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

[Gargamel35]

These photos are strange. Nobody in the team with zero tolerance fears the Covid no more ?

It's interesting to me too. Another thing that i find interesting (across all teams) is how apathetic everybody look in winning or loosing.
A star rider wins...everybody look dead during a cheer. A star rider retires, he has do give a horrible apology speech that no one listens anyway since they all look dead anyway.

 

[Andre]

Maybe because it is not so easy to predict the progression of an illness. People I know had less symtoms the second day of the infection and then it got really worse around the 4 th day. Just as an example.

Also long covid is still a thing and the best way to avoid it afaik is to rest. Not exactly ideal he did the time trial with this in mind, but a pretty solid reason not take a higher risk of long covid with completly unknown consequences for his life as a pro.

I mean I get it, covid is "over", but that has not magically made it into something to totally write of as a cold.

On the fourth and last time I got the corona it lasted exactly 8 hours. I doubt he will go for Le Tour. La Vuelta maybe. He had a perfect build up for Il Giro, it's really a shame that this happened.

 

[veganrob]

Has anyone given a satisfactory explanation, as to why they are pulling him 5 hours after winning a stage, instead of waiting to decide on Tuesday morning?

Satisfactory to who? You? I don't think they give a damn what you think.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Sometimes I’m surprised how some people put in an effort to post something and only ends up looking like a proper idiot with no respect or understanding when it comes to professional athletes. Normally this is seen on social media around football but seems like we have these around cycling too.

Or it’s some quality trolling I’m not catching.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Like i said. Not a GT rider. Out with covid is unprofessional.

By your own logic, those that got covid in the Vuelta were no real GT riders, so that did not make him lucky, it just made them unprofessional, lol.

 

[Jagartrott]

Like i said. Not a GT rider. Out with covid is unprofessional.

That would go for every rider. Or every employee actually. 'Ill? Unprofessional!"

 

[Pistolas]

Something is not right here: they announce his abandon 4-5 hours after the race. There was no time for confirmatory PCR test and viral load acessment, there was no time for clinical evaluation of the severity of the disease. All this before a rest day. Only 2 possibilities I see to justify this: they knew before the race he was infected or they decided to abandon for other reasons on top of covid.

 

[Berflamand]

Something is not right here: they announce his abandon 4-5 hours after the race. There was no time for confirmatory PCR test and viral load acessment, there was no time for clinical evaluation of the severity of the disease. All this before a rest day. Only 2 possibilities I see to justify this: they knew before the race he was infected or they decided to abandon for other reasons on top of covid.

PatLef said that they have a device that measures the viral load and that it left no room for doubt.

 

[Pistolas]

PatLef said that they have a device that measures the viral load and that it left no room for doubt.

Crazy.... They carry advanced lab machinery to the race. Chapeau to QS.

 

[Volderke]

some random thoughts:

• Remco is still as good as unbeatable in 1-week stage races (this first week of the Giro proves it)
• I would also love to see Remco in the Tour, stage hunting / having a free role / helping out a bit in sprint stages,... The problem with Remco is that even in a non-GC / serving role, he is not the kind of rider that will let go in the first week and could end up taking the yellow jersey, especially given the first few stages in the Basque country. This will inevitably lead to some pressure to keep riding for GC. Probably best would be that he aims for the yellow jersey in week 1, next lose an awful lot of time and go stage hunting in the second half of the Tour.
• Ofcourse, all depends on how well he recovers. I hope this will be quick, but you never know he is ill for e.g. a week or longer, and if so, his preparation for the Tour won't be ideal anymore.

 

[Tour de Berghem]

Something is not right here: they announce his abandon 4-5 hours after the race. There was no time for confirmatory PCR test and viral load acessment, there was no time for clinical evaluation of the severity of the disease. All this before a rest day. Only 2 possibilities I see to justify this: they knew before the race he was infected or they decided to abandon for other reasons on top of covid.

Maybe they know already sunday morning but they says "let's wait if today we can win another stage and then we can retire"

 

[Lequack]

Maybe they know already sunday morning but they says "let's wait if today we can win another stage and then we can retire"

I mean if they did it for his safety that would also not make sense. Surely subjecting him to an hour of full on effort.

 

[Volderke]

Something is not right here: they announce his abandon 4-5 hours after the race. There was no time for confirmatory PCR test and viral load acessment, there was no time for clinical evaluation of the severity of the disease. All this before a rest day. Only 2 possibilities I see to justify this: they knew before the race he was infected or they decided to abandon for other reasons on top of covid.

So if they e.g. knew Sunday morning he was (asymptomatic) positive, and they thought: let's do the TT (as it's an individual number), let's evaluate further tonight and on the rest day... that would be perfectly in line with all protocols.

Fact is Remco didn't look (and feel) good after his TT, and if they already knew there was covid in play, it made it much easier to quickly decide and pull the plug.

What I don't get about your comment is the suggestion that there is something shady / something else / something that doesn't fit your narrative... (why else the 'something is not right here' and the 'other reasons on top of covid'?)
There always has to be a secret agenda / reason / bad intention / PR story /...
A simple, logic chain of events won't do.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Now they're tightening the rules around masks etc

Giro d'Italia tightens COVID-19 rules after Remco Evenepoel positive

Masks return to race areas but rider tests not obligatory

www.cyclingnews.com

Vegni confirmed that the Giro d’Italia was concerned about the COVID-19 cases, confirming the change in rules.

“We all perhaps stopped focusing on it too soon,” Vegni said. “We’ve got to lift our guard, and we’ll start from this week.

“We’ll again introduce the rules that were dropped, such as the obligation to wear masks when coming into contact with the riders at the start and finish. We won’t limit the way people can work on the race, but whoever wants to interact with the riders will have to wear a mask. Should we have done it earlier? Probably.”

The Giro d’Italia organisers confirmed that facemasks will be compulsory in all areas of contact with the riders, including the team buses parking (at the start and at the finish), signature check podium area, prize ceremony podium area, post-race mixed zone, finish line area, press conference area and the anti-doping control area.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

On completion of the ITT, they realised that they don't have the 3/4 mins plus in hand after the second ITT to try and hold on for the win, so took the covid way out. (joke)

Shame for the race, great for the forum (no more bickering/gloating). Hope he gets well soon.

 

[groogster]

Crazy.... They carry advanced lab machinery to the race. Chapeau to QS.

UAE also has it! They used it with Ayuso to determine the viral load last season at La Vuelta.

 

[Berniece]

This is obviously not going to happen for numerous reasons, but it would be a great story if he now wins the Tour.

 

[Andre]

That would go for every rider. Or every employee actually. 'Ill? Unprofessional!"

the poster was being sarcastic

 

[KOM]

This is obviously not going to happen for numerous reasons, but it would be a great story if he now wins the Tour.

This is obviously not going to happen for numerous reasons, but it would be a great story if he now lands on the moon.

 

[Volderke]

This is obviously not going to happen for numerous reasons, but it would be a great story if he now lands on the moon.

He’s extraterrestrial so not impossible he”ll pass by on his way home! 🙂

 

[Pistolas]

So if they e.g. knew Sunday morning he was (asymptomatic) positive, and they thought: let's do the TT (as it's an individual number), let's evaluate further tonight and on the rest day... that would be perfectly in line with all protocols.

Fact is Remco didn't look (and feel) good after his TT, and if they already knew there was covid in play, it made it much easier to quickly decide and pull the plug.

What I don't get about your comment is the suggestion that there is something shady / something else / something that doesn't fit your narrative... (why else the 'something is not right here' and the 'other reasons on top of covid'?)
There always has to be a secret agenda / reason / bad intention / PR story /...
A simple, logic chain of events won't do.

Financial for example... Going to the Tour is great to sponsors.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

lol at the conspiracies. If they knew before the TT, they would have let Van Wilder do his TT all out, like he would have preferred to and of which initially was said "maybe he can go all out, but it will depend on circumstances". So there would not have been any reason to tell Van Wilder to hold back in the TT knowing Evenepoel had covid.

some random thoughts:

• Remco is still as good as unbeatable in 1-week stage races (this first week of the Giro proves it)
• I would also love to see Remco in the Tour, stage hunting / having a free role / helping out a bit in sprint stages,... The problem with Remco is that even in a non-GC / serving role, he is not the kind of rider that will let go in the first week and could end up taking the yellow jersey, especially given the first few stages in the Basque country. This will inevitably lead to some pressure to keep riding for GC. Probably best would be that he aims for the yellow jersey in week 1, next lose an awful lot of time and go stage hunting in the second half of the Tour.
• Ofcourse, all depends on how well he recovers. I hope this will be quick, but you never know he is ill for e.g. a week or longer, and if so, his preparation for the Tour won't be ideal anymore.

He wanted to do the WCC's in full form. Going to the Tour now means: no real support team for him. It also means he has to recover from covid (rest) while not losing his form and not gaining weight, while prolonging his peak from Liège to the WCC. I mean, i know he's good but he's not superman. Imho it's completely unrealistic. Of course he could go to the Tour for stagehunting... will they allow him? If he is 10 minutes down in GC, is it enough? How far down does he have to be? Which other breakaway riders are going to be riding with him? Not even Roglic wants to ride with him, lol. If he goes for GC, that's all fine and dandy until in week 3 and he actually has to make a move or god forbid defend his place. Who is going to help him in the mountains? Jakobsen?

Realistic and logical choice would be WCC + Vuelta and maybe some prep races before that.

 

[Panda Claws]

I find the dissenting declarations tiresome. We have Evenepoel saying he did not feel great ( I believe). And know their press agent says that Evenepoel is still asymptomatic.

 

[Mayomaniac]

lol at the conspiracies. If they knew before the TT, they would have let Van Wilder do his TT all out, like he would have preferred to and of which initially was said "maybe he can go all out, but it will depend on circumstances". So there would not have been any reason to tell Van Wilder to hold back in the TT knowing Evenepoel had covid.


He wanted to do the WCC's in full form. Going to the Tour now means: no real support team for him. It also means he has to recover from covid (rest) while not losing his form and not gaining wait, while prolonging his peak from Liège to the WCC. I mean, i know he's good but he's not superman. Imho it's completely unrealistic. Of course he could go to the Tour for stagehunting... will they allow him? If he is 10 minutes down in GC, is it enough? How far down does he have to be? Which other breakaway riders is going to be riding with him? Not even Roglic wants to ride with him, lol. If he goes for GC, that's all fine and dandy until in week 3 and he actually has to make a move or god forbid defend his place. Who is going to help him in the mountains? Jakobsen?

Realistic and logical choice would be WCC + Vuelta and maybe some prep races before that.

Mauri and Bagioli are at the altitude camp with Ala atm, so you have those 2. Now you can probably get away with having Hirt do the double, since he hasn't raced a lot and can just ride Froometto on all the Giro stages besides the 1 or 2 that he targets/tries to go in the breakaway (my pick would be stage 16 and stage 18). You could probably find a way to built a somewhat reasonable team for a day by day approach, but changing everyone's plans right now is probably no the smartest thing to do. That said, the team hasn't always been reasonable when it comes to him.

Given the fact that the WC route isn't one for climbers you can probably get away with having (a hopefully healthy and recovered) Remco just ride the NC and train a bit at home, then a big altitude training camp after Donostia. If you rush him back and have him race a lot before the WC you might be able to rebuilt his form fast, but holding if for long would be a big problem. He could fade badly at the Vuelta, that's why a more conservative approach and trying to have a 2nd peak (climbing legs wise) for Vuelta and the Italian Autumn classics is IMO the way to go if you want to do things right.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I find the dissenting declarations tiresome. We have Evenepoel saying he did not feel great ( I believe). And know their press agent says that Evenepoel is still asymptomatic.

Lol, why would they even test the team leader if he didn't have any symptoms? He looked dead when he gave that interview after the ITT. Probably had chills or something worse, otherwise one would just think that he had a picked up a cold during the rainy first week of the Giro.
Anyway, the way Quickstep handle the media buzz around him is bussh league levels (with all the respect for bush leagues).