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

[shadowrider]

Didn't even dropped Mas and the other guy on sormano, he even lost time to them in the last km. Second over a minute because he's a generational talent, that's all

Well, I haven't seen that last kilometer before the top on tv. But Evenepoel declared after the finish that he took a few lenghts ahead of Mas and Van Eetveldt at the end of the climb (there is also a picture that shows Evenepoel dropping those two riders uphill (but I don't know where that picture was taken). As a result, those two were coocked, and Evenepoel could (easily) drop them the first km of the descent.

 

[del1962]

Would be great for Remco if they put a 2012 type route in your, no super steep stuff and 100k of flat time trials, would make it an interesting battle against pog and vingo and definitely no cobbles or gravel

 

[Berniece]

Would be great for Remco if they put a 2012 type route in your, no super steep stuff and 100k of flat time trials, would make it an interesting battle against pog and vingo and definitely no cobbles or gravel

Why no gravel? He raced quite well this year on gravel.

 

[Extinction]

Would be great for Remco if they put a 2012 type route in your, no super steep stuff and 100k of flat time trials, would make it an interesting battle against pog and vingo and definitely no cobbles or gravel

I agree with a couple of 50 km+ tt, but I'd rather there be real mountain stages. I'd like an 86 type route, but I know they won't do it, certainly not as long. I'm not a fan, however, of a Tour designed to "give someone a chance". Remco is a huge talent. Let him win a proper Tour if he is able. Unfortunately, this Pogacar will be tough to beat, even for one of his talent. Of course, there is also Vingegaard to deal with.

 

[KZD]

Would be great for Remco if they put a 2012 type route in your, no super steep stuff and 100k of flat time trials, would make it an interesting battle against pog and vingo and definitely no cobbles or gravel

Against Vingo yes but against Pogi with his level this year there is no way Remco can beat him in Tour.

Still after a difficult 2023 season, it was great to see Remco bouncing back and doing an amazing summer campaign.

 

[del1962]

Why no gravel? He raced quite well this year on gravel.

He might have been OK, bt only because of his engine on the flat, but still lost a lot of position in the corners

 

[houtdffan]

Would be great for Remco if they put a 2012 type route in your, no super steep stuff and 100k of flat time trials, would make it an interesting battle against pog and vingo and definitely no cobbles or gravel

with the 3 aliens, a 2012 course would be an amazing tour.

the Grand Colombier, Touissuire, and the circle of death stages would be all out war today from very long distances from the finish

2012 didnt work due to the sky train and a suspended Contador

 

[Squire]

with the 3 aliens, a 2012 course would be an amazing tour.

the Grand Colombier, Touissuire, and the circle of death stages would be all out war today from very long distances from the finish

2012 didnt work due to the sky train and a suspended Contador

And a crashed Schleck who, with the amount of time trials and his track record from the year before, surely would have tried to create carnage in the mountains. That's assuming he found some form. He wasn't looking great even before his Dauphiné crash.

 

[Oldermanish]

Evenepoel has not had the break Pogacar had so naturally for me Pogacar is more fresh I think thats only fair towards Evenepoel to say solely on this particular race alone I think thats fair to say.

That beeing said it still level to things but a top top form Evenepoel would be closer imo.

Remco's season has been great but he might just now be fully recovered from previous injuries in the sense that he can go as hard as his form allows. He's tired, but still in the game. Remco fans and sceptics should all agree that's a good season end but not enough to beat Pogacar.
Now everyone gets to go on vacation and drink excellent Belgian beer.

 

[VO2 Max]

It remains a maybe but I guess it depends on how hard the course is mostly for me (if its pan flat MSR edition basicly its a different ballgame id like to see that but even then it remains a maybe imo and something id like to see,but they never compete in that but sure) and indeed if the gap is 5-10sec but nothing to discuss then imo.

And assume top form Evenepoel he still has to go vs this version of Pogacar I mean its a crazy big ask and tough task Ive just never visioned or believed that could happen but I agree the course plays a big part if its long and hard I say pass on every scenarioe for myself if as you say a small hill then sure maybe, depending on the lenght /how hard the race is for me. In case anyone wonder 30km flat TT I take Remco in case anyone missunderstand my point..

Strictly speaking Remco is probably right when he says he's the one with the best chance to make up the performance gap to Pogacar. His problem in reality is that he's the guy that also needs to be at the highest Pog% because the two tend to win their races in similar ways (do races have to keep getting longer because both of them want to attack 5km earlier than the other??)

Van de Poel doesn't really need to improve his level relative to Pog much at all because of the combination with Philipsen; van Aert we have less of an idea because of recent absence but again you'd expect him to win in a different way with the strength of the team. There also used to be a guy called Alaphilippe in this conversation. But Remco is the one most needing to go head-to-head with Pogacar for a Liege or Roubaix or Worlds or MSR and of course that's extremely difficult without a big swing in their relative conditions.

 

[Pannenkooky]

Can someone tell me more information about Remco's ADHD? Any articles where it's mentioned? It seems like inattention contributed to his Lombardia crash. I struggle with inattentiveness and "highway hypnosis" type of thing in long rides when I'm solo. Thanks!

 

[AmRacer]

Can someone tell me more information about Remco's ADHD? Any articles where it's mentioned? It seems like inattention contributed to his Lombardia crash. I struggle with inattentiveness and "highway hypnosis" type of thing in long rides when I'm solo. Thanks!

It gives you flapping arms.

 

[Berniece]

Can someone tell me more information about Remco's ADHD? Any articles where it's mentioned? It seems like inattention contributed to his Lombardia crash. I struggle with inattentiveness and "highway hypnosis" type of thing in long rides when I'm solo. Thanks!

Makes more sense to just go to a doctor for that

 

[rallybanana]

It's nice to see the Remco thread back on page 1

 

[Berniece]

It's nice to see the Remco thread back on page 1

Not much to talk about the next few months. They’ll probably announce his schedule in January. He can take some leave, charge his batteries, and reduce the gap with Pogacar

 

[Unchained]

Not much to talk about the next few months. They’ll probably announce his schedule in January. He can take some leave, charge his batteries, and reduce the gap with Pogacar

He will certainly do all those things and probably do dangerous to semi dangerous experiments w his weight. He has a proven power to weight ratio that is the envy of everyone except a select few. Remco will need to do more climbing volume. Traditionally that means losing speed for majority of riders. Seldom do you see a TT world champ who can keep pace in mountains of grand tours..are GTs what Remco still wants..? Going to have to tweak something.. What will it be?

 

[Berniece]

He will certainly do all those things and probably do dangerous to semi dangerous experiments w his weight. He has a proven power to weight ratio that is the envy of everyone except a select few. Remco will need to do more climbing volume. Traditionally that means losing speed for majority of riders. Seldom do you see a TT world champ who can keep pace in mountains of grand tours..are GTs what Remco still wants..? Going to have to tweak something.. What will it be?

GT’s and his weight. He won everything there is to win in TT’s. Also when it comes to monuments and classics, he won everything he wanted to win besides Lombardia. Focus is completely on GT’s now. I hope he tries to stay as lean as during the TDF throughout the season, while losing another 1-1.5kg extra for the TDF.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Look out for camel riding pics in the next few days.

 

[peterfin]

He will certainly do all those things and probably do dangerous to semi dangerous experiments w his weight. He has a proven power to weight ratio that is the envy of everyone except a select few. Remco will need to do more climbing volume. Traditionally that means losing speed for majority of riders. Seldom do you see a TT world champ who can keep pace in mountains of grand tours..are GTs what Remco still wants..? Going to have to tweak something.. What will it be?

He is not a typical TT world champ. His weight and size make him exceptional in that category. That's why he can be one of the best climbers too. The only problem is: what can he do to close the gap? Not crashing prior to the TdF and adding all marginal gains he can find helps but is it enough? His performance at the latest TdF was probably good enough to win the last 20 editions except the 2024 TdF.

I am not sure we can expect much more from him. We should not, actually, and give him credit for all the amazing things he does. UAE has the money and power to keep Pogi in the hot seat at the TdF and for Vingegaard and his innovative team it's his only real big goal of the season. I am not saying Remco should give up the dream. He should maximize his opportunities. The TdF should have been a goal in 2023 already. However I think it would be a loss for cycling if it becomes his only focus. He has much more to offer.

 

[Red Rick]

Basically no reason to believe he's further from his ceiling than Vingegaard and Pogacar. All of them have been at the WT for the same amount of time.

To me his Tour level was the continuation of the 2022 Vuelta and 2023 Catalunya.

 

[Berniece]

Basically no reason to believe he's further from his ceiling than Vingegaard and Pogacar. All of them have been at the WT for the same amount of time.

To me his Tour level was the continuation of the 2022 Vuelta and 2023 Catalunya.

He is younger and lost 9 months due to his crash

 

[Peyroteo94]

Basically no reason to believe he's further from his ceiling than Vingegaard and Pogacar. All of them have been at the WT for the same amount of time.

To me his Tour level was the continuation of the 2022 Vuelta and 2023 Catalunya.

Even if he's further (which I don't believe), the gap is huge. In a normal day, Pogacar can gain 2 minutes on a a hard MTF (and hard stage). Remco needs to find an extra 30 watts to compete with Vingegaard and specially Pogacar and expect both of them don't improve next year.

 

[Red Rick]

Even if he's further (which I don't believe), the gap is huge. In a normal day, Pogacar can gain 2 minutes on a a hard MTF (and hard stage). Remco needs to find an extra 30 watts to compete with Vingegaard and specially Pogacar and expect both of them don't improve next year.

In all 5 big mountain stages he finished closer to Almeida and Landa than to Pogacar. Maybe they can close the gap to Evenepoel?

 

[houtdffan]

In all 5 big mountain stages he finished closer to Almeida and Landa than to Pogacar. Maybe they can close the gap to Evenepoel?

Remco finished the tour closer to Pog than Almieda was to him

 

[Berniece]

In all 5 big mountain stages he finished closer to Almeida and Landa than to Pogacar. Maybe they can close the gap to Evenepoel?

They are older than him