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

[wickedw]

Klaas Lodewyck also said it would be impossible to do the Tour with this preparation. Seems a bit early to say imo. I would at least wait and see how he recovers before saying something like that.

Not so far from where I live there is a lake full of ducks. Every single one of them is more suited to be a DS than Klaas Lodewyck.

 

[Venge 82]

The problem is that the first few stages are very interesting for him

I know, but they will never let him ride if he's too close in the GC.

 

[Andre]

I fear that the engineers who design the Tour de France stages will not add any significant TT kilometers next year. My reasoning is that in general time trialing is still a diminishing art to the organizers (not us fans), plus they will know for certain that Remco will be racing the Tour for the first time. So, they get two victories...less TT distance and they finally get Remco. I hope I am wrong.

 

[Venge 82]

When guys like Pidcock and Roglic refuse to work with him because they know they would get dropped like a brick, who do you think is going to work with him when he goes for stages in the Tour? Why should that even be goal in itself for him?

The only way they should send him is if they think he has at least an outsider's chance to go for GC. And if he himself is content to let the WCC become an afterthought.

Why wouldn't he be able to win stages? According to this reasoning, he therefore no longer needs to participate in one-day races. He will have to find ways to win stages even when competition is reluctant to collaborate.
Why shouldn't winning some stages in the biggest race not be an objective?

He can have some racing without pressure + learn + grow towards the WCC. At least, that's my idea about it. Agree to disagree ;-)

 

[Didinho]

When guys like Pidcock and Roglic refuse to work with him because they know they would get dropped like a brick, who do you think is going to work with him when he goes for stages in the Tour? Why should that even be goal in itself for him?

If he loses enough time in the first week. Just stay with the peloton in a mountain stage untill the last climb, go early and they won't chase because he's no GC threat. It doesn't have to be from the breakaway. Or just do it like Healy in the break, go from way out and solo to the win.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Why wouldn't he be able to win stages? According to this reasoning, he therefore no longer needs to participate in one-day races. He will have to find ways to win stages even when competition is reluctant to collaborate.
Why shouldn't winning some stages in the biggest race not be an objective?

He can have some racing without pressure + learn + grow towards the WCC. At least, that's my idea about it. Agree to disagree ;-)

If going for stages means staying in the bunch and beating other GC riders, then he might as well go for GC.
I would value a second Vuelta win over a few stages with added experience (which is a completely different experience when not riding for GC) in the Tour. At this point in his career, i also doubt the experience of riding the Tour is going to matter that much anymore.

@Didinho If he is good enough to attack early on the final climb and stay ahead of a UAE or Jumbo train and inevitable attacks of Vingegaard or Pogacar, then he's good enough to go for GC too.

 

[Venge 82]

If going for stages means staying in the bunch and beating other GC riders, then he might as well go for GC.
I would value a second Vuelta win over a few stages with added experience (which is a completely different experience when not riding for GC) in the Tour. At this point in his career, i also doubt the experience of riding the Tour is going to matter that much anymore.

Ok fair enough. In the end, we can only hope to see Remco in action and book some nice results again soon. We will see what they'll decide.

I just feel crap Remco is no longer riding the GIRO.

 

[Nick2413]

I fear that the engineers who design the Tour de France stages will not add any significant TT kilometers next year. My reasoning is that in general time trialing is still a diminishing art to the organizers (not us fans), plus they will know for certain that Remco will be racing the Tour for the first time. So, they get two victories...less TT distance and they finally get Remco. I hope I am wrong.

They’ll still roll out the red carpet for him.

 

[peterfin]

I know, but they will never let him ride if he's too close in the GC.

"They will never let him ride" is a quote that was first used when he started as a pro. We know what happened since then.

I think the first two stage are perfect for him. It would be cool if he just races them as classics and let the whole peleton explode. Pogacar and WVA hopefully join (they are too eager not to do that) and maybe we get to see an inform Alaphilippe as well. He has a chance to grab stages and yellow in the first week. If he has yellow, the team should not defend the jersey. There will be others who want to control the race anyway. Give him just one domestic to support him in the peleton and let him focus on following Pogacar and Vingegaard. He can take a gamble and attack when he sees an opportunity. Let him do what he is exceptional at. If he loses time, focus on grabbing a new stage or two.

It will definitely be a learning experience. It will be a first exposure to Vingegaard and Pogacar when everybody is in top shape. They are not fighting with the same tools (teams) so he knows that winning is difficult but he still will learn a lot.

As a spectator it would also be fantastic. Because when do we finally get to see a real Pogi, Vino, MVDP, WVA and Remco battle?

 

[Venge 82]

Now the Gazetta Dello Sport is also insinuating Remco used Covid19 as an excuse. He would no longer by in a mental and physical condition to win the Giro.

There is really no shame...
Hope Remco stays calm and answers with the pedals soon.

 

[Andre]

Now the Gazetta Dello Sport is also insinuating Remco used Covid19 as an excuse. He would no longer by in a mental and physical condition to win the Giro.

There is really no shame...
Hope Remco stays calm and answers with the pedals soon.

That's pretty low of the gazetta to say something like that

 

[red_flanders]

Now the Gazetta Dello Sport is also insinuating Remco used Covid19 as an excuse. He would no longer by in a mental and physical condition to win the Giro.

There is really no shame...
Hope Remco stays calm and answers with the pedals soon.

Did they accuse Ganna of leaving in shame for losing a mostly flat TT to someone half his size? That he didn’t have COVID but was afraid to face Remco again? No?

🤡 🤡 🤡

 

[houtdffan]

That's pretty low of the gazetta to say something like that

that would probably ensure Remco never rides an RCS race again.

No Lombardia, MSR or TA

 

[jmdirt]

If going for stages means staying in the bunch and beating other GC riders, then he might as well go for GC.
I would value a second Vuelta win over a few stages with added experience (which is a completely different experience when not riding for GC) in the Tour. At this point in his career, i also doubt the experience of riding the Tour is going to matter that much anymore.

@Didinho If he is good enough to attack early on the final climb and stay ahead of a UAE or Jumbo train and inevitable attacks of Vingegaard or Pogacar, then he's good enough to go for GC too.

This ^^^

 

[Riek s]

Now the Gazetta Dello Sport is also insinuating Remco used Covid19 as an excuse. He would no longer by in a mental and physical condition to win the Giro.

There is really no shame...
Hope Remco stays calm and answers with the pedals soon.

aren't they just parroting that slovenian crazy person?

give it a few weeks and Remco will have ran away because he couldn't defeat the winner of the Giro and is therefore not GT contender.

 

[Red Rick]

Well "no longer in physical condition to win Giro" is just objectively true.

It's just phrasing a good reason like a bad excuse which it isn't

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Het is onmogelijk dat Evenepoel de Ronde van Frankrijk aanvat zonder de ambitie die ook te winnen. ‘Starten om te zien waar hij uitkomt’, dat kan Remco niet. Dat gaan we dus niet doen.

~ Patrick Lefevere

Impossible for Remco to start the TDF without the ambition to win. Riding it "to see what happens" is something Remco is incapable of. So we won't be doing that.

^Doesn't mean Tour is out of the question, just that riding it for stages or "for experience" is not an option. If he starts the TDF, it will be with ambition to win it or he won't start at all.

Well "no longer in physical condition to win Giro" is just objectively true.

It's just phrasing a good reason like a bad excuse which it isn't

Exactly. He didn't think he could win anymore... because he had covid and was sick.

 

[red_flanders]

~ Patrick Lefevere

Impossible for Remco to start the TDF without the ambition to win. Riding it "to see what happens" is something Remco is unable to. So we won't be doing that.

^Doesn't mean Tour is out of the question, just that riding it for stages or "for experience" is not an option. If he starts the TDF, it will be with ambition to win it or he won't start at all.

Ah, that's too bad. I mean, I have no interest in him starting to go for a high GC place, and I understand why he and the team have none either. I'd just liked to have seen the Rainbow Jersey at the Tour, going for stages. Would have been exciting, and a credit to the rider, the race, and the jersey. Ah well.

I understand that this might not be particularly interesting to Evenepoel, and that there are other totally reasonable plans. I don't really see him finding the fitness again soon enough to win it. I think we're headed for a Worlds/Vuelta schedule. It's fine, I'm just not nearly as excited about that prospect. The Tour will miss him if he doesn't ride.

Also I think a good quote to remember next time Remco says before a GT that he's "going for a couple stage wins and a good GC". It's the right thing to say of course, but...

 

[Nick2413]

Have they mentioned plans for next year? Is it to be assumed he’ll be riding Tour?

 

[houtdffan]

Ah, that's too bad. I mean, I have no interest in him starting to go for a high GC place, and I understand why he and the team have none either. I'd just liked to have seen the Rainbow Jersey at the Tour, going for stages. Would have been exciting, and a credit to the rider, the race, and the jersey. Ah well.

I understand that this might not be particularly interesting to Evenepoel, and that there are other totally reasonable plans. I don't really see him finding the fitness again soon enough to win it. I think we're headed for a Worlds/Vuelta schedule. It's fine, I'm just not nearly as excited about that prospect. The Tour will miss him if he doesn't ride.

Also I think a good quote to remember next time Remco says before a GT that he's "going for a couple stage wins and a good GC". It's the right thing to say of course, but...

send him to the Dauphine or TDS and see how he performs and feels afterward. That should determine Tour or Vuelta

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Have they mentioned plans for next year? Is it to be assumed he’ll be riding Tour?

Yes.

 

[Mayomaniac]

~ Patrick Lefevere

Impossible for Remco to start the TDF without the ambition to win. Riding it "to see what happens" is something Remco is incapable of. So we won't be doing that.

^Doesn't mean Tour is out of the question, just that riding it for stages or "for experience" is not an option. If he starts the TDF, it will be with ambition to win it or he won't start at all.

That sounds like a really childish take to me, their all or nothing attitude when it comes to Remco isn't doing him any favours. Might also just be Lefevre trying to protect his brand and his own interest when it comes to the sponsors.
This year the Tour is unrealistic because of the whole preparation and having to change the schedule of everyone else, but why can't you just send him to a race as a learning experience? What if he rides the Tour next year and the hectic first week is a bit of a problem for him? IMO he'd be better off on a non-Belgian team without a big Belgian sponsor.

 

[Mayomaniac]

That's pretty low of the gazetta to say something like that

RCS is probably pissed because they yet again payed him big money to start the Giro and yet again he wasn't able to finish the race. Plus they (and half of Italy) now have a bone to pick with Vanmol for blaming them. That said, it's pretty unprofessional, but La Gazzetta has become yellow press with most article being about football "stars" and their WaGs...

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

Cycling Italian Journalism is just *** in general.

As for Vanmol, it's not like other races had some rule about covid this year, and the weren't that many cases. Thing started to go south between Liege and Romandie, it's probably just the weather turning real bad that make riders more exposed.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

RCS is probably pissed because they yet again payed him big money to start the Giro and yet again he wasn't able to finish the race. Plus they (and half of Italy) now have a bone to pick with Vanmol for blaming them. That said, it's pretty unprofessional, but La Gazzetta has become yellow press with most article being about football "stars" and their WaGs...

According to Lefevere RCS doesn't pay big money. They supposedly offer extra accommodations etc instead.