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

[Bonimenier]

Remco mentioned he has 4 big goals in 2019: LBL, Worlds road, Olympic ITT and Lombardia. This makes me think he won't ride the Giro, as some expect him to do.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Remco mentioned he has 4 big goals in 2019: LBL, Worlds road, Olympic ITT and Lombardia. This makes me think he won't ride the Giro, as some expect him to do.

He has always said that he would ride the Giro as prep towards the olympics and would likely not finish it IF he rides it. That means Giro is not a goal in itself, and therefor could still be on the schedule.

 

[Bonimenier]

He has always said that he would ride the Giro as prep towards the olympics and would likely not finish it IF he rides it. That means Giro is not a goal in itself, and therefor could still be on the schedule.

Yeah you're right. Was actually not the smartest thing I thought today. There's a lot of time in between the Giro and the Olympics and the Giro only starts 2 weeks after LBL so actually a valid possibility he will ride (a part of) the Giro.

If he does, I hope he stays for at least 2 weeks until the 1st long time trial.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Yeah you're right. Was actually not the smartest thing I thought today. There's a lot of time in between the Giro and the Olympics and the Giro only starts 2 weeks after LBL so actually a valid possibility he will ride (a part of) the Giro.

If he does, I hope he stays for at least 2 weeks until the 1st long time trial.

What is interesting, is that it is the first time i've heard him imply the Olympic RR isn't a goal (unlike the ITT) and the WCC ITT isn't a goal (unlike the RR). I was under the impression the team for the Olympic RR would be built around him. Maybe he'll still start as leader but will prioritize the ITT? Though, how fair is that to the other Belgian riders?
As for riding the Giro, i can only imagine the goal there would be to tag along at least long enough to ride the ITT.

EDIT: though in this interview he doesn't differentiate between RR or ITT (for Olympics and Worlds).

 

[Hugo Koblet]

It's funny (maybe even weird if I look at it probability-wise) that you mention Dowsett as I'm just off reading his diary entry in ProCycling where he hilariously brags about his big (actually "what might be regarded as my greatest achievement thus far") KOM victory in the Prudential Ride London (not so one trick-pony-ish, huh?), which he gives a very detailed account about, concluding with a whole list of demoninations he invented for himself: King of the Mountain, Surrey's finest, London's lad, the Prince of Prudential. "Viviani won the race, but when the course is as arduous as this, I was the real winner, surely".

LOL, it should be pretty obvious to everyone that he's being ironic

 

[tobydawq]

LOL, it should be pretty obvious to everyone that he's being ironic

Of course

 

[Joelsim]

There doesn’t seem to be much talk of limiting Young Remco to a certain number of days yet for 2020. Last year it was pretty much all that Lefevere said at the start.

 

[Red Rick]

Who else does Belgium have for the road races? De Plus?

 

[tobydawq]

Greg. Always Greg.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Who else does Belgium have for the road races? De Plus?

For Tokyo we also had Lambrecht
De Plus indeed. Maybe guys like Benoot, De Gendt etc aren't completely wasted on such a course.

There doesn’t seem to be much talk of limiting Young Remco to a certain number of days yet for 2020. Last year it was pretty much all that Lefevere said at the start.

A lot has happened in one year, and he still has not decided if he'll ride a GT. If so, not 3 weeks most likely. His goals are all one one day races or ITT's.

 

[RunningRouleur]

So Liege, ORR, WCRR, WC ITT are the goals. PCS also lists Fleche on his schedule, anyone know if he will ride? I think that he actually could win that race in a few years, though of course Alaphilippe will be DQT team leader for the foreseeable future.
Two weeks of the Giro is a good idea. He has demonstrated he is already on the level to win Grand Tour stages. The TTs will he hard with Dennis participating, but he can crush breakaways on hilly days. I also think he can do some damage in his one-week stage races this year, perhaps podium Itzulia and/or Romandie.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

So Liege, ORR, WCRR, WC ITT are the goals. PCS also lists Fleche on his schedule, anyone know if he will ride? I think that he actually could win that race in a few years, though of course Alaphilippe will be DQT team leader for the foreseeable future.
Two weeks of the Giro is a good idea. He has demonstrated he is already on the level to win Grand Tour stages. The TTs will he hard with Dennis participating, but he can crush breakaways on hilly days. I also think he can do some damage in his one-week stage races this year, perhaps podium Itzulia and/or Romandie.

FW was mentioned in the interview i posted a few days/pages back.

 

[Bonimenier]

I actually think FW will be very hard to win for him. He doesn't have the punch and the race almost always end in a sprint uphill in Huy.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I actually think FW will be very hard to win for him. He doesn't have the punch and the race almost always end in a sprint uphill in Huy.

The way he won San Sebastian. The way Wellens tried to win it a few years ago. Attack, start the climb with a 50s lead, and maybe he has a chance if he doesn't crack, and other teams don't want pave the way for Alaphilippe. I guess that's the only shot he has there.

 

[Bonimenier]

The way he won San Sebastian. The way Wellens tried to win it a few years ago. Attack, start the climb with a 50s lead, and maybe he has a chance if he doesn't crack, and other teams don't want pave the way for Alaphilippe. I guess that's the only shot he has there.

Tbh the finals of San Sebastian and FW aren't really comparable. In FW there is always someone who tries to attack early and win that way, but noone ever comes close, it seems. But you're right about the factor Alaphilippe. If he keeps dominating uphill finishes like he has done the last 2 years, that might give some opportunities to Remco.

 

[RunningRouleur]

Mur de Huy is a 3 minute effort. Remco is already as light as Ala and will likely shed a few more kilos as he matures (very important on a 10% grade). The only question is whether he can improve his 3 minute power enough to ride away from the uphill sprinters. I don't see why not; he is still not yet 20.

 

[Joelsim]

Personally, I think he should target a Paris-Nice type race or two with an ITT, rather than going to a Grand Tour.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens at San Juan, Alaphilippe is riding again, but who knows what’ll happen if there’s an ITT again.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Mur de Huy is a 3 minute effort. Remco is already as light as Ala and will likely shed a few more kilos as he matures (very important on a 10% grade). The only question is whether he can improve his 3 minute power enough to ride away from the uphill sprinters. I don't see why not; he is still not yet 20.

He's really more of a diesel, doesn't have a lot of punch. He can improve, but not enough to wait i think. Unless he can set a high pace and choke the punchers early on the climb in a few years perhaps. PS: Mur de Huy isn't 10%. I think it's 24% at its steepest.

Tbh the finals of San Sebastian and FW aren't really comparable. In FW there is always someone who tries to attack early and win that way, but noone ever comes close, it seems. But you're right about the factor Alaphilippe. If he keeps dominating uphill finishes like he has done the last 2 years, that might give some opportunities to Remco.

Ofcourse it's not the same, but the favorites will wait and nobody thinks attacking early is worth it because they will crack on the climb. But Remco is a rare breed who can go solo and might not crack.

 

[hayneplane]

So Liege, ORR, WCRR, WC ITT are the goals. PCS also lists Fleche on his schedule, anyone know if he will ride? I think that he actually could win that race in a few years, though of course Alaphilippe will be DQT team leader for the foreseeable future.
Two weeks of the Giro is a good idea. He has demonstrated he is already on the level to win Grand Tour stages. The TTs will he hard with Dennis participating, but he can crush breakaways on hilly days. I also think he can do some damage in his one-week stage races this year, perhaps podium Itzulia and/or Romandie.

I don’t think he currently has the punchiness to go top 3 in Itzulia but Paris-Nice if he manages his positioning in the crosswinds seems a very good opportunity for a breakthrough stage race GC podium.

 

[GuntherL]

There will be one major change in the Tour of San Juan. The 12km flat time trial will be replaced by a 15,2 km time trial that finishes uphill at Peri Lago Punta Negra. That was also a finish this year, but in a regular stage won by Alaphilippe.

I guess those two will battle for victory in the time trial and if they can survive the mountain stage, a DQS victory will be likely.

https://www.zikloland.com/vuelta-san-juan-2020-una-crono-sin-cabras-y-el-alto-de-colorado-recorrido/

 

[houtdffan]

So Liege, ORR, WCRR, WC ITT are the goals. PCS also lists Fleche on his schedule, anyone know if he will ride? I think that he actually could win that race in a few years, though of course Alaphilippe will be DQT team leader for the foreseeable future.
Two weeks of the Giro is a good idea. He has demonstrated he is already on the level to win Grand Tour stages. The TTs will he hard with Dennis participating, but he can crush breakaways on hilly days. I also think he can do some damage in his one-week stage races this year, perhaps podium Itzulia and/or Romandie.

would he drop out if he is contending for the win after the 2 weeks? Or would he pull a Contador from 2008 and remain in under that scenario

 

[tobydawq]

What do you think?

 

[Walter1234]

PS: Mur de Huy isn't 10%. I think it's 24% at its steepest.

Around to 10% on average with 2-300 meters close to 20%.

 

[Bonimenier]

Btw is there any news on when DQS will announce their riders program?

 

[RedheadDane]

would he drop out if he is contending for the win after the 2 weeks? Or would he pull a Contador from 2008 and remain in under that scenario

Or even if he's "just" in contention for a podium-spot, like Pogacar this year.
Or even just a top-10 spot, that would itself be a pretty good result for a 20-year-old.