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

[Big Doopie]

Fair.

I didn’t. Different body type completely from nearly all GT riders. He needs perfect prep and nothing to go wrong.

Had he not crashed at last years Vuelta, I think he would have continued to crush all opposition (including Rog).

However, had he come to this Vuelta in that shape and absolutely nothing had gone wrong, I still think Vingo would have beaten him

I wonder if anyone was recommending he go as “pack fodder”? I thought he should go as World Champ. Go for some stages and to celebrate the jersey. I think that aged just fine…

Not really.

Cuz he would just have been a world champion pack fodder. He would have had literally no effect on the race at all coming off Covid.

 

[saunaking]

next Eddy Merckx? more like the next Aitor Gonzalez.

one hit wonder, will never win a GT ever again. he'll be selling FOP decals over the phone in 5 years.

total a-hole too, never stops complaining.

what was that crap with pointing to his head today like he thinks he's smart? he isn't. good job dude, you beat Andreas Kron and Paul Ourselin.

i lost all respect for this guy.

dear remco,
this is the last letter i'll ever send your ass
..........

 

[red_flanders]

Not really.

Cuz he would just have been a world champion pack fodder. He would have had literally no effect on the race at all coming off Covid.

Yeah, not at all convinced of that. Anyway, his Vuelta has been memorable, he’ll walk away disappointed but he made some statements with the legs all the same. Can win any race when he learns to put it all together.

 

[danielovichdk2]

I doubt they'd do it again. Today I noticed that when Roglic was setting tempo he spent some time back checking on Vingo in the last km. It looked like he wanted to check him so he didn't jump Kuss; just a feeling on the posture. For all of the JV faux harmony I don't think there is alot of trust between those two. When he was quoted prior to yesterday's stage that "the strongest will win..." (paraphrasing) he meant he'd take it to whoever didn't follow the plan and beat that guy. Kuss has followed the plan from all appearances so take from that what you will.
Fortunately JV management had them all come to Jesus this morning so they sung from the same hymnal...

Roglic is like a child that doesn't get what he believe he deserves. He should have settled the score earlier if he thinks he is such a badass.

It really shines out. And it's not pretty. Poor sportsmanship towards his teammates.

I am on a different page. I like the story. The team is showing that they work together and pay back what is owed. And please Roglic, keep your childish tendencies within the team and don't expose them. It makes you look like a loser.

 

[Gargamel35]

Roglic is like a child that doesn't get what he believe he deserves. He should have settled the score earlier if he thinks he is such a badass.

It really shines out. And it's not pretty. Poor sportsmanship towards his teammates.

I am on a different page. I like the story. The team is showing that they work together and pay back what is owed. And please Roglic, keep your childish tendencies within the team and don't expose them. It makes you look like a loser.

He did settle the score and defeated Jonas. That was until Jonas got his solo chances to jump Kuss and Roglič with them sitting like stupid ducks behind.
Jonas got in front of him and VERY close to Kuss and red jersey because of that. That wouldn't seat well with anyone. He's got one, maybe two years left to fight for top spots. There is no time for him to sit back and look how someone else has green light to jump him anytime he wants.

 

[LookProGoSlow]

So he won a couple of battles, but lost the war.

 

[LookProGoSlow]

"Giving up", or whatever you wanna call it, was clearly the best option at that point.

Chances are he will head home with 4 stages and KOM. Look at riders like Mas, Ayuso and Landa, what have they done exactly? Im a fan of all of them, but come on, aint nobody will remember their races. I'd much, much be in Remco's shoes.

They at least tried. If you give up mentally, you van only blame yourself.

 

[Elos Anjos]

So he won a couple of battles, but lost the war.

Remco never looses dude, he's unbreakable.

 

[Salvarani]

So he won a couple of battles, but lost the war.

I think he did it on purpose at this point to have the redemption arc.

They might have already decided this after the Javalambre stage. No way was he beating Jumbo this time.

Going deep every day for 4th-5th, at best, or win three (potentially four) stages and the KOM? The latter doesnt seem like a bad consolation prize. Add to that having his big "comeback" right after his "collapse" and being in the spotlight of the break each and every day after that. Going for the stage-win and KOM. For him personally, his brand and the team it has probably been for the best.

They can build-up again for the Tour. Things may align, who knows, or something will happen and he can go for other objectives again.

 

[Lexman]

So he won a couple of battles, but lost the war.

Just like Napoleon Bonaparte and he's still the greatest...

 

[shadowrider]

It is, but on the other hand: on that very same Tourmalet stage Almeida had an implosion of sorts as well, but he rode through it for 100 kms on his own and saved his GC. That could maybe have been more interesting for Evenepoel fans, to see what he's really capable of against the best guys on Angliru, for instance. Rather than being part of breakaways where, on paper, he's by far the best climber.

 

[IndianCyclist]

So he won a couple of battles, but lost the war.

After his Cannae, he decided to enter into small skirmishes to rebuild his army's morale and now after two victories , he is unbreakable, and with the help of Mikel and Landa he will take on the Might of Pog and Jumbo and make it their Waterloo

 

[shadowrider]

Almeida saving his GT ? What a joke. He is ninth in the GC (10 minutes back). Is dropped every day (OK, he fights back). Why not doing the same as Evenepoel and go in the break. ? Well, because he hasn't the guts. And probably not the fysical and mental abilitys to attack, work hard for more than 100 k and finish it at the end. And certainly not beating Evenepoel. If I have to choose between(passive) riders as Roglic, Mas, Almeida and a offensive and spectacular rider as Evenepoel (even beaten once or twice), well......

 

[shadowrider]

The more I think of it, the more I think Remco is doing this if only for the experience.
The kid has been racing with the pros and immediately delivering, so every race there was huge pressure.
Every GT he started, hopes were (too) high and every move he made and every time he dropped, the cameras were on him.

Every one day race he started, especially after winning some big ones, he was more and more among the favourites or the outright favourite and the media / fans only expected a win and it didn't even stop there, as some people expect him to win solo with a big advantage.

This Vuelta, after his big disappointment on the Tourmalet stage, he finally could aim for a (for him) fun and very achievable goal, race without complexes and race in a GT like he likes to race all his life: in front / in the breakaway / if possible finishing solo.

So in the end, I feel he is trying to find himself back where he left it / where he lost it a bit in trying to achieve goals that were too much hay on his fork. He skipped more than one step to become a pro, and with this Vuelta, he is firmly on a step he skipped after he won the Vuelta last year and next people expected him to win another GT.

He learned a lot about his body (fysically and mentally) and pushed it harder than most (or all) the other GC-contendors. So, I think Roglic won't become stronger or better at the age of 33 . Almeida, Mas, Vlasov don't progress anymore (as Evenepoel does). We have to wait what Ayuso and Uijtdebroeks (bad at TT) can perform in the future. Evenepoel isn't a pure climber as Pogacar and Vingegaard. But I'm convinced Evenepoel can beat them in a situation when their teams have not all the strongest teammates in their team or are weakened by illness, crashes etc. and given the fact of enough TT-kilometers. Then Evenepoel shouldn't have a bad day of course. I can't wait the Tour 2024 and 2025.

 

[Valv.Piti]

next Eddy Merckx? more like the next Aitor Gonzalez.

one hit wonder, will never win a GT ever again. he'll be selling FOP decals over the phone in 5 years.

total a-hole too, never stops complaining.

what was that crap with pointing to his head today like he thinks he's smart? he isn't. good job dude, you beat Andreas Kron and Paul Ourselin.

i lost all respect for this guy.

Yes, if only he rode like Joao Almeida. Got forbid offensive racing and getting the most out of a race.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Almeida saving his GT ? What a joke. He is ninth in the GC (10 minutes back). Is dropped every day (OK, he fights back). Why not doing the same as Evenepoel and go in the break. ? Well, because he hasn't the guts. And probably not the fysical and mental abilitys to attack, work hard for more than 100 k and finish it at the end. And certainly not beating Evenepoel. If I have to choose between(passive) riders as Roglic, Mas, Almeida and a offensive and spectacular rider as Evenepoel (even beaten once or twice), well......

Why couldn't Remco have the guts to try and get back into the race (a bit like Almeida) , instead of giving up. Maybe Almeida is happy with a top 10 finish. He lost time, but fought back. That takes guts. Remco came in with aims of at least a podium. Instead of shipping nearly half an hour, he could have worked harder for more than 100k and finish a lot closer to the Jumbo guys. Instead, he gave up, quit. With the form he's in at the moment, can you imagine the carnage he could have done to the top end of the GC. I don't think it would be looking anything like it is now, and maybe he could be fighting for a podium. But no, he decided to fight against a lot lesser mortals than himself for the KOM. I think Almeida has shown he has more mental ability than Remco during this race. I shall await all the laughs.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

For all the Almeida-bashing:

Almeida was recovering from sickness. Remco wasn't sick. He had a day off, for reasons that will remain a mystery forever probably.
Almeida is not as good as Remco, everybody knows that. He's still a potential GC winner if everything goes right. Might end up with a bunch of placements, might manage to get one. Let's say a Giro without Vinge-Roglic-Pogacar, ok, no Remco to make the fans happy. Might happen 24 already (even if I hope that after this Vuelta Vingegaard feels confident enough to try the Giro-Tour double), something like Hindley, Carapaz, some Ineos guy (if they have any left) as favorites, Almeida could beat them if everything goes right. And he might improve further, we'll see. Remco won't significantly improve anymore, like Pogacar, we have them more or less at their top already. More experience will help Remco for sure, help him manage riding a GT better. Doubt he'll ride Liège stronger than 23. Keep the level, yes, slightly better, slightly worse, all possible, but Remco and Pogacar are basically the finished product. For Remco it's more about experience and adapting further to GT riding. Even if 22 was good, no real major trouble there. But yes, Remco is better than Almeida, and will most likely always be better. Nothing new, except the usual tendency by Remco fans to bash other riders.

 

[Big Doopie]

Likely all the same people who lauded Carapaz’ rebound and ride at last years Vuelta are the same ones criticizing Remco.

The (not so) hidden agenda:

We would much prefer to see him struggle to get back into the top ten so we can continue our preferred narrative.

Damn, he’s winning mountain stages in the third week while being out there for hundreds of kms and dropping the break by minutes. Damn. Damn. Damn.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

Likely all those lauding Remco now are those that criticized Carapaz last year.

The (not so) hidden agenda:
Don't give credit to any rider except Remco! We would much prefer Carapaz riding anonymously in the bunch, so we can continue our preferred narrative! Which is, only Remco can win stages from the break while being out of GC.
Damn, Carapaz was winning mountain stages spending hundreds of kilometers in escapes! Damn, Damn. Damn!

 

[Elos Anjos]

Remco never looses dude, he's unbreakable.

Seriously, stop it. I could milk likes in this thread just by posting pointless dumb compliments about Remco and you wouldn't even notice it.

 

[proffate]

People don’t remember the stage wins as much, unless you are winning crazy amounts

He could break the Merckx/Cav record.

 

[proffate]

This stage hunting focus some are advocating is probably not advisable. It will work to some extent, like we see right now. But you quickly run in to the Sagan effect if you win too much. Nobody will pull with you.

He doesn't seem to need the help, and unlike Cancellara seems pretty hard to draft.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

He could break the Merckx/Cav record.

He's at 0...

 

[danielovichdk2]

He did settle the score and defeated Jonas. That was until Jonas got his solo chances to jump Kuss and Roglič with them sitting like stupid ducks behind.
Jonas got in front of him and VERY close to Kuss and red jersey because of that. That wouldn't seat well with anyone. He's got one, maybe two years left to fight for top spots. There is no time for him to sit back and look how someone else has green light to jump him anytime he wants.

Roglic has looked amazing this Vuelta. But he should have done something about Sepp earlier then. And you know it too.

 

[Lequack]

Apparently they found out the mysterious person who was leaving graffiti all over the place