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

[bNator]

The only point i was making, is that crashing or even crashing often, is not a metric to use when determining bike handling skills. Van der Poel crashes just as often as many other CX riders. There are even CX riders who crash less often than him. But the only better bike handler in the CX peloton, even crashes more often than him. Pidcock crashes quite frequentely, both on the road, CX as MTB. Just google Pidcock + crash. It's about the risks at your skill limits. That means a worse bikehandler who takes less risks, can crash less than an excellent bikehandler who rides like Evel Knievel.

As such, i never claimed that Evenepoel is a good or a bad bikehandler, or that he is better or worse than Pidcock.

I never claimed what you may have claimed or may not have claimed… I was merely trying to understand what makes a good bike handler according to you if crashing out is basically irrelevant because everyone does it when they go for it…

I don’t think crashing is irrelevant, though. It’s not just the frequency but the context in which the crash happened that is important. And Remco’s crash on Monday was ridiculous and points to bad bike handler.

Look at this one for instance. Are you gonna argue with me that Pidcock and MvDP crash out that way? They don’t.

 

[Berniece]

Look at this one for instance. Are you gonna argue with me that Pidcock and MvDP crash out that way? They don’t.

Ignore the awful music. But yes, in the rain MVDP can also fall like that.

 

[bNator]

Ignore the awful music. But yes, in the rain MVDP can also fall like that.

Se how he unclips his pedals knowing he ** up and puts his leg on the ground before he even fell? Now compare that to a surprised facial expression of Remco right before going for a slide. The markings of a true master.

Joking aside, that was a fairly optimistic attempt by MvDP, to be honest...

 

[Berniece]

A few days ago we were discussing if Evenepoel is more lean. Based on this image I would say he is more lean than in Paris-Nice, but nothing like he was at the Vuelta.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

A few days ago we were discussing if Evenepoel is more lean. Based on this image I would say he is more lean than in Paris-Nice, but nothing like he was at the Vuelta.

Impossible to say man, impossible.

They don’t.

Seems like they do, so i will not be going into this any further.

 

[bNator]

Seems like they do, so i will not be going into this any further.

I bet you won't - claiming that crashing is not a metric to use when determining bike handling skills is not a very solid ground to build on...

 

[Andre]

A few days ago we were discussing if Evenepoel is more lean. Based on this image I would say he is more lean than in Paris-Nice, but nothing like he was at the Vuelta.

it's the haircut

 

[Berniece]

it's the haircut

I mostly look at his torso and arms

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I bet you won't - claiming that crashing is not a metric to use when determining bike handling skills is not a very solid ground to build on...

I admire your tenacity after having been proven wrong with your previous claim. And you can always read my posts again if my point was still not clear. Van Aert crashes a lot, Pidcock crashes a lot, Van der Poel crashes quite often. All excellent bikehandlers. So i think the basis for making my point, is more solid than yours. So let's agree to disagree.

 

[bNator]

I admire your tenacity after having been proven wrong with your previous claim. And you can always read my posts again if my point was still not clear. Van Aert crashes a lot, Pidcock crashes a lot, Van der Poel crashes quite often. All excellent bikehandlers. So i think the basis for making my point, is more solid than yours. So let's agree to disagree.

I do agree with you to the point that using crashing as the only (or the most important, even) metric is not good enough, of course. Riders often crashing don't necessarily make bad bike handlers. Take a look at our good old Roglic for instance - excellent bike handler, who crashes too much

 

[Extinction]

Good bike handlers also crash, but, depending on the circumstance (like field dynamics), handling skills may not be the issue, whereas less abled in the craft go down because they simply don't know how to stay upright in situations in which those more gifted would fly through unsacathed.

 

[Berflamand]

I do agree with you to the point that using crashing as the only (or the most important, even) metric is not good enough, of course. Riders often crashing don't necessarily make bad bike handlers. Take a look at our good old Roglic for instance - excellent bike handler, who crashes too much

He didn't have to prove your point that quickly.

 

[Berniece]

3s extra, but more importantly no crash. We'll have to see what the impact is on Roglic and Ayuso, but for now podium should be "easy".

 

[Berniece]

Let's say it's his collarbone. Ardennes classics are over, can he still get ready for the TDF? I don't know enough about the impact of injuries and how long it might take to get back on your feet properly.

 

[Snake]

If it's "just" collarbone there is enough time to recover in time for Tdf

 

[Peyroteo94]

If it is just his collarbone, he has plenty of time. In 5 weeks he has zero limitations and in 10 days he is back to his bike (indoor obviously). Vingegaard seems way worse and the one missing the Tour

 

[Berniece]

If it's "just" collarbone there is enough time to recover in time for Tdf

If it is just his collarbone, he has plenty of time. In 5 weeks he has zero limitations and in 10 days he is back to his bike (indoor obviously). Vingegaard seems way worse and the one missing the Tour

How does that compare to Pogacar’s wrist from last year?

 

[red_flanders]

Peak Tour prep is at least in doubt.

 

[Karl Merckx]

How does that compare to Pogacar’s wrist from last year?

it's earlier and it's not as bad if it's just a simple collarbone fracture. But we don't know if it's the case, it can be ribs too.

 

[Peyroteo94]

How does that compare to Pogacar’s wrist from last year?

Pogacar broke his hand. Our hand have a lot of bones and his crash was 9 weeks before the Tour (late April). Like Contador said, Pogacar had a suboptimal preparation due to be at home in May. He had to speed up his recovery and didn't have time to heal properly his wrist and preparing the Tour without limitations. Remco has plenty of time to be back to his best shape, it is easier to heal a collarbone and he has more time until the Tour. If he will be in his best shape possible? I don't know to be honest, Pogacar seems to be a freak even when he is not in his best shape.

 

[Gigs_98]

The way he looked I'd be surprised if he doesn't have enough time to properly prepare for the Tour. A real pity he'll likely miss the Ardennes though. Would have loved to see him in AGR and FW and to finally see the Remco vs Pogacar duel in LBL we've been waiting for years now.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Wishing the young Belgian the best and that he can be at the Tour with the best form possible.

 

[Earns1985]

Peak Tour prep is at least in doubt.

Bernal broke 2019 at more or less the same time of the year his collarbone. For that reason he missed the giro and rode afterwards the tour, which he won.

 

[red_flanders]

Bernal broke 2019 at more or less the same time of the year his collarbone. For that reason he missed the giro and rode afterwards the tour, which he won.

Not saying it can't happen, said it's in doubt. We'll know more about the extent of his injuries soon.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Words from a former junior CX Dutch and European champion and multiple World Cup race winner.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1775906492308197721

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