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

[Wvv]

If anyone is going to win FW in a different way, it will be Remco.

We, and yes I mean every cycling fan regardless of the eventual result, can only hope he starts the Mur with a 25 seconds bonus.

 

[Netserk]

But a motivated Alaphilippe that is riding for his own GC or chances has done better on tough climbs before.

Do you think he was motivated in 2018?

 

[Extinction]

Can't understand how Quick-Step utilized Remco in the race today, who rather should have been sent to attack hard from half way up the arrival Mur de Huy to make a selection and set up Alaphilippe properly for a final assault with 300 meters to go. Given Pogacar's level today, Tadej surely would have dropped off and Alaphilippe would have then marked the right horses to have a better shot at victory. Instead, Remco was chasing the final break and had nothing to give Alaphilippe at the critical moment of the finishing climb.

Come to think of it, Quick-Step has really disappointed in the tactical depoyment of its riders this classics' season.

 

[Red Rick]

Don't think it would make the difference between winning and losing. But not even trying anything is really disappointing.

I actually do think an attack in Fleche can work if you climb the penultimate Mur really fast and attacks then start flying.

 

[roundabout]

somehow, a good weather Fleche is not really selective these days regardless of any route changes. When they started the last Cherave there must have been at least 80 riders still left in the group.

 

[Red Rick]

somehow, a good weather Fleche is not really selective these days regardless of any route changes. When they started the last Cherave there must have been at least 80 riders still left in the group.

They drilled it on the penultimate Cherave and the peloton was down to like 30 or so then they did the penultimate Mur at a lolpace.

 

[Blanco]

Can't understand how Quick-Step utilized Remco in the race today, who rather should have been sent to attack hard from half way up the arrival Mur de Huy to make a selection and set up Alaphilippe properly for a final assault with 300 meters to go. Given Pogacar's level today, Tadej surely would have dropped off and Alaphilippe would have then marked the right horses to have a better shot at victory. Instead, Remco was chasing the final break and had nothing to give Alaphilippe at the critical moment of the finishing climb.

Come to think of it, Quick-Step as really disappointed in the tactical depoyment of its riders this classics season.

Alaphilippe's position was ok, not much worse than last year, he simply didn't had the legs.
Remco has no business on the finishing Mur, his place to attack is 30km earlier.

 

[Extinction]

Don't think it would make the difference between winning and losing. But not even trying anything is really disappointing.

I actually do think an attack in Fleche can work if you climb the penultimate Mur really fast and attacks then start flying.

To the bolded, well it certainly would have made a difference between losing and losing that the actual Quick-Step approach guaranteed, as Alaphilippe was both without help in the critical moment of the climb and marked the wrong horse in Pogacar, thus finding himself unable to jump accross to Vlasov, Valverde and Teuns being too far behind in decisive moment. A lose-lose situation for the Frenchman. Having chased down the break on the flat before the final assault of Mur de Huy, which seemed like a remake of Pais Basque when Remco did donkey work to lead out Julien in a full 3 sprint finals (whilst racing for GC - an unheard of tactic in modern cycling!), Evenepoel was left with nothing on the final ascent when it actually mattered and truely would have been useful to Alaphilippe. Again, had Evenepoel been saved for the final burst in apnea to the finish line, Pogacar, given his show of form at the end, would have faded and this would have allowed Alaphilippe to benefit from his teammate's accelleration to track the trio to which he should have been glued in the end. Sure, he still might have lost, however, the possibility of victory would have also been in the air. By contrast, as it was, the Quick-Step debacle (for I find no other appropriate term to use) was merely falimentary. In fact, the best Alaphilippe could have achieved given those circumstances was fourth. And fourth he got.

 

[Extinction]

Alaphilippe's position was ok, not much worse than last year, he simply didn't had the legs.
Remco has no business on the finishing Mur, his place to attack is 30km earlier.

Really? Alaphilippe may not have had the legs, but he was marking Pogacar, which was understandable, but not the winning tactic. He was waiting for a turn of speed from Tadej that never materialized. In the meantime, victory went up the road and he was then too far back to close. I'm not so sure Remco could have been useless on the Mur, as coming towards the half-way point or thereabouts he was looking round for Alaphilippe. With fresher legs he may have been able to do a pilot accelleration. Attacking from 30 k out would have equally yeilded nothing as having him close on the break before the Mur. At any rate, reserving Evenepoel for the Mur as a trigger point for Julien I think was worth a try.

 

[YavorD]

Really? Alaphilippe may not have had the legs, but he was marking Pogacar, which was understandable, but not the winning tactic. He was waiting for a turn of speed from Tadej that never materialized. In the meantime, victory went up the road and he was then too far back to close. I'm not so sure Remco could have been useless on the Mur, as coming towards the half-way point or thereabouts he was looking round for Alaphilippe. With fresher legs he may have been able to do a pilot accelleration. Attacking from 30 k out would have equally yeilded nothing as having him close on the break before the Mur. At any rate, reserving Evenepoel for the Mur as a trigger point for Julien I think was worth a try.

Alaphilippe didn't have the legs (probably also start a bit too far behind). He wasn't exactly closing the gap once he overtook Pogacar.
As people said, using Remco on Huy only is a massive misuse. Given the questions about Ala's shape this season and horrible spring for QS, they should've use Remco for a long attack (with Carr maybe). It probably would've lead to nothing, but that was their best option.

 

[Extinction]

Alaphilippe didn't have the legs (probably also start a bit too far behind). He wasn't exactly closing the gap once he overtook Pogacar.
As people said, using Remco on Huy only is a massive misuse. Given the questions about Ala's shape this season and horrible spring for QS, they should've use Remco for a long attack (with Carr maybe). It probably would've lead to nothing, but that was their best option.

Well, it's not as if Alaphilippe finished 33rd. He was 4th, so his legs were not bad, just not super, which is why a teammate at the end could have been useful. In any case, if he started to accellerate from too far behind it was because he was waiting on Pogacar to make the first move, but Tadej didn't have the legs and this seems to have cost the Frenchmen the lead trio's wheels in the decisive moment. I'm not for utilizing riders in any scenario that "probably (but in this case definitely) would've lead to nothing," for which I'd have held on to Evenepoel to at least be of prossible use to Alaphilippe in the end. If Evenepoel still failed to be of use there's no real loss, because as things turned out Remco could not have been any less usefull to Julian when it really mattered anyway.

 

[AlfaLum]

Well, it's not as if Alaphilippe finished 33rd. He was 4th, so his legs were not bad, just not super, which is why a teammate at the end could have been useful. In any case, if he started to accellerate from too far behind it was because he was waiting on Pogacar to make the first move, but Tadej didn't have the legs and this seems to have cost the Frenchmen the lead trio's wheels in the decisive moment. I'm not for utilizing riders in any scenario that "probably (but in this case definitely) would've lead to nothing," for which I'd have held on to Evenepoel to at least be of prossible use to Alaphilippe in the end. If Evenepoel still failed to be of use there's no real loss, because as things turned out Remco could not have been any less usefull to Julian when it really mattered.

Its a mano a mano climb for the real puncheurs. Evenepoel is not a real puncheur.

 

[Extinction]

Its a mano a mano climb for the real puncheurs. Evenepoel is not a real puncheur.

I'm aware of that. But if he isn't even capable of a solid go halfway up the climb to draw others out and possibly show any weaknesses among Ala's direct competition, to then reveal which point of references to follow, then why even bring him to the race? Training for Liege? Ok, but for the sake of training, would it not have been more useful to himself and Quick-Step to have him at least attempt to be of some use to Alaphilippe in the end? I don't see the harm in it.

 

[Escarabajo]

Remco has 9K replies. Valverde has 8K replies, Pogacar 4K and Froome 18K. Remco is on route to be the winningest cyclist on the forum!!!!

Again, I would take him to the Tour. Imagine all the media looking for Remco instead of Pogacar. LOL.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Remco has 9K replies. Valverde has 8K replies, Pogacar 4K and Froome 18K. Remco is on route to be the winningest cyclist on the forum!!!!

Again, I would take him to the Tour. Imagine all the media looking for Remco instead of Pogacar. LOL.

Going to take a while to catch up to Contador’s 50k, but surely of all the active riders he will definitely be the winningest.

 

[Escarabajo]

Going to take a while to catch up to Contador’s 50k, but surely of all the active riders he will definitely be the winningest.

If Remco wins the Tour this year he will reach that mark by year's end!

 

[Boes]

If Remco wins the Tour this year he will reach that mark by year's end!

If he goes to the tour and he doesn't win, he'll reach it even faster!

 

[Panda Claws]

A lot of the talk about Froome was on a different part of the forums though.

 

[Big Doopie]

A lot of the talk about Froome was on a different part of the forums though.

so was contador. Lol.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

I can‘t wait for Sunday… It‘s LBL, finally. Best one-day race of the year.

I hope Remco rides a good race, but I fear he‘ll get dropped after 220 kms and arrive with +1min 30secs…

 

[Velolover2]

Do you guys think Remco will try something before Faucons?

I can't see him dropping Pog or a handful of the best puncheurs on a climb like that. And he has no sprint. Could try a late attack on the flats leading up to the finish line but I'm not sure that is a good idea.

 

[AlfaLum]

Do you guys think Remco will try something before Faucons?

I can't see him dropping Pog or a handful of the best puncheurs on a climb like that. And he has not sprint. Could try a late attack on the flats leading up to the finish line but I'm not sure that is a good idea.

He might try I guess. Problem for him is that he has a hard time getting away solo lately. There will always be guys jumping with him when he goes, and the question is if he gets a fair share of cooperation from the guys joining him.

Would be great if he can get into a group with some guys that will ride with him. Someone like Mohoric for example and one-two others that are willing to race. But chances are quite high he will be joined by riders who sole purpose is to neutralize his attack.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Do you guys think Remco will try something before Faucons?

I can't see him dropping Pog or a handful of the best puncheurs on a climb like that. And he has not sprint. Could try a late attack on the flats leading up to the finish line but I'm not sure that is a good idea.

This question could be said for the 99% of the riders. They also won't be able to drop the best puncheurs and unable to sprint. He's no different to the rest. And like AlfaLum said, the big players won't let him get away as easy as he has in the past so he's gonna have to try another trick. Does he have any?

 

[AlfaLum]

This question could be said for the 99% of the riders. They also won't be able to drop the best puncheurs and unable to sprint. He's no different to the rest. And like AlfaLum said, the big players won't let him get away as easy as he has in the past so he's gonna have to try another trick. Does he have any?

For me the best chance for Evenepoel is actually after the Roche aux Faucons. On a good day he should be able to limit the losses there to maybe 10-20 seconds. The part immediately after the Faucons suits Evenepoel really well and often there is a hesitation to ride immediately there.

So if he can get back on there and Alaphilippe is there as well it might be a very good situation for Remco, because from that point there will not be many domestiques left to do something and it will have to be the captains themselves that have to respond. That is where his best chances are for me.

However even there I think he is likely to get 2-3 guys with him. For example Vlasov in recent months seem to have learned to respond immediately when Remco goes.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Best scenario for Sunday: Remco does to his teammate Ala what Iglinsky did to Nibali in 2012…

Then Ala arrives at the finish line in second place, and cries to Remco what Bettini cried to Sinkewitz: „You are not my friend any more!“…