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

[houtdffan]

2 TT in the giro this coming year

Remco likely goes there, even if only for race days and to contest the TTs

 

[Berflamand]

Apparently before the crash the plan was to start the season at the Faun-Ardèche Classic and Faun Drome Classic in the first weekend of March.

That would have been interesting as those races should suit him but alas, his season start will have to be postponed now.

 

[Berniece]

Apparently before the crash the plan was to start the season at the Faun-Ardèche Classic and Faun Drome Classic in the first weekend of March.

That would have been interesting as those races should suit him but alas, his season start will have to be postponed now.

He was planning to start so late with his season? I guess he really was thinking about Giro/TDF double, and deliberately didn't want to race too much

 

[Berflamand]

He was planning to start so late with his season? I guess he really was thinking about Giro/TDF double, and deliberately didn't want to race too much

Yeah, at least it's what he said himself in this interview (behind a paywall):

EXCLUSIEF. “Mijn voorbereiding op 2025 was een kwartier bezig”: Evenepoel uitgebreid over hoe dom ongeval aanloop naar nieuw topseizoen dwarsboomt

Het was een zware klap, zegt hij. Eén met ingrijpende gevolgen, fysiek én mentaal. Maar Remco Evenepoel (24) heeft al wel meer woelige waters doorzwommen. In een exclusief uitgebreid interview met VTM NIEUWS-journalist Maxim Goethals geeft de tweevoudige olympische kampioen een inkijk hoe zijn...

www.hln.be

Heb je een deadline gekregen?
“Die is moeilijk te bepalen op dit moment. Voor hetzelfde geld maak ik binnen twee weken een verkeerde beweging, schiet er weer iets los en ben opnieuw verder van huis. Normaal was het de bedoeling om in het eerste weekend van maart, in de twee eendagskoersen in de Franse Ardèche, aan het nieuwe seizoen te beginnen. Maar dat debuut zal uiteraard moeten worden uitgesteld.”
“Qua training zullen we zien wat er nog kan in maart. Het is nu gewoon afwachten. De ploegstage in december moet ik skippen en ook die in januari wordt moeilijk haalbaar. Tegen dan zal ik hooguit aan een paar uur rollen en nog veel kinewerk zitten. Misschien een beetje ‘stom’ om daarvoor naar Spanje af te reizen. Gezien mijn blessures is vliegen ook niet echt slim, denk ik. Op ‘t gemakske thuisblijven dus. Wat genieten van de feestdagen, af en toe al eens een ‘wandelingske’ doen. En hopen dat ik zo vlot mogelijk herstel.”

It could indeed indicate that he was planning a Giro/TDF double.

 

[Berniece]

Yeah, at least it's what he said himself in this interview (behind a paywall):

EXCLUSIEF. “Mijn voorbereiding op 2025 was een kwartier bezig”: Evenepoel uitgebreid over hoe dom ongeval aanloop naar nieuw topseizoen dwarsboomt

Het was een zware klap, zegt hij. Eén met ingrijpende gevolgen, fysiek én mentaal. Maar Remco Evenepoel (24) heeft al wel meer woelige waters doorzwommen. In een exclusief uitgebreid interview met VTM NIEUWS-journalist Maxim Goethals geeft de tweevoudige olympische kampioen een inkijk hoe zijn...

www.hln.be

Heb je een deadline gekregen?
“Die is moeilijk te bepalen op dit moment. Voor hetzelfde geld maak ik binnen twee weken een verkeerde beweging, schiet er weer iets los en ben opnieuw verder van huis. Normaal was het de bedoeling om in het eerste weekend van maart, in de twee eendagskoersen in de Franse Ardèche, aan het nieuwe seizoen te beginnen. Maar dat debuut zal uiteraard moeten worden uitgesteld.”
“Qua training zullen we zien wat er nog kan in maart. Het is nu gewoon afwachten. De ploegstage in december moet ik skippen en ook die in januari wordt moeilijk haalbaar. Tegen dan zal ik hooguit aan een paar uur rollen en nog veel kinewerk zitten. Misschien een beetje ‘stom’ om daarvoor naar Spanje af te reizen. Gezien mijn blessures is vliegen ook niet echt slim, denk ik. Op ‘t gemakske thuisblijven dus. Wat genieten van de feestdagen, af en toe al eens een ‘wandelingske’ doen. En hopen dat ik zo vlot mogelijk herstel.”

It could indeed indicate that he was planning a Giro/TDF double.

I wouldn't do a Giro/TDF double anymore though. His base level won't be high enough and he'll collapse in the third week of the TDF. Maybe he could do Giro+Vuelta+WC, or TDF+Vuelta+WC. I prefer the latter since that gives him more time to properly prepare for the TDF as well as build up more slowly.

 

[Berflamand]

I wouldn't do a Giro/TDF double anymore though. His base level won't be high enough and he'll collapse in the third week of the TDF. Maybe he could do Giro+Vuelta+WC, or TDF+Vuelta+WC. I prefer the latter since that gives him more time to properly prepare for the TDF as well as build up more slowly.

Oh yes, I agree a Giro/TDF double will be (or at least should be) off the table now.

I think his mind is set on the Tour and maybe that's also why mentally he seems to be so calm. He knows he has enough time for the Tour and everything that is possible before it will be bonus.

I'd only decide about the Vuelta after the Tour. With his lack of winter base I think it wouldn't be a good idea to set too many specific goals already but to simply adjust and plan during the season according to the level he can reach.

 

[Luthor]

Giro-TDF double was logical but I think it's off. Too bad because he had a good shot at Giro.

 

[Berniece]

I'd only decide about the Vuelta after the Tour. With his lack of winter base I think it wouldn't be a good idea to set too many specific goals already but to simply adjust and plan during the season according to the level he can reach.

That's true, Giro+Tour double is also more easily planned since there are 5 weeks between the start of the Giro and end of the TDF, while in case of the end of TDF and start of Vuelta it's only 4 weeks. Barely time to recover.

 

[houtdffan]

If there is no pog or vingo, he can win the giro riding for training.

Just ride like he did pn this year

 

[Berniece]

He might still ride the Giro according to Lefevere, and is planning to join the team in the second training camp in January

 

[AmRacer]

He might still ride the Giro according to Lefevere, and is planning to join the team in the second training camp in January

Let's hope they aren't rushing him back to racing.

 

[houtdffan]

Let's hope they aren't rushing him back to racing.

not a rush.

As I said, he likely needs the giro to make up for lost race days now

 

[houtdffan]

a revised schedule should be

Altitude
Catalauyna
Pais Vasco
LBL
Altitude
Giro
Play with Oumi at Mauna Kea
TDF
CSS
Altitude
WTT
WRR
GDL
Play with Oumi

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

a revised schedule should be

Altitude
Catalauyna
Pais Vasco
LBL
Altitude
Giro
Play with Oumi at Mauna Kea
TDF
CSS
Altitude
WTT
WRR
GDL
Play with Oumi

If he's going to the Giro I would argue that he needs a long block of altitude between Catalonia and LBL and not race Pais Vasco in between.

I think Catalunya+Altitude+Ardennes/Tour of the Alps is a pretty basic recepie for Giro success. Hindley did that before his Giro win, Carapaz did Catalunya+Altitude+Asturias before his Giro win, Roglic last year did Catalunya and then altitude and no more races before the Giro. Bernal did Tirreno and then 8 weeks of no races.

 

[houtdffan]

If he's going to the Giro I would argue that he needs a long block of altitude between Catalonia and LBL and not race Pais Vasco in between.

I think Catalunya+Altitude+Ardennes/Tour of the Alps is a pretty basic recepie for Giro success. Hindley did that before his Giro win, Carapaz did Catalunya+Altitude+Asturias before his Giro win, Roglic last year did Catalunya and then altitude and no more races before the Giro. Bernal did Tirreno and then 8 weeks of no races.

worried about him shooting his load if he does the full Ardennes and tour of Alps, which is why I suggest a 10 day altitude camp instead

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

worried about him shooting his load if he does the full Ardennes and tour of Alps, which is why I suggest a 10 day altitude camp instead

It’s not possible to do the full Ardennes and the Tour of the Alps as TotA overlaps with Fleche and Amstel is the day before TotA starts and LBL the day after TotA finish. And when I wrote Ardennes/TotA that means one of them, even if we have seen lately some combining TotA and LBL the following day.

Racing Pais Vasco between Catalonya and LBL and only getting a short altitude camp before the Giro sounds like shooting the load in April to me and there are basically no one that have done Catalunya+Pais Vasco+LBL and been successful at the giro in recent years.

Looking at top 10 from the Giro last year and their last races before Giro:
Pog: Catalunya+LBL
Martinez: Tirreno
Thomas: Catalunya + TotA
O’Connor: Tirreno + TotA
Tiberi: Catalunya+ TotA + LBL
Arensman: Tirreno + Romandie
Rubio: Catalunya
Hirt: Catalunya
Bardet: Tirreno+TotA+LBL
Storer: Paris-Nice + TotA

Every single top 10 last year did a long period of training minimum between Catalunya and the start of the TotA, probably most of or all of them on altitude.

Also before Remcos previous Giro-attempt he did Catalonya+LBL with altitude between. I think one need to come up with some very good arguments to why altitude in this period is not necessary if one wants to argue Pais Vasco between Catalunya and LBL is a good or realistic program for Remco next season.

 

[Berniece]

If he's going to the Giro I would argue that he needs a long block of altitude between Catalonia and LBL and not race Pais Vasco in between.

I think Catalunya+Altitude+Ardennes/Tour of the Alps is a pretty basic recepie for Giro success. Hindley did that before his Giro win, Carapaz did Catalunya+Altitude+Asturias before his Giro win, Roglic last year did Catalunya and then altitude and no more races before the Giro. Bernal did Tirreno and then 8 weeks of no races.

I think you are right, basically the same as he did in 2023. It's not like he raced so much before Catalunya 2023 anyway. He only did San Juan in January and UAE Tour in February.

If he still wants to do the Giro, Catalunya + Altitude + LBL should be enough. I still doubt he should go to the TDF though. Think he'll collapse in the 3rd week eventually there if he goes for the double.

 

[Peyroteo94]

According to Lefevere (La Dernière Houre) doctors are saying 8 weeks without riding his bike. These are awful news, I really don't think he should target the Giro now. What makes a little bit more optimistic is how fast these guys recover and probably these 8 weeks can be shortened to 7 or even 6 weeks.

 

[Berniece]

According to Lefevere (La Dernière Houre) doctors are saying 8 weeks without riding his bike. These are awful news, I really don't think he should target the Giro now. What makes a little bit more optimistic is how fast these guys recover and probably these 8 weeks can be shortned to 7 or even 6 weeks.

Yesterday, Klaas Lodewyck said they expect him to be joining the end of January camp. Which is indeed 7-8 weeks of the bike. I don't think this will have much impact on his GT efforts this year, but it will have an effect on Ardennes classics and Vuelta/WC

 

[AmRacer]

Yesterday, Klaas Lodewyck said they expect him to be joining the end of January camp. Which is indeed 7-8 weeks of the bike. I don't think this will have much impact on his GT efforts this year, but it will have an effect on Ardennes classics and Vuelta/WC

Dauphine, TdF and WC he can do. And a few other races in between.

 

[proffate]

With the latest sad news about Merckx breaking his hip, can we tentatively conclude that Eddy Merckx is the next Remco Evenepoel?

 

[rallybanana]

With the latest sad news about Merckx breaking his hip, can we tentatively conclude that Eddy Merckx is the next Remco Evenepoel?

2024 has been annus horribilis for Merckx.

 

[houtdffan]

According to Lefevere (La Dernière Houre) doctors are saying 8 weeks without riding his bike. These are awful news, I really don't think he should target the Giro now. What makes a little bit more optimistic is how fast these guys recover and probably these 8 weeks can be shortened to 7 or even 6 weeks.

even more likely for the giro

He REALLY needs the race days before the TDF at this point

 

[Berniece]

even more likely for the giro

He REALLY needs the race days before the TDF at this point

Sure, but that can be done a number of ways, doesn't need to include the Giro necessarily. He could just ride a packed spring season with Catalunya, Basque, Romandie, and a couple of single day races, take a week rest and go to altitude before Dauphine. But I think that would be too much.

 

[houtdffan]

Sure, but that can be done a number of ways, doesn't need to include the Giro necessarily. He could just ride a packed spring season with Catalunya, Basque, Romandie, and a couple of single day races, take a week rest and go to altitude before Dauphine. But I think that would be too much.

giro gives him a month or two more time to recover base form, however