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

[shadowrider]

According to Strava Remco lost 11s to Pog on the San Luca climb (5:06 vs 5:17).

But depending of his position more early in the climb. At 1 km of the top, he probably was in twentieth position. The riders before him had to allow a gap. Evenepoel had to close the gap.... and then Pogacar jumped. So, the first seconds Evenepoel was not able to react, because his legs exploded. Later, it was difficult to pass other riders, due to the narrow road at the end of the climb and the public. Considering the circumstances, he did well.
I don't think he would have been able to stay in the wheel Of Poga and Vingegaard after the attack. But that he could have come back at the end of the descent, not having Carapaz in his wheel. But the result would have been almost the same. Collaborative they could have taken a few seconds extra of Roglic, Rodriguez etc.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Strong effort by Remco. This was just a short power test but he has to be considered a serious podium candidate. Apparently he lost 2.5 kilos since the Dauphine! (so his pre-race effort was impressive as well)

 

[Berniece]

I wasn't able to see the race unfortunately, only the last 10km's after San Luca, so it was nice to see Remco coming back all on his own strength. If he was 11s behind them on the top, he wouldn't be that much behind if he had proper position. Can't wait for the Galibier, if he's able to limit losses to those two there, we might have a third horse in the race, and podium will definitely be a realistic goal.

 

[Unchained]

Remco has something in the toolbox that very few have ever had, tiny powerful, aerodynamic package able to go 35-40mph on flat ground solo!
He has shown over and over when he makes mistakes, and he does, he almost immediately regroups, reconfigures his race plan and tries to get something out of it. Only time any of his races are a near total loss is when he crashes out and even then he looks and sounds like he is constantly trying to salvage something.
What he did today when he crossed over, micro pause and started sprinting was super human

 

[Medvind]

I actually expected this from Remco. I think he will be strong early in the tour. Today's performance however doesn't give me more confidence that Remco will handle multiple mountain stages in a row. Just hope he doesn't get over-confident now and start burning too much energy early in the tour. Just try to follow on stage 4, then all in on the tt, then ride conservatively during week 2; if he can challenge for the win without burning too much energy do it. Then hope he can be consistent during week 3 and don't crack, then a podium is within reach.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I actually expected this from Remco. I think he will be strong early in the tour. Today's performance however doesn't give me more confidence that Remco will handle multiple mountain stages in a row. Just hope he doesn't get over-confident now and start burning too much energy early in the tour. Just try to follow on stage 4, then all in on the tt, then ride conservatively during week 2; if he can challenge for the win without burning too much energy do it. Then hope he can be consistent during week 3 and don't crack, then a podium is within reach.

After thinking about this for a while. The last climb was similar to Redoute, this was more a hilly classic route than a mountain stage so Remcos performance actually wasnt beyond expectations. Galibier will tell us more regarding his podium chances (but I think he should be fine)

 

[shadowrider]

I wasn't able to see the race unfortunately, only the last 10km's after San Luca, so it was nice to see Remco coming back all on his own strength. If he was 11s behind them on the top, he wouldn't be that much behind if he had proper position. Can't wait for the Galibier, if he's able to limit losses to those two there, we might have a third horse in the race, and podium will definitely be a realistic goal.

Every time Poga went all out in the descent, he took 2 seconds extra on Evenepoel. But as a bad down hill rider, Evenepoel still did a good job. I had the impression that Evenepoel already came back at the end of the descent, in the less steap parts. Evenepoel (not helped by Carapaz at all) did a great job, the last few flat kilometers. Vingegaard helped Poga during those last km, but he was not riding full gas (maybe not able to).

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Well what do you know, he lost 2.5kg since the Dauphiné. Seems like the team finally did understand the importance of his weight, and it wasn't just 1 last kg that he had to lose. If only people would listen to the sane posters here and not the local quacks. Here's hoping the impact of sudden weight loss won't come back to bite him in the ass.

Kind of agree. "Badly positioned" often isn't a choice but bad legs or in his case being cautious not to overextend himself. Carapaz is basically the opposite, he always tries to follow no matter what. Brilliant chase however, although it has to be said he only caught up to them because Vingegaard refused to pull for some reason in the last kilometer. Otherwise it would have probably been about 5-10 seconds. Still clearly the third strongest today so great signs.

Pog might not have gotten help anymore from Vingegaard, but Evenepoel also didn't get any help from Carapaz.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Even the Move is talking about Remcos weight

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8cWdErM5Ic

 

[Potomac]

If only Remco had made a little more effort he could have gapped Pog and taken yellow.

Instead he whines about Carapaz.

 

[Nick2413]

Made sense to put in the effort to gain time on rivals today but as of right now Pogacar and Vingegaard are not rivals. If he fares well on Galibier that is the first step but needs to ride his own race for now.

 

[houtdffan]

I wasn't able to see the race unfortunately, only the last 10km's after San Luca, so it was nice to see Remco coming back all on his own strength. If he was 11s behind them on the top, he wouldn't be that much behind if he had proper position. Can't wait for the Galibier, if he's able to limit losses to those two there, we might have a third horse in the race, and podium will definitely be a realistic goal.

reminds me of stage 4 of the 2022 vuelta that rog won when remco started the final climb horribly out of position

2 days later, he set a pace that only Mas could follow on Pico Jano and won the vuelta that day

 

[Froome]

Evenepoel should have been on Vingo's wheel on Pogi's. Simple, but do it is what I'm saying.

Evenepoel was behind Vingegaard when Pogacar attacked.

 

[Karl Merckx]

2nd time san luca

 

[Taxus4a]

I am not surprised of the way he catched Poggi and Vingegaard. He ido a supertalent and we will enjoy him. Very good sign for Carapaz as well. Not easy to catch, but they all are champions and we are very Lucky to live this moment.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He was perfectly positioned the first time up San Luca, but not the second time. That's where it went wrong. He had to bridge a gap and make an effort before Pog attacked, and had just wasted energy. Not saying he would surely have been able to follow, but he might well have, had he just been in his wheel (or Vingegaard's) from the beginning of the climb and not wasted energy by bridging and overtaken due to bad placement.

 

[red_flanders]

Anyone know where he broke free from the others? Good show to put 20s into all those guys. Don't think he could have gotten more out of today. Fantastic result, and he learned something. Stay calm, Remco. Stay patient.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Anyone know where he broke free from the others? Good show to put 20s into all those guys. Don't think he could have gotten more out of today. Fantastic result, and he learned something. Stay calm, Remco. Stay patient.

Van Gils says Evenepoel went on the second shallower part of the climb after the initial short descent. He (Van Gils) says he was thinking about joining Evenepoel but hesitated and that was that.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

2nd time san luca

Wrong time to wheelsuck Roglic

 

[Extinction]

2nd time san luca

Too far back!

 

[dennisdy]

Too soon to talk about podium! Let's see where he is after stage 4.

 

[red_flanders]

Van Gils says Evenepoel went on the second shallower part of the climb after the initial short descent. He (Van Gils) says he was thinking about joining Evenepoel but hesitated and that was that.

Thank you.

 

[Nick2413]

Remco and Philipsen now bigger favorites than Pogacar to win a stage

 

[Didinho]

Anyone know where he broke free from the others? Good show to put 20s into all those guys. Don't think he could have gotten more out of today. Fantastic result, and he learned something. Stay calm, Remco. Stay patient.

I rewatched the climb yesterday and you can see it after the corners where Pogi attacked. (With the big white jersey balloon in the background). Remco goes at the left side on tv.
Carapaz was the first to try and follow and then Remco bridged to him.

 

[Berflamand]

I know that in the long run it's probably not the best idea, but I do hope he tries to take the yellow jersey today.

It's obviously not a career-defining feat (at least not for him) but it's still a nice achievement to have worn all of the red, pink and yellow leader jerseys. Who knows when the next opportunity might present itself.

It doesn't mean they should control the Galibier stage, leave that to the top favorite teams.

Since both Pog and Vingegaard won't want to keep/take yellow, I think Carapaz might be the biggest 'danger' to take over yellow. It's probably a big goal for him/EF and EF doesn't really have a top sprinter to look after so they might use Bettiol/Van Den Berg to place Carapaz as high as possible.