There is talk of him doing the Giro. I suspect he’ll be going for GC in San Juan first, then maybe a few more.
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There is no way he will be a designated leader at a GT (Giro?). That being said, his first attempt at a GT will not necessarily show his full potential.There is talk of him doing the Giro. I suspect he’ll be going for GC in San Juan first, then maybe a few more.
There is no way he will be a designated leader at a GT (Giro?). That being said, his first attempt at a GT will not necessarily show his full potential.
I'm not sure what Pogacar has to do with my comment, but since you brought him up, he does have a Tour de l'Avenir victory, which many pundits consider a pretty relevant precursor to GT talent/success.Tadej Pogacar would like a word with you.
(To be fair, TP is about a year or 18 months ahead of Remco in his development as a stage racer, if that's what Remco turns out to be)
Not really; GT is just watt/kg , good ITT + stamina over several days. We know he has the first 2, stamina looks promissing. It is all there in the package. Of course there is enough to speculate already. Be patient; he is only 19 ;-). And yes; of course for any sport; you know if you can win only if you won.When he wins a hilly one week stage race against other GT contenders people can start to speculate about his GT potential. Until then he is merely the super talented 19 yr old that you describe.
Not really; GT is just watt/kg , good ITT + stamina over several days. We know he has the first 2, stamina looks promissing. It is all there in the package. Of course there is enough to speculate already. Be patient; he is only 19 ;-). And yes; of course for any sport; you know if you can win only if you won.
For Evenepoel doing the prediction that he will compete at the highest level in GT is easy.
The guy who predicted that a Froome aged 24 would become a GT winner he had more skills and understanding of the sport....
Walter
Third in l'Avenir this year was Ilan Van Wilder. Who is very comparable to Evenepoel in build, style, skillset. Good ITT'er, good tempoclimber, same height (1m71), +/- same weight (62kg), same age, born only a few miles apart. But every stagerace they competed together as juniors, Evenepoel finished ahead of Van Wilder (and won). Van Wilder was also runner up at Belgian National Championships ITT. Also at the Euro Championships ITT. Behind Evenepoel every time. At this years EC ITT, they both rode the same course. And while Van Wilder made a great debut as a 19 year old at the U23, and made the top 10, Evenepoel won... the elite category (almost 2 minutes faster than Van Wilder's time on a 22km course). You can dance around the bush all you want, but there is no doubt in my mind that had Evenepoel entered Tour de l'Avenir, that he would have won that on one leg. If you have any interest in junior and U23 racing, and you have followed Evenepoel, you would say the same thing. Van Wilder has been regarded as one of the top talents in every age bracket he entered (again proving himself this year as a neo U23 rider), and yet Evenepoel is simply that far ahead.I'm not sure what Pogacar has to do with my comment, but since you brought him up, he does have a Tour de l'Avenir victory, which many pundits consider a pretty relevant precursor to GT talent/success.
Thanks for informing me about Van Wilder. Hadn't heard much about him. Sounds like a real talent. I guess there is only one more step left on a future GT podium.Third in l'Avenir this year was Ilan Van Wilder. Who is very comparable to Evenepoel in build, style, skillset. Good ITT'er, good tempoclimber, same height (1m71), +/- same weight (62kg), same age, born only a few miles apart. But every stagerace they competed together as juniors, Evenepoel finished ahead of Van Wilder (and won). Van Wilder was also runner up at Belgian National Championships ITT. Also at the Euro Championships ITT. Behind Evenepoel every time. At this years EC ITT, they both rode the same course. And while Van Wilder made a great debut as a 19 year old at the U23, and made the top 10, Evenepoel won... the elite category (almost 2 minutes faster than Van Wilder's time on a 22km course). You can dance around the bush all you want, but there is no doubt in my mind that had Evenepoel entered Tour de l'Avenir, that he would have won that on one leg. If you have any interest in junior and U23 racing, and you have followed Evenepoel, you would say the same thing. Van Wilder has been regarded as one of the top talents in every age bracket he entered (again proving himself this year as a neo U23 rider), and yet Evenepoel is simply that far ahead.
He is incredibly consistent, won every stagerace as a junior he entered (except the one where he crashed, fell unconscious and lost too much time... yet finished the stage and won the next day). And while the juniors may not say anything about the level he may grow into, the way he dominated every stagerace, does show he's consistent and has no issues with performing a few days in a row.
Questioning his potential as a GC rider, which is undoubtedly there, seems a bit laughable after all what he's accomplished as a junior and in his first year as a pro. That doesn't mean he'll become the GT worldbeater he hopes to be. But he's certainly free to dream. If not him, then who? He only finished a few seconds behind Grossschartner on the MTF in Turkey. He finished only a few seconds behind Dumoulin on the first MTF in Quatar (and ahead a lot of Sivakov, Nibali, Kwiatkowski...). Acting like he has shown nothing that indicates he has potential as a GC rider is simply disingenuous.
I'm not sure what Pogacar has to do with my comment, but since you brought him up, he does have a Tour de l'Avenir victory, which many pundits consider a pretty relevant precursor to GT talent/success.
It was a lighthearted comment about young riders and GT debuts and exceeding expectations. Nothing more nothing less.
I'd have liked to see Remco in Avenir this year (2019) but he did a couple of big boy stage races in any event.
When he wins a hilly one week stage race against other GT contenders people can start to speculate about his GT potential. Until then he is merely the super talented 19 yr old that you describe.
The thread was about Evenepoel himself, not "people" speculating about battles with Pogacar and Bernal. Why would such a talent not dream of battles with these guys? Good for him.
I'd be shocked if he's not battling for GC wins in 3 years.
I simply meant to clarify. Bit of an overreaction IMO, but if offense was caused it wasn't intended.I'm sorry I ruined your thread. I'll go home now and play with my dog.
Do I read an attempt for sacasme ;-)?T
Thanks for your input Walter. Were you the expert that picked Froome at 24 to win the tour? Your understanding is overwhelming.
An example of a an old quote of someone who didn't believe a WT victory would be possible....Really expecting to follow the big boys at 19 years old?
I'm sure you'll find that if you look for Jancouvers posts.An example of a an old quote of someone who didn't believe a WT victory would be possible....
Actually you can indirectly compare a younger Bernal and Evenpoel: When Bernal won the Tour de l'Avenir 2017, runner up was Bjorg Lambrecht, same age as Bernal -Bernal and Lambrecht that year were about the best GC riders; Lambrecht always finishing second. That year the Belgian cycling team tested the 17 year old Evenpoel; Evenpoel rode the 25 minute test climb as fast as Bjorg who was 3 years older; at that moment a worldclass U23 (if you finish second Tour de l'Avenir you can say this). Evenpoel had started cycling for 3 months back then. So the just 17 year old Evenpoel with limited experience was on par with the best U23s in climbing test at that test moment. So if you ever wonder why they decided to skip U23...I'm not sure what Pogacar has to do with my comment, but since you brought him up, he does have a Tour de l'Avenir victory, which many pundits consider a pretty relevant precursor to GT talent/success.
The planning for 2020, because of the Olympics. Long term planning is still with GC in mind. He literally said that he wants to focus completely on the Olympics now, because he will not have that luxuary in 2014, and that he will have other priorities by then.But it looks at the moment more that the planning is on ITT and single day races.
The planning for 2020, because of the Olympics. Long term planning is still with GC in mind. He literally said that he wants to focus completely on the Olympics now, because he will not have that luxuary in 2014, and that he will have other priorities by then.