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

[Extinction]

If he doesn't win a stage, by dropping his opponents, this weekend, he has zero chance of podium in the TdF

I would agree in general principle, but hold out only because of the Itzulia crash, because he may still need something that only going through the Dauphine can give him. So if his climbing here is very good and he doesn't get dropped to fight for the wins over the weekend, even if he doesn't drop Roglic (for that's who really counts here in terms of Tour podium prospects), then I'd say he still has a chance to raise his level and podium the Tour. On the other hand, if he's getting dropped this weekend then I'd rule that out. Also whether or not Vingegaard is 100% shall play into it, as will Pogacar's Giro effects (will he have problems holding top shape deep into the Tour?). Because after them, Roglic and who else (?), who does Remco really have to be concerned about if he's good to podium in the Tour?

 

[Ripper]

All this and I wonders how he is packaging his training. Is this part of a three week training block and if so, whereabout is it? How much is his current cumulative fatigue, etc. I think if he is dropped like a stone, then that speaks a lot (and not good), but he need not necessarily be super sharp either.

I am a bit of a doubter though

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

What do you think are the chances of Remco in the TTs in this year's Tour de France?

The first one is 25km with some rolling terrain. The second is 34km but much more climbing and descending.

He is 6-0 in TT's against Vingegaard. He is 5-0 in TT's against Pogacar. I think there is a very slight chance he can beat them.

 

[Extinction]

All this and I wonders how he is packaging his training. Is this part of a three week training block and if so, whereabout is it? How much is his current cumulative fatigue, etc. I think if he is dropped like a stone, then that speaks a lot (and not good), but he need not necessarily be super sharp either.

I am a bit of a doubter though

Yea, until Remco shows consistency in multiple high-col days, then doubt is always licet. On the other hand, for want of a third big competitor last year, Thomas got on the podium at the Tour, precisely because he was consistent in the mountains (never brilliant, but also never shipping big time). I don't see why if Remco has really good form and doesn't get dropped big time on any one mountain stage in the Tour, in other words is consistent, he can't match the Welshman's result. He should thus go into this weekend and then the Tour with the mentality of just fighting ruthlessly, like a sacred warrior, to be up there always and not have a bad day, to go for as high a GC possible in July.

We have now seen his TT legs are very good indeed, so if he can back that up with very good consistent climbing legs then things start looking very interesting.

 

[houtdffan]

"I surprise myself with this" - Remco Evenepoel sparkles in Criterium du Dauphine time-trial

There were some questions about Remco Evenepoel's level heading into the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine, with the Belgian returning to action for the first time since a crash earlier in the year. In the s...

cyclinguptodate.com

Remco says he has a lot of room to improve as he had a bad moment in the middle of the TT

 

[Extinction]

"I surprise myself with this" - Remco Evenepoel sparkles in Criterium du Dauphine time-trial

There were some questions about Remco Evenepoel's level heading into the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine, with the Belgian returning to action for the first time since a crash earlier in the year. In the s...

cyclinguptodate.com

Remco says he has a lot of room to improve as he had a bad moment in the middle of the TT

“It remains to be seen what the legs say in the final stages. These are particularly difficult stages. I am satisfied with today, but this performance says nothing about the weekend. I have to keep working now,"...

Well if he gets dropped like a stone this weekend, then he's running out of time for the Tour. But if he's up there or thereabouts in the trio of mountain stages to come, then he's got a fighting chance to find a really high level in July.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Landa isn't just for climbing, he is tranquilo, you need that in a wingman. Evenepoel looked much more relaxed in Algarve when he was around.

Imagine Landa as Evenepoel's wingman in the clubs. They'd pull podium girls left and right.

 

[houtdffan]

“It remains to be seen what the legs say in the final stages. These are particularly difficult stages. I am satisfied with today, but this performance says nothing about the weekend. I have to keep working now,"...

Well if he gets dropped like a stone this weekend, then he's running out of time for the Tour. But if he's up there or thereabouts in the trio of mountain stages to come, then he's got a fighting chance to find a really high level in July.

typically, Remco climbs very well when he TTs like this.

Even in last year's Vuelta, he did win 3 MTFs in the high mountains

 

[AmRacer]

typically, Remco climbs very well when he TTs like this.

Even in last year's Vuelta, he did win 3 MTFs in the high mountains

How many of them were stage hunting wins?

 

[houtdffan]

How many of them were stage hunting wins?

2 of them, though he did the final climb at nearly the same pace as the peloton

The first one, he decisively beat Vingegaard

 

[AmRacer]

2 of them, though he did the final climb at nearly the same pace as the peloton

The first one, he decisively beat Vingegaard

Is it that Vuelta Jonas raced after his TdF win and wasn't feeling totally okay?

 

[Extinction]

typically, Remco climbs very well when he TTs like this.

Even in last year's Vuelta, he did win 3 MTFs in the high mountains

Not while still in the GC hunt, which is different. But maybe he can improve upon his 2022 Vuelta form, which well could be enough for a high Tour result.

 

[Berniece]

Yellow suits him

 

[Barkintheeye]

So Remco was lurking like a little shark just waiting to grab the leaders jersey at the TT. Good sign for him and the upcoming tour but the next days’ mountain stages will either confirm or negate his form. What a little kinder-egg. Always full of surprises

 

[Gigs_98]

He is 6-0 in TT's against Vingegaard. He is 5-0 in TT's against Pogacar. I think there is a very slight chance he can beat them.

The first one, no doubt. The second one is basically a MTT. If the others are significantly stronger in the high mountains I would absolutely expect them to beat Evenepoel there. For reference I think there is no way Evenepoel could have beaten Vingegaard on stage 16 of last years Tour.

 

[AmRacer]

He is 6-0 in TT's against Vingegaard. He is 5-0 in TT's against Pogacar. I think there is a very slight chance he can beat them.

In GT's?

 

[Berniece]

In GT's?

In that case it's 1-0 against Vingegaard, and 0-0 against Pogacar

 

[AmRacer]

In that case it's 1-0 against Vingegaard, and 0-0 against Pogacar

This Giro, I think Pogacar could very well have won the first TT against Remco.
But not the second, as we know Remco is on par with, or better than, Ganna on that kind of route.

 

[Red Rick]

Id have Evenepoel over Pog in Perugia and I wouldnt think twice about it

 

[Berniece]

This Giro, I think Pogacar could very well have won the first TT against Remco.
But not the second, as we know Remco is on par with, or better than, Ganna on that kind of route.

Doubt it. I don’t think there is anyone that can beat Evenepoel in a TT on a rolling course unless the TT is at the end of a GT, and fatigue plays a big part.

 

[Berflamand]

The first one, no doubt. The second one is basically a MTT. If the others are significantly stronger in the high mountains I would absolutely expect them to beat Evenepoel there. For reference I think there is no way Evenepoel could have beaten Vingegaard on stage 16 of last years Tour.

Not only that, there's also a lot of downhill in the second MTT. Even if Evenepoel is (at that point still) on par in the high mountains, I'd give the advantage to Pog, Vingegaard and/or Roglic purely because of the descents.

I feel like Remco is usually a lot more cautious on his TT bike while Vingegaard can be a madman downhill and the course is basically in the backyard of Pog/Roglic so they know every inch of the road.

For the first one yes he should be top favorite though.

 

[Netserk]

He is 6-0 in TT's against Vingegaard. He is 5-0 in TT's against Pogacar. I think there is a very slight chance he can beat them.

Then it's proven that he'd have won the one to Combloux as well.

Or only as proven as Van Wilder being a better TTer than Armirail?

 

[rm2021]

He is 6-0 in TT's against Vingegaard. He is 5-0 in TT's against Pogacar. I think there is a very slight chance he can beat them.

Those statistics wouldn't matter in the ITT of the Tour 2023.

 

[rm2021]

This Giro, I think Pogacar could very well have won the first TT against Remco.
But not the second, as we know Remco is on par with, or better than, Ganna on that kind of route.

Remco would had won the 2 ITT in the Giro against Pogacar.

 

[Netserk]

Remco would had won the 2 ITT in the Giro against Pogacar.

Most mountain stages too, if he was in his mythical Vuelta 2022 shape!