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

[Volderke]

It’s almost like no one knows what the future will bring..

I've already predicted that future ('he's gonna smash it in the TT') and a lot of that didn't happen, so I'm a bit more cautious and any firm prediction of the future by me has to be seen as tongue-in-cheek!

 

[Scarponi]

If Roglic did what Remco and his team did the *** fight would be endless

 

[Rackham]

If Roglic did what Remco and his team did the *** fight would be endless

Agreed.

Jumbo would get demolished in the comments.

 

[topcat]

Agreed.

Jumbo would get demolished in the comments.

Nobody important wanted to attack today anyway. Wtf did Kelderman chase down Carthy? It appears Jumbo are going to defend Kuss as long as possible. Why attack when you just might be able to do nothing and win?

 

[SHAD0W93]

If Jumbo wanted to attack, they had room to attack. Evenepoel and the team took up four spots in the middle. They had one opening on the right that was taken up by a Trek rider and 1-2 spots open on the left that had a Jumbo rider and where they could have funneled out blowing up Quickstep. I thought Roglic was going to do what Evenepoel did and try with a stomp with the sudden change of pace. Jumbo also could have blew up Quicksteps pace. Could it be considered fair, no. But it’s not like Jumbo has done to completely block the road on breaks, albeit those are not that close to the finish.

All three teams, though UAE had less say in it, where happy to finish like that and save their energy for what’s to come. With so many stages getting neutralized or something happening, I wouldn’t be surprised if a rider or team looks back on today as a mistake.

 

[Rackham]

Nobody important wanted to attack today anyway. Wtf did Kelderman chase down Carthy? It appears Jumbo are going to defend Kuss as long as possible. Why attack when you just might be able to do nothing and win?

I suspect Kelderman was following pre-stage instructions from Jumbo, i.e. cover attackers on the last climb & do the job Kuss usually does. But the race was not happening anyway.

 

[Blanco]

In his interview he said that it was not a full sprint but just a controlled acceleration not to risk a counter. His mind is clearly set on spending as little energy as possible today and tomorrow to be ready for Friday and Saturday.

In his interview he also said that he just slowed down his teamates, but if you watched the stage it was clear that he was telling them to spread all over the road, to block it.
And that controlled acceleration surely looked like a full sprint to me...

 

[Berniece]

In his interview he also said that he just slowed down his teamates, but if you watched the stage it was clear that he was telling them to spread all over the road, to block it.
And that controlled acceleration surely looked like a full sprint to me...

Yeah he said to his teammate come ride next to me. It didn't look like a full sprint though, everyone was able to easily follow.

 

[Bolder]

I dunno, man. That little sprint attempt at the end was pretty lame, frankly. Especially after telling your team to block the road. He’s too talented for these playground games.

 

[ManicJack]

I dunno, man. That little sprint attempt at the end was pretty lame, frankly. Especially after telling your team to block the road. He’s too talented for these playground games.

Cat. 3 BS

 

[peterfin]

He also said prior to the start that he would not take the initiative and that the team would ride defensively. So that's exactly what they did. At the same time everyone (except Cian) was waiting for a move from him. So his action (or better: inaction) basically resulted in a very controlled finish. He is not playing playground games but definitely mind games if he starts to ride differently than usual.

 

[Volderke]

If Roglic did what Remco and his team did the *** fight would be endless

If Remco rode the last week like roglic, everybody would say he’s not living up to the hype riding THAT boring.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

If Remco rode the last week like roglic, everybody would say he’s not living up to the hype riding THAT boring.

No, because he‘s ridden just as boringly as Roglič and not everybody is saying that.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Actually, Roglic attacked from 4km out; Remco has just sprinted. Is there any argument that Roglic has ridden more boringly?

 

[Panda Claws]

It’s almost like no one knows what the future will bring..

A take based on absolute certainty is not going to be interesting and "unless he has a bad day" is always a given.

 

[Big Doopie]

Actually, Roglic attacked from 4km out; Remco has just sprinted. Is there any argument that Roglic has ridden more boringly?

Which is exactly why I wish Remco were not so fixated on making his mark in GTs. GT riding, if u want to be successful, requires conservative riding. Kind of takes what we admire out of Remco.

I also don’t think he appears that confident right now.

 

[Oldermanish]

That’s basically what I’ve been saying in one of the other threads. What seems like an advantage for TJV (Kuss in red) could in the end turn out to be a disadvantage if Remco is able to drop Kuss late in the Vuelta - too late for Roglic (and Vinge) to respond while missing other opportunities that present up to that point (because of Kuss is in red)…

"if" Remco is able drop Kuss is a situation that suggests he wouldn't be countered by Roglic. Actually I think that is a strategic possibility for both Roglic and Vindegaard to capitalize on. Odds there are JV riders assigned to Kuss should he get gapped and Roglic would be free to pursue.
Remco's thinking about that and has to make the move stick or he's toast. That said; this GT may get down to one steep stage section as the definitive moment.

 

[FroomeWagon]

Which is exactly why I wish Remco were not so fixated on making his mark in GTs. GT riding, if u want to be successful, requires conservative riding. Kind of takes what we admire out of Remco.

I also don’t think he appears that confident right now.

I think he expected to gain more time on the time trial.

 

[Oldermanish]

Which is exactly why I wish Remco were not so fixated on making his mark in GTs. GT riding, if u want to be successful, requires conservative riding. Kind of takes what we admire out of Remco.

I also don’t think he appears that confident right now.

Remco has learned a bit about making "statement" gestures in a GT race and paying for them later on. He's learning and riding like a 3 week race is not a kermesse. That's a good thing however boring it may seem. When is the last time a Belgian won the Tour?

 

[Sciatic]

We have a lot of reasons to think one is better or best but in practice not that much has happened yet. I would say that Remco's weak moment (but good recovery) during the mountain stage and his weak moment during the TT (according to his post-race interview) are the only signals that indicate he is not top (yet) while Roglic looks very strong now and was only lacking a bit of sharpness early on.

I think Friday's mountain queen stage will sort a lot out among the leaders. All the folks making conjecture about week 3 strategies are, I guess, keeping themselves well entertained. But that's all moot until the riders and teams see where they stand after Friday-Sat stages.

 

[saunaking]

this thread is hilarious people saying remco sprinted today.

it was just a little easy acceleration everybody could follow saying 'i am the patron, don't even try and come around me'


shame his team is basically dogshit. If he is trapped here for another 2 years???
oh man, what could have been

 

[Extinction]

Actually, Roglic attacked from 4km out; Remco has just sprinted. Is there any argument that Roglic has ridden more boringly?

The stage he won.

 

[Extinction]

Which is exactly why I wish Remco were not so fixated on making his mark in GTs. GT riding, if u want to be successful, requires conservative riding. Kind of takes what we admire out of Remco.

I also don’t think he appears that confident right now.

He's doing both, as someone of his skillset and talent warrants. It's just a period with an incredible level, especially as the science of performance and high budgets have changed the game from the Hinault-Lemond era. But he's doing the right thing, especially for Belgium, which hasn't had a Tour winner for even longer than France. And he's only 23, so there's time to think big in his career. Plus it's what he wants.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

The stage he won.

That was a good victory, and he looked great (until his strange crash), but it was a Roglic style mountain sprint. Great display of force no doubt but not super exciting IMO. Not a lot of…panache…in waiting until the last couple hundred meters for a sprint.

 

[Berniece]

Actually, Roglic attacked from 4km out; Remco has just sprinted. Is there any argument that Roglic has ridden more boringly?

Who has been setting the pace on every mountain finish climb? SQS and Evenepoel. The rest just sit in the wheel.