Exactly! Plus he’s unpredictable in that he can attack from almost anywhere. He has the talent and the grinta to attack from far out, or when others just aren’t expecting it.
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8/8 2019.
8/8 2020.
Both days, one year apart, he won big victories, and had someone else - someone much more important - on his mind.
But this year, at least, he wasn't crying for a lost friend.
8/8 2020.
Both days, one year apart, he won big victories, and had someone else - someone much more important - on his mind.
But this year, at least, he wasn't crying for a lost friend.
Plus this Vlasov Astana guy throwing his hat into the Giro ring. Maybe it will end up being him vs. Evenepoel.
The Giro field will be a bit stronger, but looks like it will still be pretty weak, apart from the few WorldTeams who take the race seriously. I could see him pull off such raids there with these legs. The Tour is still too much probably, with its insane startlist quality. But give it a year or two...
He could win the Giro. No doubt.
Questionmark is if his teammates is up for it in the mountains and if he will run empty in the third week. It is some uncharted territory, how his body responds to it first time riding a GT. We will see. Interesting times ahead.
Questionmark is if his teammates is up for it in the mountains and if he will run empty in the third week. It is some uncharted territory, how his body responds to it first time riding a GT. We will see. Interesting times ahead.
Wow, what more can be said?
I think the most impressive thing about yesterday's perfomance was that it wasn't that surprising. This is just what remco does. You give him 10 seconds, you won't see him again until arriving at the hotel. Doesn't matter it's 10km or 50 until the finish line, doesn't matter if it's flat or hilly, juniors or world tour. He's just that strong.
I think the most impressive thing about yesterday's perfomance was that it wasn't that surprising. This is just what remco does. You give him 10 seconds, you won't see him again until arriving at the hotel. Doesn't matter it's 10km or 50 until the finish line, doesn't matter if it's flat or hilly, juniors or world tour. He's just that strong.
No ill-will towards Jakobsen, but the situation has surely changed now? It only makes sense to send more guys in support of Evenepoel. First i would add would be Almeida. He can take turns with Knox in the mountains if needed. Knox, Almeida, Cattaneo, Serry. That's decent support for anything except the final 10k on MTF. But the other teams will be weak as well. Movistar, Ineos and Astana are sending their B-teams to the Giro. In their best scenario, there will be some couples. Nibali & Ciccone. Fuglsang & Vlasov, Carapaz & Sosa, while by that time, it's likely Knox or Almeida will have been dropped.
If you wanted to go really deep for hilly/mountain support you could also take Devenyns. That would leave Keisse and Cavagna as workhorses for the flat parts. Not the worst team. If we look back at what Uran had to work with in 2015 :
Bouet, Keisse, Vakoc, Meersman, Sabatini, Boonen, De la Cruz and Serry. Yikes
That was probably the last time Quickstep really tried to go for the Overall in a GT, since all other results like Mas, Alaphilippe or Jungels were more like a surprise and not planned to go for a top results before the start.
Bouet, Keisse, Vakoc, Meersman, Sabatini, Boonen, De la Cruz and Serry. Yikes
That was probably the last time Quickstep really tried to go for the Overall in a GT, since all other results like Mas, Alaphilippe or Jungels were more like a surprise and not planned to go for a top results before the start.
That was pretty much what Magnus Backstedt was saying in the commentary. That he was riding away from multiple Grand Tour podium finishers and stretching the lead all the way while still looking fresh and in control. Also said that we should not just get too used to it acting like it’s just what Remco does and step back and realise how rare and special rides like that are.
Almeida could be there at the end, the way that guy has been riding lately.
Bonimenier
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With his win in Poland Remco became the youngest winner of a WT stage race breaking Pogacars record in California last year by 1,5 month.
Just a little question to ponder. If Covid bit hard and fast and the season ended today who would you vote as rider of the year - Evenepoel or Van Aert?
Bonimenier
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I'd probably take Evenepoel. Van Aert has the bigger wins but he only has 4 racedays this year. I find it a bit hard to give someone the title of rider of the year with that little racing.
Tough, but I’d give it to Van Aert. Strade Bianche and MSR are both huge wins, a monument and a race a lot of folks think could be a monument one day. Evenepoel‘s wins, impressive as they are, are all in minor stage races.
Yes I think Van Aert edges it. A monument and the race closest to monument status in the minds of many fans is tough to overlook.
Remco has been outstanding and winning a stage in every race he has entered in addition to the GC is phenomenal but it has to be emphasised that all the races he has won are prep races rather than seasonal goals though the fields for Burgos and Poland were both vastly more stacked with quality than in a standard year (the 3 rider group trailing in his wake in Poland contained a Grand Tour winner, Grand Tour podium finisher and a monument winner).
Another way to look at it is that in 25 years time the context will be less well remembered and only the stature of the races will stand out on the palmares.
The big hope though is that we get all the big races scheduled completed in full and the eventual rider of the year will need to have added lots more major results.
Remco has been outstanding and winning a stage in every race he has entered in addition to the GC is phenomenal but it has to be emphasised that all the races he has won are prep races rather than seasonal goals though the fields for Burgos and Poland were both vastly more stacked with quality than in a standard year (the 3 rider group trailing in his wake in Poland contained a Grand Tour winner, Grand Tour podium finisher and a monument winner).
Another way to look at it is that in 25 years time the context will be less well remembered and only the stature of the races will stand out on the palmares.
The big hope though is that we get all the big races scheduled completed in full and the eventual rider of the year will need to have added lots more major results.
Evenepoel could put it away with a win at Lombardia. That would be just nuts.
Van Aert won two career defining races against the worlds best in the field, evenepoel didn't. On the other hand, taking age and dominance into consideration, it would almost feel like a crime to deny Evenepoel. So let's hope the season doesn't end anytime soon
Seriously?
Sure Evenepoel could well get there, but Algarve+Burgos+Pologne = Strade + Milano Sanremo
JUST WHAT
If it's something official like the vélo d'or I wouldn't hand it out, just like they with the ballon d'or. Van Aert was able to ride 2 of his main targets, others haven't been able to ride 1 (GT riders, but also Remco for example with Lombardia,..). You just can't compare it. In this case, Remco would be the victim of not having been able to compete in big races.
In CQ ranking Evenepoel is ahead by a p good margin, but yeah, it's a bit ridiculous to value a Burgos win with 150 points and Strade Bianche with 180.
I don't think he'll be very satisfied himself if he wins all the "*** small races" (TM Cavendish) but doesn't place in the ones he really cares about.
I don't think he'll be very satisfied himself if he wins all the "*** small races" (TM Cavendish) but doesn't place in the ones he really cares about.
Really curious about how Lombardia will go. The "weak field" argument is indeed getting kinda old but still isn't entirely wrong. Most of his wins wouldn't make us immediately say he is a generational talent if he wasn't so young, even though some of them were extremely impressive.
Lombardia is usually a different beast. Going solo from the Muro is would be insanely difficult (mother of god I'd be impressed if he pulls that off) and if he doesn't he'll have to actually outclimb extremely tough competition on Civiglio.
On another note, as I haven't watched that much of him, what about his descending? Could someone like Nibali have an edge there?
Lombardia is usually a different beast. Going solo from the Muro is would be insanely difficult (mother of god I'd be impressed if he pulls that off) and if he doesn't he'll have to actually outclimb extremely tough competition on Civiglio.
On another note, as I haven't watched that much of him, what about his descending? Could someone like Nibali have an edge there?
True. I am a big fan but in all honesty the field this year for Lombardy is far weaker than usual given how many well suited riders are doing the Dauphine instead.
The flip side to that is the riders are a lot fresher than usual so more of those competing in it actually have Lombardy has a legitimate major goal rather than something to rescue their season after underwhelming at the Ardennes classics or Grand Tours.
Never discount Nibali but I think we will see Remco take his biggest win yet.
As far as big wins go, prestige, name in the history books, it's not even close. Like i said, van Aert took career defining victories.
But Evenepoel didn't "just" take a few minor stageraces. He was the youngest winner in all of them. He won at least one stage in all of them. He won them in a clean sweep, 4 out of 4 (not 4 out of 9 for instance) and has been dominant over 22 days of racing. Algarve never had a more stacked field. He set a course record in the ITT and (iirc) did the fastest ascend of the Alto da Foia (could be mistaken, need to check). Burgos was never more stacked, and the field for this "2.pro" race was vastly superior to most 1 week WT races of 2019. In Burgos and Pologne he didn't even need an ITT.
Schachmann was 3rd in Strade and was able to keep van Aert in his sights for a few km, finally caved after hard race. Evenepoel demoted Schachmann to an extra in the Evenepoel show. There's something to be said for the manner in which you win, and not the simply the prestige of the race alone. Van Aert beat the best classics specialists on two occasions. Evenepoel also beat Lopez, Costa, Nibali, Thomas, Ganna, Dennis, Landa, Yates (twice), Chaves (twice), Schachmann (twice), Carapaz (twice), Fuglsang, Majka, Martin, ....
If the best rider is awarded to the one that took the biggest wins: van Aert.
If the best rider is awarded to the one that might actually have been the best: i'm leaning towards Evenepoel.
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