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

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wickedw

May 10, 2023
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I don't think there's any reason to jump to any conclusions after this TdS really. He came in after Covid and little training, still managed to end third in spite of it. In terms of his development as GC rider, well it's a much better result than last year in TdS, and this time he wasn't even meant to be there...

I have my doubts on his calendar. Focusing on the WC is all nice and well if he had been able to complete the Giro, now I'm not so sure. I think it would be best if instead he focused fully on developing as a GC rider. Go full in for the Vuelta instead I say.
 
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Salvarani

Oct 15, 2017
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In peak form and with perfect preparation Remco can drop pretty much everyone with his big attack. It is just sheer power/watts and if he gets a decent gap the race is over. Especially like we have seen in one-day races and on courses that are to his strengths.

His Vuelta-win last year remains sort of a "perfect storm" kind of scenario for me. No matter what anyone says. Could he win another GT? Of course, he can! I just dont think it will be very easy for him or that he has such a bigger chance than anyone else.

His climbing needs to improve, if he wants to increase his chances of another GT-win. It is just the way things are. There are better climbers around and more on the way by the look of things, who can also TT quite well.

He could have a great career going for stage-races and big one-day races, being a contender for GTs. Stars might align again for him in the future but I think he will have tough decisions on what the should really focus on.

He is a very all-around rider, but the high mountains remains a big question mark and thats where GTs are either won or lost.
 
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Riek s

Jun 24, 2010
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Extinction said:
If I'm not mistaken, Skjelmose is riding the Tour next at 22 years-old. If he goes well there, he could be dropping an even optimally prepared Evenepoel next year should they meet.

Now it looks as if Remco's recent Giro woes, could hinder his development futher, after his Lombardia crash.
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Of course it hinderd his development, he couldn't ride out the Giro for which he trained so much. So again lost an opportunity to ride a 3 week GT.

His next goal is over > 5 weeks. he knows where is at. So he can work on building up and losing the weight necesarry. (and decide on his plan for the remainder of the year. Will he do the vuelta or not?)
 
Andre

Andre

Feb 1, 2020
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Berniece said:
I think he rode a great TDS all things considered. He was consistent in his performance all week. On to the nationals TT, and then training at altitude to get him ready for the WC. Not sure if he should ride the Vuelta. If you also want to win Lombardia. You can't take that form from WC -> Vuelta -> Lombardia.
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I see what you mean. So it's a choice between La Vuelta and Lombardia? I would prefer La Vuelta.
 
Extinction

Extinction

Jan 8, 2020
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Riek s said:
Of course it hinderd his development, he couldn't ride out the Giro for which he trained so much. So again lost an opportunity to ride a 3 week GT.

His next goal is over > 5 weeks. he knows where is at. So he can work on building up and losing the weight necesarry. (and decide on his plan for the remainder of the year. Will he do the vuelta or not?)
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I realize Remco has had these setbacks, but I'm still left wondering if Soudal hasn't managed him poorly and, if so, his GT plans (and particularly the Tour) could be in danger.

I also realize in hindsight vision is 20/20, but it didn't take much to predict that doing the Giro in 2021 coming back from serious injury, without prior racing to boot, would have ended badly. That year he should have gone to TdS and then the Vuelta. In 2022 he should have debuted at the Giro and this year the Tour. Instead another setback, meanwhile guys who weren't even on the radar like Skjelmose might be getting ahead and dropping him.
 
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houtdffan

Jul 20, 2019
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Extinction said:
I realize Remco has had these setbacks, but I'm still left wondering if Soudal hasn't managed him poorly and, if so, his GT plans (and particularly the Tour) could be in danger.

I also realize in hindsight vision is 20/20, but it didn't take much to predict that doing the Giro in 2021 coming back from serious injury, without prior racing to boot, would have ended badly. That year he should have gone to TdS and then the Vuelta. In 2022 he should have debuted at the Giro and this year the Tour. Instead another setback, meanwhile guys who weren't even on the radar like Skjelmose might be getting ahead and dropping him.
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Remco should have dropped out after stage 9 of that years giro. Do the Dauphine and then make a go at the tour that year. That would have given him 2 WT week long stage races prior to his GT debut.

Would have been far better than what we saw at the giro. Plus, he could have got those disaster descents out of his system at the Dauphine instead of the giro
 
Extinction

Extinction

Jan 8, 2020
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houtdffan said:
Remco should have dropped out after stage 9 of that years giro. Do the Dauphine and then make a go at the tour that year. That would have given him 2 WT week long stage races prior to his GT debut.

Would have been far better than what we saw at the giro. Plus, he could have got those disaster descents out of his system at the Dauphine instead of the giro
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But I don't think the team would have ever consented to him doing the Tour so soon after an early Giro exit. Given the Lombardia setback the TdS-Vuelta would have been best I think.

All of this is now moot, however. With a second Giro dnf he is de facto falling behind the major competition.
 
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Riek s

Jun 24, 2010
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There is no point in saying what he shoud have done in 2021. We are 2023 and that ship has long sailed.
He had a fantastic 2022 (even though his year start was suboptimal)
He started 2023 in a great way until he got covid. He is now around the same place he was last year, with probably the same goals for the rest of the season. (The absolute best case is that he can match last year)

If he had his vuelta weight, he would have won this TDS with his current power output. Now its a matter of getting the vuelta weight and his altitude adaptation for the vuelta.
 
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Salvarani

Oct 15, 2017
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Extinction said:
But I don't think the team would ever consented to him doing the Tour so soon after an early Giro exit. Given the Lombardia setback the TdS-Vuelta would have been best I think.

All of this is now moot, however. With a second Giro dnf he is de facto falling behind the major competition.
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Just completing another one would be quite good for him. Experience-wise.

Of course, a severe crash or sickness to the point of it being no chance he can continue to ride... is something that you cant control.

However, if he falls behind for whatever reason and is fit/capable to ride on he should probably try to complete it. Not depending on if he races for the win of the overall or if he ends up stage-hunting.
 
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Big Doopie

BANNED
Oct 6, 2009
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Still basically the most exciting rider to watch imo.

Cycling just way more interesting when he is riding.

His body type is absolutely not the same as other top GC riders these days. Only Hinault, back in the day…

Personally prefer Lombardia win over Vuelta, if I had to choose. But, hey surprise, it’s not up to me.

Next up Belgian Nats. Hoping more for the RR myself. Then all that’s left is Euro RR and World TT (already has silvers at both) to complete something that would be, well, pretty effin’ neat.
 
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Oldermanish

Jan 31, 2016
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Big Doopie said:
View: https://youtu.be/9THyCqONuAA


Pretty great.
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This is a guy who accepts reality very well and gives the credit to his competition in a way that reflects well on the whole scene. Very mature and no doubt well turn that knowledge into the successes he really values. At least I'd hope he could focus on what he personally wants to achieve since the sport will eat you alive if you try to please too many agendas.
 
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Berniece

Berniece

Sep 12, 2022
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Big Doopie said:
Personally prefer Lombardia win over Vuelta, if I had to choose. But, hey surprise, it’s not up to me.
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For me it's the other way around. Most of all, he wants to be a GC rider, and he has only ridden 3, and finished 1. There's still a lot of experience to gain for him and the team to go for the Vuelta again. Experience he could definitely use next year at the Tour de France.

Just focus on Lombardia next year. There's more than enough time between TDF and then WC/Lombardia.
 
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Bolder

Jun 25, 2015
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Oldermanish said:
This is a guy who accepts reality very well and gives the credit to his competition in a way that reflects well on the whole scene. Very mature and no doubt well turn that knowledge into the successes he really values. At least I'd hope he could focus on what he personally wants to achieve since the sport will eat you alive if you try to please too many agendas.
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It might be nice if the spotlight was turned away from him a bit.

I'd like to see him win Lombardia and defend his WCRR title well this year, at least giving it a good go.

I wouldn't read anything into his Suisse performance. I think he did the right thing by racing the semi-neutralized stage; if that hurt his last TT, well, so be it. Let's see what the second hafl of the year brings.
 
gregrowlerson

gregrowlerson

Aug 6, 2010
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I think that Remco fans should be pretty happy with how he's going. The man has had his main season objective destroyed by covid, and yet in 2023 he has still won LBL, the UAE Tour, placed 2nd in Catalunya and 3rd in Tour de Suisse. That's a very good season for most riders, and it's only half over!

Regarding the Vuelta vs. Lombardia debate, another Vuelta has to be rated higher than the 5th monument (it's not as much of a target for riders as the other 4 monuments imo), but to me Remco is much better suited to winning Lombardia. His strong suit (along with ITT's) is simply hilly one day races in excess of 250 kms, where when everyone else appears on their limit, he still has an extra gear to go to. He just isn't as suited to GT's where the stages are only 150 kms and skeletons hide for 95% of the time until we get brief showdowns on HC/cat 1 climbs.

As for 2024 he should ride the Tour, but without it being a be all and end all goal. A top 5 GC result would be decent, but I wouldn't go for a Vingegaard super peak if it meant jeopardising other goals (LBL obviously, and maybe try Ronde).
 
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