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

[houtdffan]

Maybe after his crash not fully confident yet downhill. Hope this gives him a boost. Had power left on the flat and in the sprint. That’s what I wanted to see today. Now focus on a good TT and it’s looking promising. Missed that comfortable climbing of him.

He made an error on the climb. Should have went to the front at 1.5km to go

Even Vingo has said he cannot attack Remco when he's setting pace like that. Instead, he waited for Tadej's acceleration.

Needs to ride like Pico Jano. Go to the front, do not look back

 

[Snake]

For someone who had 2 crash in the last months and already almost die another time I think we should have expected that kind of issue on descense....

Btw he looked very strong, even the fact he beat roglic on sprint means he wasn't gassed at all, he lacks that change of pace to compete with the 2 aliens but podium now looks a credibile goal

 

[peterfin]

He made an error on the climb. Should have went to the front at 1.5km to go

Even Vingo has said he cannot attack Remco when he's setting pace like that. Instead, he waited for Tadej's acceleration.

Needs to ride like Pico Jano. Go to the front, do not look back

The wind made it difficult today for that strategy.

 

[Venge 82]

Very solid performance today. Nice to see he's climbing comfortably. Ok, on the last steep part he misses some explosivity, but that was to be expected. That descent was crazy. I'm not a fan of these downhill finishes. Just too risky. Curious for the rest of the Tour. I would like to know how he can manage the efforts over 3 weeks (Vuelta is not TdF).

 

[Didinho]

He made an error on the climb. Should have went to the front at 1.5km to go

Even Vingo has said he cannot attack Remco when he's setting pace like that. Instead, he waited for Tadej's acceleration.

Needs to ride like Pico Jano. Go to the front, do not look back

There’s enough climbing left for that. You don’t want to get countered by them when riding in a headwind. It was okay to try today, you never know otherwise. If he’s feeling stronger than most of the others in the last week he can ride his tempo in front.

 

[Valanga]

He made an error on the climb. Should have went to the front at 1.5km to go

Even Vingo has said he cannot attack Remco when he's setting pace like that. Instead, he waited for Tadej's acceleration.

Needs to ride like Pico Jano. Go to the front, do not look back

Maybe. But this is new to him and he was never gonna do that on the first real mountain stage. His job right now was to follow as good as possible.

 

[houtdffan]

The wind made it difficult today for that strategy.

they did the fastest climb of that side of the Galiber ever. The wind isn't stopping anyone this year

 

[Karl Merckx]

He's very good but there's still small room for improvement. Hopefully it will come in the third week.

 

[KZD]

Remco is one of the three strongest riders in the race so far (Pogačar obviously the first)

The way he beat Ayuso and Roglič in the sprint after leading out for so long was very impressive. His only Archilles heel is the descending.

 

[Valanga]

He's very good but there's still small room for improvement. Hopefully it will come in the third week.

A lot of room when it comes to descending :⁠-⁠|

I'm happy he didn't take any risk, but this looked really wonky in the corners.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Remco is like when you are panel beating a car...you bang one side into shape and you find another side that needs fixing

In fairness I thought he was brilliant today and he looks pleased on the podium

His climbing was very good and Landa (who the team says is a great help both on an off the bike ) climbed so very well also

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Good Tour by Remco so far. He was third strongest on Galibier, was slower on the steeper half of the descent but did well later. As things stand now he's a strong podium candidate. Obviously his situation following the first TT will be even better.

 

[Skalman]

In an excellent position for the rest of tour, climbing much better than anticipated, probably wins at least one TT and could challenge for the Gravel stage. I do hope he got enough for at least one of his trademark attacks during the tour also.

 

[Didinho]

Took the appropriate amount of risk in the technical section of the descent, then brought it all back on the high speed section. Perfect job.

That's also pretty much all the critical descending this Tour over with.

At one point when he got overturned by these 3 I thought he could lose even 30” more. Recovered well in the end.

This will be the only long descent they’ll go all-in. He doesn’t have problems descending in peloton at lower risks.

 

[KenFiamingo]

Great performance today, a bit unexpected TBH. I do hope he'll be able to repeat this but all things considered: these shallow gradients, UAE's headwind pacing allowing him to draft comfortably did work in his favor.

At this moment he clearly benefits from carrying 2.5kg less, but i wonder whether this aggressive weight loss in such a short period of time won't turn against him in the 2nd half of the Tour.

 

[Didinho]

At this moment he clearly benefits from carrying 2.5kg less, but i wonder whether this aggressive weight loss in such a short period of time won't turn against him in the 2nd half of the Tour.

I’m also hoping he doesn’t get sick again. He always did before when he was so lean.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Hype is getting real. Definitely the biggest podium threat. I hoped he could get the yellow on stage 7, but that looks hard. I think he will take in the pallpark of this in the TT:

+30 Pog
+1.00 Roglic
+1.20 Vingegaard
+ 1.50 C. Rod

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I’m also hoping he doesn’t get sick again. He always did before when he was so lean.

He got sick in the Giro and he wasn't nearly this lean. In the first Giro he was quite a bit more lean and he didn't get sick. In the '22 Vuelta he was roughly this lean and he didn't get sick.

 

[red_flanders]

Hype is getting real. Definitely the biggest podium threat. I hoped he could get the yellow on stage 7, but that looks hard. I think he will take in the pallpark of this in the TT:

+30 Pog
+1.00 Roglic
+1.20 Vingegaard
+ 1.50 C. Rod

This seems optimistic for a 25k TT.

 

[Miha81]

I have to say this was performance of the day. I did not expect him to come over the top with group of favourites. He was also only one who tried to follow the wheel of "the aliens". He is slowly getting himself a new fan.

 

[scribers]

Are we ready to accept remco might be a legit GT contender?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Are we ready to accept remco might be a legit GT contender?

Let's ask @bill1109

 

[Oldermanish]

Are we ready to accept remco might be a legit GT contender?

He rode well today and I think he and Roglic might be the long threat to Tadej. If JV and Jonas start to betray their weakness further it'll be a bit harder for Remco and Primoz. They need JV to keep working as their teams' supporters were not in the frame except Landa. Nice job by him.

 

[red_flanders]

Are we ready to accept remco might be a legit GT contender?

I accept that he might be a TdF contender, obviously having WON a GT he's a GT contender. LOTS of big HC climbs left. Love where he is right now. Looks like 3rd strongest climber in the race. The questions are around repeats in the high mountains. Some answered, some remain.

Enjoying seeing him compete at this juncture. Better than I expected, about where I hoped.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Are we ready to accept remco might be a legit GT contender?

Remco is still young and needs more time to develop. In a few years, maybe...(if he doesn't get too fat in the meantime).