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

[Valanga]

I've never heard of that before (not a motorcycle rider), but watched a couple youtube videos on that now - yeah indeed, road cyclist do this all the time. This is really enlightening. Even watching Remco's Lombardy crash again, that's at least partially exactly what happened there.

Weird how many cyclists put so much pain and suffering into training and yet fail to learn the simplest crafts of their job.

Not only for pro's, it always amazes me how many cyclists, pro and amateur, do not know this very basic rule. You go where you look! So look where you want to go!

So in that regard, doing moto gp, cx, mountainbike, ... anything will help him ;-)
CX probably the least dangerous option.

 

[Gigs_98]

Also I suppose that there was a lot of fear involved, since he didn't want to admit his gravel problems. Why would you not admit that, it's no shame after coming into cycling so late? No more than bad legs. So I would guess fear is something people don't like to admit that easily and moto gp could be more useful for that than cross, although for technique cross is certainly very helpful. I suspect mtb is a bit dangerous for someone who lacks the technique, seeing that they shall usually stay away from any dangerous sports. In cross nothing serious will happen.

Because he is 21. Think of what you did when you were his age. Imagine shouldering the hope of an entire cycling nation and being portrayed as this unbeatable force of nature at that age and then suddenly you realize that you are actually imperfect. You come back from an injury after half a year and when you have to face your fear you can't and you fail. That must have been brutal for him. I guess accepting that you have fears is the first step to overcome them but that doesn't make accepting any easier.

All that being said, I do think that he will start to work on his bikehandling now and I do think that it's a deficit you can overcome. Froome used to be known as a bad bike handler and a few years later he was attacking on the peyresourde descent.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I read the Moto GP thing as well. Cornering at high speed is cornering at high speed. Doesn't really matter if the road is going down or not. So it's a good idea (being a motorcyclist myself). First thing they do when you take lessons is tell you to always keep your eye on the road as far as possible, when taking a corner. Track the farthest visible point of the bend with your eyes, continuously.

Not only for pro's, it always amazes me how many cyclists, pro and amateur, do not know this very basic rule. You go where you look! So look where you want to go!

So in that regard, doing moto gp, cx, mountainbike, ... anything will help him ;-)
CX probably the least dangerous option.

Yep. But i think his downhill lessons don't have to exclude his CX training. Bikehandling on gravel or dirt is something else entirely. His downhill skills honestly weren't that bad imho. When he crashed, he only just clipped that piece of the bridge that stuck out, by maybe 5cm. But it will be good for his confidence. Especially when wet. I've seen far worse cornering in a descent this giro, even guys crashing but with much fewer consequences. I do think the lack of bikehandling skills is a bigger problem, because each time he will lose minutes.

Also I suppose that there was a lot of fear involved, since he didn't want to admit his gravel problems. Why would you not admit that, it's no shame after coming into cycling so late? No more than bad legs. So I would guess fear is something people don't like to admit that easily and moto gp could be more useful for that than cross, although for technique cross is certainly very helpful. I suspect mtb is a bit dangerous for someone who lacks the technique, seeing that they shall usually stay away from any dangerous sports. In cross nothing serious will happen.

As much as it is obvious, it's basically coming down to, anyone can have a bad day. But if you admit (again, even though obvious) you suck at gravel, your opponents will hammer it every time the opportunity presents itself. I think that's the line of his thinking. Acting like nothing happened, just a bad day.

 

[limak_]

Also I suppose that there was a lot of fear involved, since he didn't want to admit his gravel problems. Why would you not admit that, it's no shame after coming into cycling so late? No more than bad legs. So I would guess fear is something people don't like to admit that easily and moto gp could be more useful for that than cross, although for technique cross is certainly very helpful. I suspect mtb is a bit dangerous for someone who lacks the technique, seeing that they shall usually stay away from any dangerous sports. In cross nothing serious will happen.

Considering Remco's type of personality, his young age (even if he appears to be very mature in many aspects), and imo most importantly, the fact that until this gravel problem, not a single weakness of him was ever exposed, as he usually was a cut above his rivals (if there was any weakness he was always able to cover it up with his strengths), I think it's particularly hard for him to admit he's really bad at something. He found himslef in a completely new life situation and he just didn't know how to handle it properly.

At first I was really like "wtf, you just suck on gravel, admit that, end of story". Especially after his teammates and also Lefevere himself admitted that. Now after thinking the whole thing over, I don't blame him for this that much, and I'm more understanding.

I used to race VTT before I got into road riding, and it made the transition very easy, especially having no fear about bunny hopping curbs etc. But both VTT and CX involve finding a good line, explosiveness and subtle weight shifts to keep control and contact. I tried CX a few times but much prefer VTT...

Imho CX is the best choice for him. The position on the bike is quite similair, you have the same handlebar etc. In the old days the vast majority of road cyclists did cyclocross in the off-season (at least in my country). It was mandatory because the benefits coming from it were obvious for everyone. I think the technical aspect in road racing and the great importance of it have been really neglected in the last few years and images of Remco being petrified every time he hit gravel speak for themselves.

 

[Lefebre]

Don't think this Giro is over, Remco still have a shot.
This little guy will be the better rider in cycling history when all be set and over.

 

[BlueRoads]

Because he is 21. Think of what you did when you were his age. Imagine shouldering the hope of an entire cycling nation and being portrayed as this unbeatable force of nature at that age and then suddenly you realize that you are actually imperfect.

I...ehm... sat in a library... and nobody thought of me as the saviour of the nation.
Lol, no, first of all I have a very different character, second of course I cannot really relate to his problems, because I've never been under this kind of pressure or had such special gifts.

Considering Remco's type of personality, his young age (even if he appears to be very mature in many aspects), and imo most importantly, the fact that until this gravel problem, not a single weakness of him was ever exposed, as he usually was a cut above his rivals (if there was any weakness he was always able to cover it up with his strengths), I think it's particularly hard for him to admit he's really bad at something. He found himslef in a completely new life situation and he just didn't know how to handle it properly.

At first I was really like "wtf, you just suck on gravel, admit that, end of story". Especially after his teammates and also Lefevere himself admitted that. Now after thinking the whole thing over, I don't blame him for this that much, and I'm more understanding.

I didn't mean to blame him in any way, my point was more that I think fear is even harder to admit (for all of us) than just being bad at something, because it makes you feel even more vulnerable and helpless. You all may be right, though, maybe he expects himself to be perfect and therefor imperfection is just as bad as fear for him.

 

[peterfin]

Karsten Kroon (Eurosport) has a solution: clone Evenepoel and let him drive CX at 10.

I think that there is too much fuzz about his driving skills. If his most important weakness is driving on long, downhill gravel sections and the overall impact of this is losing 2 minutes in a GT when he lacks proper preparation, it's not that bad. He will get better at it and the cases where he is at a disadvantage to those with skills are limited.

 

[bNator]

Weird how many cyclists put so much pain and suffering into training and yet fail to learn the simplest crafts of their job.

Yes - that amazes me as well. I think every pro bike rider should be able to do a good old wheelie - at least on a MTB. I know it sounds stupid, but come on - you sit on your bike for living and don't know how to do a wheelie?

 

[Zoef-Lightning]

There are plenty of Moto GP riders who are also avid cyclists. One of them (Aleix Espargaro) is even reported to be considering a swith to becoming pro cyclist (I think ususally he is linked toMovistar?). Then you have Dani Pedrosa for instance, and sadly Nicky Hayden who was killed on a road bike...

Moto GP riders are usually also active in different terrain as well - motocross, etc. I certainly don't consider that idea totally stupid. I bet Espargaro would be absolutely top descender if he ever does make a switch to cycling. Hell, I bet any Moto GP rider would beat any pro cylist on any descent if you give him one day to get familiar with the road bike. No doubt in my mind about that...

Edit: I've seen cyclists do the classic target fixation error so many times on a descent I can't believe it. There's a technique to avoid that for instance which is common to anything that has two wheels... I guarantee you that there's not a single Moto GP rider who will do target fixation - ever. And half the peloton does it as soon as the situation gets difficult... If Remco stops target fixating, he will be a much better descender.

Target fixation or not on straight gravel roads ? Evenepoel was not only strugling in the downhills and curves. But also on straight, flat and slightly descending gravel roads. Even in the sprints leading to a gravel road. Besides poor driving skills on all roads, Evenepoel has big problems on roads with difficult surfaces. It'l be the same on cobbles, gravel and on wet surfaces. Exactly the same as Thomas De Gendt. Still having the same problems on the same surfaces, downhills, fast curves. And at the age of 34 only able to ride at the front of the peloton, at the back of the peloton or in a break with a small group. Training with a MotoGP will not help at all. Being a MotoGP-rider and a cyclist doesn't change anything. A lot of excellent MotoGP-racers do not ride on a bicycle. But run, play golf, dance ballet.......
So I think skiers, mountainbikers etc. could benefit from motoriding training. But Evenepoel should definitely training with a CX-coach in wintertime. Otherwise he will always be just as clumsy as Thomas De Gendt.



,

 

[Zoef-Lightning]

Considering Remco's type of personality, his young age (even if he appears to be very mature in many aspects), and imo most importantly, the fact that until this gravel problem, not a single weakness of him was ever exposed, as he usually was a cut above his rivals (if there was any weakness he was always able to cover it up with his strengths), I think it's particularly hard for him to admit he's really bad at something. He found himslef in a completely new life situation and he just didn't know how to handle it properly.

At first I was really like "wtf, you just suck on gravel, admit that, end of story". Especially after his teammates and also Lefevere himself admitted that. Now after thinking the whole thing over, I don't blame him for this that much, and I'm more understanding.


Imho CX is the best choice for him. The position on the bike is quite similair, you have the same handlebar etc. In the old days the vast majority of road cyclists did cyclocross in the off-season (at least in my country). It was mandatory because the benefits coming from it were obvious for everyone. I think the technical aspect in road racing and the great importance of it have been really neglected in the last few years and images of Remco being petrified every time he hit gravel speak for themselves.

And in the modern days too. Van Aert, van der Poel, Pidcock, Merlier (winning stage 1), Schmidt (winning stage 11), Vermeersch, Quinten Hermans, Sagan (winning stage 10), Alaphilippe etc. Leading not only to exceptional riding skills, but also showing explosivity, endurance, sprint qualitys and even climbing abilitys.
The only way for Evenepoel is CX-training. Not wasting time with mountainbike or MotoGP.

 

[jflemaire]

Don't think this Giro is over, Remco still have a shot.
This little guy will be the better rider in cycling history when all be set and over.

Patrick, is that you?

 

[BigCoward]

Yes - that amazes me as well. I think every pro bike rider should be able to do a good old wheelie - at least on a MTB. I know it sounds stupid, but come on - you sit on your bike for living and don't know how to do a wheelie?

I read once that lewis Hamilton was watching someone drift a car and was asked if he wanted to have a go, the gist of his response was 'why, it won't help me go any quicker'.

 

[Boes]

I think it's safe to say he prolly never win Strade Bianchi.
Luckily it's not part of the strive for five, so still all good

 

[wheresmybrakes]

No posts for nearly 4 hours? C'mon, something surely happened with him today? 32 pages since the Giro started compared to 6 for Bernal? Good grief, keep up with the comedy.

 

[Bonimenier]

No posts for nearly 4 hours? C'mon, something surely happened with him today? 32 pages since the Giro started compared to 6 for Bernal? Good grief, keep up with the comedy.

I like the irony of this post.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I like the irony of this post.

Just like on other social media, people commenting on articles, bitching and whining why he gets so much attention, while it's exactly those people driving the postcount skyward. Hilarious.

 

[johnymax]

I think it's safe to say he prolly never win Strade Bianchi.
Luckily it's not part of the strive for five, so still all good

It's easy to predict he'll never win a race that doesn't exist yet.

 

[Flurk1982]

I think it's safe to say he prolly never win Strade Bianchi.
Luckily it's not part of the strive for five, so still all good

Why not? If he really makes a goal of this and will continue to work on his bikehandling / off road skills he may could win this in 5-10 years. He just started with cycling 4 years ago.

 

[Oldermanish]

Yes but also less similarity with road racing.
CX is perfect imho. All about explosivity and bike handling, the two aspects of cycling he's lacking.

Remco should do some Alpine skiing as well. It definitely teaches you to have confidence in your balance and looking ahead to prepare for weighting shifts and line adjustment. You also learn to use your hips to direct a weight shift and how to confidently apply weight to a lower, turning leg. Getting used to speed is one of the real benefits. Consequences of mistakes hurt alot less than crashing on a bike, too.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Remco should play some football in central midfield as well. It definitely teaches you to have confidence in your balance etc

 

[limak_]

Cyclocross, MTB, MotoGP, Alpine skiing

Seems it's gonna be quite a busy off-season for him

edit: football is the next one on the list

 

[Panda Claws]

I would suggest he takes some dancing classes too. It helps with coordination and flexibility as well as weight management.

 

[peterfin]

Google trends gives a good picture about rider popularity. Since the start of the giro there is daily interest in Evenepoel but Bernal is clearly hot since taking the pink jersey.

https://trends.google.nl/trends/explore?date=2021-05-08%202021-05-21&q=%2Fg%2F11g0g4s_yq,%2Fg%2F11bxfh4lrl,%2Fg%2F11b8_g_52w,%2Fm%2F0bhc2gv,%2Fm%2F0r8lx4d

(I tried to embed the html code to show it here but that didn't work)

 

[will-10]

Ski jumping might help? Roglic used to do a bit, apparently.

 

[Sciatic]

So, did Bambi *** his diapers when Nibali attacked on the descent? Anyone heard from him?

Turns out one of the camera was focused in on Remco at the moment Nibali launched his downhill attack:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSmaxKQrcvQ