on how to ride a bike.

I thought Eddy was the lord almighty!

I think it's because like the level of admiration/shade in the original title, the new one just seemed like I was getting trolled with every contribution or click...

 

[Berniece]

Do you guys feel Remco has chance to win Amstel??

In terms of the classics, it's already clear he can win Liege and may well add a couple more Liege titles to his name over the course of his career.

Can he take an Amstel title? Is the parcours suitable for his ability?
Other classics like Roubaix or Flanders seem to be out of his reach.

The moment he has a gap of 10m, it's over

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I thought Eddy was the lord almighty!

I think it's because like the level of admiration/shade in the original title, the new one just seemed like I was getting trolled with every contribution or click...

I think the previous thread titles were to mock those who still do not understand that the original title was chosen tongue in cheek based on his results as a junior (which were indeed better than Merckx at that age), those who are still triggered to point out he is not the new Merckx while it is abundantly clear there will never be another rider to match Merckx his palmares.

 

[AmRacer]

Yes. It is probably the most fitting of all classics for him. He has been dominant on such profiles since he was a junior. But he has to break guys like Pogacar and Van der Poel on the flats in order to be able to drop them, because if he only tries on the hills, he won't win, as they are also faster at the finish.


Other than Pogacar having a better sprint, Amstel is far more Evenepoel territory than it is Pogacar. He'll have to lose the Slovenian, which is in the latter's advantage. But the race itself is more tailored to Evenepoel's skillset.

Pog isn't riding Amstel, but Mathieu has it scheduled.