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

[Valanga]

Pogi should ride safely tomorrow.

Pogi doesn't do safely. He'll go for 6 ;-)

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Pogi doesn't do safely. He'll go for 6 ;-)

He can ride safely and still take 6

 

[JimPanzen]

A number to small, but third place is a great result.

It is. I just wished he didn't talk about Vingegaard like that in several interviews. He got humbled in the end which makes his comments look stupid. But maybe next year is up there with Pogi and a well prepared Vingo.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It's about where i thought he might end up in case everything went according to plan, without crashes or offdays. Considering his preparation and where he was during Dauphiné, this is nothing but a great result.

Glad he tried today; better this than not having tried and keep wondering whether he could have got 2nd. He had nothing to lose. After Vingegaard's lesser performances, it's understandable that hope grew. It wasn't to be. He finishes in his place. 3rd strongest.

 

[Lequack]

Now he needs to go to the Vuelta so we can have a proper Remco vs Roglic race again.

 

[BigCoward]

It would probably have been enough with the TT's to win the Giro against a subpar Roglic, old man Thomas and Almeida, but comparable to now, not by a longshot.

I think TGH would have been the only one who would have been near him. Tao looked great before the crash.

 

[danielovichdk2]

The worse thing about Remco is his fans. There is a fanatism about him i really dislike. And I don't like the kid as a cyclist but he has my wholeheartedly respect for his 3rd place 8n this race, he has ridden a splendid tdf. Chapeau.

 

[Berniece]

The worse thing about Remco is his fans. There is a fanatism about him i really dislike. And I don't like the kid as a cyclist but he has my wholeheartedly respect for his 3rd place 8n this race, he has ridden a splendid tdf. Chapeau.

You don’t like that they are encouraging?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

The worse thing about Remco is his fans. There is a fanatism about him i really dislike. And I don't like the kid as a cyclist but he has my wholeheartedly respect for his 3rd place 8n this race, he has ridden a splendid tdf. Chapeau.

Do you think he is a legit GT rider now?

I am amazed how many believe his Vuelta victory suddenly turned him into a legit GT contender. Ever wondered if the Vuelta 22 was a weak edition?

Remco is off the charts but he is no legit gt rider.

Make me eat my hat, please.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Haha!

Everyone that pointed to the Giros as a proof of anything don't really have a clue. On the other hand, the Vuelta 2022 was a weak race with a weak route, so some reservation was of course justified. But he just made Daniel eat his hat!

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Look, he’s ridden well, avoided collapses, displayed panache, overall comported himself well. He’ll likely top 3 tomorrow, maybe win. But he’s also down 8 minutes to Pogacar and 3 minutes to Vingegaard, all lost on climbs after taking time on the ITT. He’s beaten everyone he should have beaten. I’m surprised how much crowing is going on here. It’s not like he almost won.

 

[Oldermanish]

Look, he’s ridden well, avoided collapses, displayed panache, overall comported himself well. He’ll likely top 3 tomorrow, maybe win. But he’s also down 8 minutes to Pogacar and 3 minutes to Vingegaard, all lost on climbs after taking time on the ITT. He’s beaten everyone he should have beaten. I’m surprised how much crowing is going on here. It’s not like he almost won.

For a first time Tour rider what he's accomplished could be considered a win. That won't calm the type of fan that thought he'd win by 13 minutes....just like some of Jonas' hyperventilating followers. We can't blame the riders for rabid supporters or detractors.
Now the DS for Visma: we can give him a hearty finger. He should know better.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Do you think he is a legit GT rider now?

This is exactly why he doesn't like his fans!

 

[peterfin]

Look, he’s ridden well, avoided collapses, displayed panache, overall comported himself well. He’ll likely top 3 tomorrow, maybe win. But he’s also down 8 minutes to Pogacar and 3 minutes to Vingegaard, all lost on climbs after taking time on the ITT. He’s beaten everyone he should have beaten. I’m surprised how much crowing is going on here. It’s not like he almost won.

In his first tour with all-time climb records set by Pogacar and Vingegaard, his loss versus the winner is similar to Pogacar last year (2nd) or the 3rd in the 2022 and 2021 tour. Considering that for many his Vuelta win was against a weak field and that he surely would blow up and fail, it's definitely reason to be happy about his result.

 

[topt]

I really disliked him before cause of his Neymar like behaviour and annoying beligan fans but seems like he has matured, really like his interviews now

 

[Gratemans]

Look, he’s ridden well, avoided collapses, displayed panache, overall comported himself well. He’ll likely top 3 tomorrow, maybe win. But he’s also down 8 minutes to Pogacar and 3 minutes to Vingegaard, all lost on climbs after taking time on the ITT. He’s beaten everyone he should have beaten. I’m surprised how much crowing is going on here. It’s not like he almost won.

A voice of reason, finally.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He’s not gonna change bikes during the TT. All black bike, 130-140gr lighter than the silver one he used lately.

I don't know what other teams are going to do. I hear there is a good chance it rains. I would rather do the downhill on a regular bike than a TT bike under those conditions. And i wonder how much time riders gain on a TT bike compared to a regular bike on 8km @ nearly 6% and 1.5km @ nearly 9% due to aerodynamics.

 

[Gratemans]

I don't know what other teams are going to do. I hear there is a good chance it rains. I would rather do the downhill on a regular bike than a TT bike under those conditions. And i wonder how much time riders gain on a TT bike compared to a regular bike on 8km @ nearly 6% and 1.5km @ nearly 9% due to aerodynamics.

Dumoulin rode it and said that they definitely should do the climb on TT bikes.
But he also mentioned that the descent is pretty technical and dangerous. So maybe when it's wet it might be smart to do it on a regular bike. Can't seem to remember they ever did that though: switching bikes for the descent in a TT? Of course that doesn't mean it's a bad idea. I guess we'll find out..

 

[Andre]

In an interview Remco said "I think I still need a lot of specific training to be able to follow or attack them. There is a lot of work to be done to close that gap." I just hope that this can be done by next year's Tour. For now, he can still win the Olympics, and hopefully a bunch more of classics. The Belgian drought continues sadly for now in the Tour.
They call us obnoxious Belgian fans of Remco. How dare they! We support whoever we want, and I for one, do not make fun of whoever the hater's of Remco support. To each their own. We are fanatics and that's what the word fan comes from. It's all fun and makes sports what it is...exciting. Those who hate can now let go a sigh of great relief, since Remco did not win the Tour. Hate sometimes comes from fear and fear from cowardice. Rejoice for now but be scared, be very scared, cause Remco is not done winning. Go Remco Go!!!

 

[Gratemans]

In an interview Remco said "I think I still need a lot of specific training to be able to follow or attack them. There is a lot of work to be done to close that gap."

I really hope he won't. I'm not a fan, nor do I have anything againt Remco himself. But I really feel he should focus on the hilly classics. Or at least: I feel he's most suited to them. What he ends up doing is up to himself of course, bBut I'm pretty sure he'll never win the Tour.
He exceeded my expectations, and he obviously achieved his own goal by quite a margin, but winning it? Nah, ain't ever gonna happen imo.

 

[Stablo]

Is it true, that I am the only one a bit annoyed?? That our super talent is now losing bike races to the lesser ones? Come on! These kind of things doesnt happen in real life! WTF? Generational talents are nothing anymore, if you hit the right team 🤣

Why I am annoyed? Cause this Poggie dominating this season is sooo ridicilous! Never seen anything like this 🤮

 

[Ulle97]

Look, he’s ridden well, avoided collapses, displayed panache, overall comported himself well. He’ll likely top 3 tomorrow, maybe win. But he’s also down 8 minutes to Pogacar and 3 minutes to Vingegaard, all lost on climbs after taking time on the ITT. He’s beaten everyone he should have beaten. I’m surprised how much crowing is going on here. It’s not like he almost won.

Ah yeah well in fairness there was a lot of scepticism that he couldn't hack it in a GT. His detractors almost discount his Vuelta win.
The reason his supporters are happy is because he has ridden the climbs with very good watts. There is a case to be made now that he is not just a GT contender but possibly the 3rd best GT rider in the world on this form.

 

[Stablo]

In an interview Remco said "I think I still need a lot of specific training to be able to follow or attack them. There is a lot of work to be done to close that gap." I just hope that this can be done by next year's Tour. For now, he can still win the Olympics, and hopefully a bunch more of classics. The Belgian drought continues sadly for now in the Tour.
They call us obnoxious Belgian fans of Remco. How dare they! We support whoever we want, and I for one, do not make fun of whoever the hater's of Remco support. To each their own. We are fanatics and that's what the word fan comes from. It's all fun and makes sports what it is...exciting. Those who hate can now let go a sigh of great relief, since Remco did not win the Tour. Hate sometimes comes from fear and fear from cowardice. Rejoice for now but be scared, be very scared, cause Remco is not done winning. Go Remco Go!!!

Yeah I hope all this aswell, but not going to happen🙂unless he takes the game up to these two monsters...or changes the team and levels the playing field....Messi got beaten with Pogba going on here. Not normal

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I really hope he won't. I'm not a fan, nor do I have anything againt Remco himself. But I really feel he should focus on the hilly classics. Or at least: I feel he's most suited to them. What he ends up doing is up to himself of course, bBut I'm pretty sure he'll never win the Tour.
He exceeded my expectations, and he obviously achieved his own goal by quite a margin, but winning it? Nah, ain't ever gonna happen imo.

So you hope the third best GT rider doesn't try to beat the best two in the future, while it is clear as day that he still has plenty to improve upon. You like watching the most boring GT's i guess. Or you think Almeida or Rodriguez or whoever are going to beat them? Hindley? Mas? Hart? Maybe you can make an assessment of other riders who are not even close to Evenepoel's level, that you think are going to beat Pogi.

Should Vingegaard keep trying? Evenepoel was closer to him than he was to Pogacar. So if even the 3rd best GT rider shouldn't bother anymore, then what should all the others do? Maybe everyone should sign for UAE to make Pog's life even easier.

You think winning the Giro might be worthwile? The Vuelta again? What about Pogi getting covid or crashing one day during the TDF, let's hand that victory to the first guy who actually didn't give up trying.

 

[ManicJack]

Those who hate can now let go a sigh of great relief, since Remco did not win the Tour. Hate sometimes comes from fear and fear from cowardice. Rejoice for now but be scared, be very scared, cause Remco is not done winning. Go Remco Go!!!

Give me a break.