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

[Netserk]

Maybe you are right, but the road is for everybody, and he allowed Remco to train normally. If you have the legs to follow Remco I think is difficult not try. Remco should take these situations with best humour, and more when he use to attack another pros training.

The pavement is also for everybody, but we call it stalking when you follow someone similarly closely.

 

[Taxus4a]

The pavement is also for everybody, but we call it stalking when you follow someone similarly closely.

I dont agree. Other question if the riders tell yoy thet dont like...you must be polite, but it is not ilegal to follow anybody on your bike.

This sport work out to be closely, this is not the pavement

 

[Extinction]

Maybe you are right, but the road is for everybody, and he allowed Remco to train normally. If you have the legs to follow Remco I think is difficult not try. Remco should take these situations with best humour, and more when he use to attack another pros training.

I don't see what Remco did that was so unbecoming. He didn't yell and curse at the guy, but just said "stop." The guy was on his wheel too long and clearly bothering him, which I can understand, because, on a climb, when one is training alone, one doesn't like someone sitting on one's wheel, period. Let alone the World Champion, who is following a rigorous schedule, and not just some Joe Shmoe out for a ride, but a highly visible public figure. Sure, the roads are public too, but you should know when to back off and not intrude. It's like Mario Cipollini once said to a rider who decided to tag along to his wheel too long during a training ride: "So, if you were at work, would you like someone uninvited coming into your office and watching you?"

I realize being a pro cyclist isn't like going to the office from 9-5, however, common sense should let amatuer cyclists know when to give pros their space while out training, unless otherwise told. And Remco allowed the guy to watch him for several minutes, before saying that's quite enough, leave me alone. I'd imagine the majority of pros would have reacted the same.

 

[Nick2413]

Remco is a great rider. It is a best with a hugh potential, but he has to control his nervous to be a real champion.

He did the same with me a week ago when I keep his wheel during an aceleration. "Please man, stop", he told me... I know it not nice to have someone to your wheel to concentrate...for me was funny, but not good for him show that behaviour.

I dont have video as this man has, sorry.

I see both sides. Common courtesy is to not follow a rider and this has to be constant for him so it’s a huge annoyance. If I ever saw a “celebrity” I’d make a point to give them their space. But, the fans are the only reason he’s able to be riding a bike for a living in the first place. They pay the bills of his sponsors and team.

 

[tobydawq]

Idiots should leave the pros alone when uninvited.

Hmm... I understand both sides, I guess. I would also be very tempted to try to follow, if I were to find myself riding alongside a pro.

 

[Netserk]

Hmm... I understand both sides, I guess. I would also be very tempted to try to follow, if I were to find myself riding alongside a pro.

If you saw Scarlett Johansson walk around in the Latin Quarter in Aarhus, would you follow her around for bit? Follow her up close right behind her? For more than ten minutes?

 

[Red Rick]

If you saw Scarlett Johansson walk around in the Latin Quarter in Aarhus, would you follow her around for bit? Follow her up close right behind her? For more than ten minutes?

That is definitely one of the comparisons of all time.

 

[tobydawq]

If you saw Scarlett Johansson walk around in the Latin Quarter in Aarhus, would you follow her around for bit? Follow her up close right behind her? For more than ten minutes?

That's not quite the same, is it?

 

[Netserk]

That is definitely one of the comparisons of all time.

Some on this forum are as obsessed with Remco as you are with ScarJo

 

[Netserk]

That's not quite the same, is it?

Okay, make it a work related scene. Say she is working on an outdoor set in Aarhus. In between the shootings while she is preparing, would you stand close behind her and try to read the manuscript she has in her hand?

 

[tobydawq]

Okay, make it a work related scene. Say she is working on an outdoor set in Aarhus. In between the shootings while she is preparing, would you stand close behind her and try to read the manuscript she has in her hand?

Why would I do that?

 

[Netserk]

Why would I do that?

That's not the interesting question. Rather, would you consider it creepy? Over the line? Invasion of privacy and illegitimate disturbance of work?

The idiots on the road are clearly disturbing the work of Evenepoel.

 

[tobydawq]

That's not the interesting question. Rather, would you consider it creepy? Over the line? Invasion of privacy and illegitimate disturbance of work?

The idiots on the road are clearly disturbing the work of Evenepoel.

Obviously but if you're riding a bike you're doing the same activity as the pro and it's not illegal - it's even normal - to try to follow someone who rides past you. But I do understand why it's annoying, especially if it happens often (I haven't seen the video by the way).

 

[Lequack]

Oh no Remco has sparked controversy again!

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I don't think anybody did anything wrong here. The guy had some fun trying to keep Remco pace for a bit. Remco allowed him to do that. After a while, Remco asked him to stop and the guy did as he was asked.

Anybody who has been training on roads where a lot of riders train knows that this kind of thing happens a lot. Pros are likely used to strong amateurs trying to hold their wheels whilst training.

 

[Netserk]

I don't think anybody did anything wrong here. The guy had some fun trying to keep Remco pace for a bit. Remco allowed him to do that. After a while, Remco asked him to stop and the guy did as he was asked.

Anybody who has been training on roads where a lot of riders train knows that this kind of thing happens a lot. Pros are likely used to strong amateurs trying to hold their wheels whilst training.

So you would follow ScarJo until the moment she told you to stop?

 

[peterfin]

It may not be just annoying to have somebody suck your wheel for a long time. Risk of a collision increases. Also, if you are doing interval training as a pro, you probably want to analyse power data to check your performance and progress. A rider drafting has also an impact on the person in front. It's minor but data is everything these days so I can imagine that pro's want to have control over the conditions as much as possible.

 

[Ricco']

This problem would have a simple solution from the beginning.

"Hi Remco, big fan! Do you mind if I try to hold your wheel while I can?"

Two outcomes:

a) Yeah, let's see how long you can follow me.

b) No, please let me continue my training alone.

 

[Nick2413]

I don’t think public figures/pros/celebrities should be obligated to handle everything politely and I don’t think Remco is in the wrong. There’s also not really a polite way to wave someone off without coming across a bit rude. He does seem to have developed a reputation for being a bit of a **** in these type of situations though.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

If I were following ScarJo or any other celebrity around, I'd at least have the courtesy to not film it/put it online. I once saw a well-known Danish handball player at a public pool, but I saw no reason for me to take pictures of his behind (granted, I would probably also have been expelled if I had tried).

 

[tobydawq]

If I were following ScarJo or any other celebrity around, I'd at least have the courtesy to not film it/put it online. I once saw a well-known Danish handball player at a public pool, but I saw no reason for me to take pictures of his behind (granted, I would probably also have been expelled if I had tried).

I once saw Lasse Norman mixing some candy before going into the movie theatre. Didn't film that, either.

 

[Taxus4a]

I don't see what Remco did that was so unbecoming. He didn't yell and curse at the guy, but just said "go away." The guy was on his wheel too long and clearly bothering him, which I can understand, because, on a climb, when one is training alone, one doesn't like someone sitting on one's wheel, period. Let alone the World Champion, who is following a rigorous schedule, and not just some Joe Shmoe out for a ride, but a highly visible public figure. Sure, the roads are public too, but you should know when to back off and not intrude. It's like Mario Cipollini once said to a rider who decided to tag along to his wheel too long during a training ride: "So, if you were at work, would you like someone uninvited coming into your office and watching you?"

I realize being a pro cyclist isn't like going to the office from 9-5, however, common sense should let amatuer cyclists know when to give pros their space while out training, unless otherwise told. And Remco allowed the guy to watch him for several minutes, before saying that's quite enough, leave me alone. I'd imagine the majority of pros would have reacted the same.

Well, I quite agree, but that man was as well working, he lives to follow pro cyclist. training

 

[Extinction]

I see both sides. Common courtesy is to not follow a rider and this has to be constant for him so it’s a huge annoyance. If I ever saw a “celebrity” I’d make a point to give them their space. But, the fans are the only reason he’s able to be riding a bike for a living in the first place. They pay the bills of his sponsors and team.

Here is my take for what it's worth, years ago I and another rider were passed by Roberto Petito and a Russian pro on the road to Tolfa from Manziana. We then got hitched and went with them up towards Tolfa until they soon upped the pace on the climb to drop us (it's only a 5 km climb at 7-8 percent), clearly with intent, no words, just force of pace. Now there wasn't anyone on that road but us and, had we been able to keep up, they perhaps would have shaken our hands or told us off, who knows, but they clearly wanted to do their own thing. At any rate, it wasn't an issue. Yet, it can't be that every time a pro trains he has to deal with those that want to measure themselves against him. What if that pro has to do a recovery ride or simply wants to be alone with his own thoughts on the job? In short, a little common sense is all it takes.

From the video Remco seems to have merely wanted to do tempo up the climb, but with the guy following him, after a while, at that pace, he realised he couldn't just be left alone. So he got mildly annoyed, said leave me alone and, when the guy didn't back off, had to up the tempo to drop him, which he did with alarming ease. Of course that guy was going to die trying to keep up, but these are situations in which it's not easy for a pro to handle the moment delicately. I mean, what should Remco have said: "Look, I understand you want to ride with me, but honestly I'd just like to be left alone, so can you stop following me please?" Perhaps with, "I'll sign your jesrsey."

Besides, normally when we go out for a ride, unless with someone else or a group, we don't seek out others to join. Actually, we try to avoid others at all costs and certainly don't go with people we don't know (unless some serendipitous encounter occurs).

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Maybe Remco struggled to drop him on the steeper part of the climb, then managed to clear him as it shallowed? Just a thought.

 

[Extinction]

Well, I quite agree, but that man was as well working, he lives to follow pro cyclist. training

Yea, but "living to follow pro cycling," doesn't give you the right to be invasive, otherwise there is no peace.