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

[Gratemans]

I never know what to make of Contador as a pundit. He seems to be all over the place.

For his sake I really hope he doesn't put his money where his mouth is. He was a fantastic rider ofcourse, but he's completely cr*p at predicting races.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Basically he said Remco can win the Tour if Pogacar crashes out. He doesn't forget how Nibali won a Tour.

Yeah he’s not wrong. Same reason Roglic shouldn’t give up. If fortune had favored the bold (Contador) as it was supposed to, he could have won 5-7 Tours. And if Sastre, Shleck, Evans, Wiggins, and Nibali hadn’t bothered to show up/target the Tour, they would each have 0.

 

[houtdffan]

Doubt it. If he started people expect something and he isn’t ready for that yet

would rather he add Pais Vasco if he needs to add a race

 

[Berniece]

would rather he add Pais Vasco if he needs to add a race

Indeed, would be a better preparation too. But all of that is too early, he still needs to train.

 

[stekelegel]

Yeah he’s not wrong. Same reason Roglic shouldn’t give up. If fortune had favored the bold (Contador) as it was supposed to, he could have won 5-7 Tours. And if Sastre, Shleck, Evans, Wiggins, and Nibali hadn’t bothered to show up/target the Tour, they would each have 0.

[content deleted]Contador only won the tour 2009 dominating the field. 2007 and 2010 were very close. Nibali’s was probably more dominant than Contador ever realized in the tdf. Contador has the best gt record of that generation, but you always felt that he could be beaten if he wasn’t 100%. Froom and he who can’t be named but won 7 tours would be better names to make this case. I don’t know if evenepoel has given up on beating the two super gt riders in a fair fight, I don’t think he has. I think he feels that with a 100% prep and a course that suits him, vinge sure could be beaten. Pogacar probably would require a 2022-23 scenario, and even then…

 

[AmRacer]

Any news to share?

 

[Berniece]

Any news to share?

Not even an activity on Strava

 

[memyselfandI]

I saw him Wednesday training, steady cruising, took me over going up some small nugget there close to Pego. Golden helmet obviously, earned.

 

[AmRacer]

I saw him Wednesday training, steady cruising, took me over going up some small nugget there close to Pego. Golden helmet obviously, earned.

Has he been at altitude yet?

 

[Berniece]

Has he been at altitude yet?

Beginning of April together with the Giro team

 

[AmRacer]

Beginning of April together with the Giro team

So he will come home just a few days before De Brabantse Pijl. He could be in a quite good shape then.

 

[Berniece]

So he will come home just a few days before De Brabantse Pijl. He could be in a quite good shape then.

Not sure what to expect, I don’t have high hopes to beat Pogacar. Without him he would race for the win.

 

[AmRacer]

Not sure what to expect, I don’t have high hopes to beat Pogacar. Without him he would race for the win.

Racing for second, or first if Pogi isn't racing, is a quite good level, I think.

 

[Berniece]

Racing for second, or first if Pogi isn't racing, is a quite good level, I think.

Sure, but I believe he can race for first too if he’s in his best shape. One day races that is.

 

[Red Rick]

Wonder if he watched Sanremo and is eager to go for it next year.

 

[Netserk]

Wonder if he watched Sanremo and is eager to go for it next year.

Cipressa attacks make it a race that he can win, so I think so.

 

[KoopaCycling]

My guess would be that he would want to win a race like tirreno/PN first. Not sure how compatible winning those stage races are with san remo, but i have a feeling few managed to win both in the same season.

 

[Red Rick]

My guess would be that he would want to win a race like tirreno/PN first. Not sure how compatible winning those stage races are with san remo, but i have a feeling few managed to win both in the same season.

I only remember Cancellara?

 

[Jan the Man]

Sure, but I believe he can race for first too if he’s in his best shape. One day races that is.

I believe in his chances against Pog more in Liege than Lombardia

 

[Lequack]

Cipressa attacks make it a race that he can win, so I think so.

Especially with him in the race it makes it even more interesting. Now the tactics of strong men like MVSP, Ganna etc. are simple, just try to follow Pog. If Remco would've attacked in parallel it would make the race even more dynamic and unpredictable.

 

[KoopaCycling]

With Remco making another comeback, what are everyone expectations this year?
Me personally I'd like for him to target winning the following (even though i'm not sure he'll even compete in half of these):

-Brabantse Pijl
- Romandy
- National TT
- UEC Road Race

+ Throw everything you got at TdF and see where you'll end up against Pogacar and Vingegaard.

winning anything else would be just gravy in my books after all that happened again.

 

[Arvid Falk]

Never thought I would say it, but seeing what Pog did yesterday, I now believe Remco can win MSR. Sure, he would never be a favorite, but if it blows up already on the Cipressa, there is always a chance for Remco to sneak away in the last couple of kilometers and solo to a win.

 

[Berniece]

With Remco making another comeback, what are everyone expectations this year?
Me personally I'd like for him to target winning the following (even though i'm not sure he'll even compete in half of these):

-Brabantse Pijl
- Romandy
- National TT
- UEC Road Race

+ Throw everything you got at TdF and see where you'll end up against Pogacar and Vingegaard.

winning anything else would be just gravy in my books after all that happened again.

World championship ITT and RR?

 

[KoopaCycling]

World championship ITT and RR?

Personally i rather see him do EUC + Lombardi combo than WC + Lombardi Combo (let alone WC + UEC + Lombardi combo). But Remco made it clear he wanst to do Kigali. Maybe all that travel might not affect him much. Just seems like a lot. And i think this year could be a nice opportunity to complete his jersey bingo card. It would be a nice career achievement. Ofcourse nothing is guaranteed. He might never win UEC Road Race, but this year seems like a good opportunity to maybe do so.

 

[Berniece]

Personally i rather see him do EUC + Lombardi combo than WC + Lombardi Combo (let alone WC + UEC + Lombardi combo). But Remco made it clear he wanst to do Kigali. Maybe all that travel might not affect him much. Just seems like a lot. And i think this year could be a nice opportunity to complete his jersey bingo card. It would be a nice career achievement. Ofcourse nothing is guaranteed. He might never win UEC Road Race, but this year seems like a good opportunity to maybe do so.

Does the route suite him for UEC? I also would like him to complete that bingo card, one of the only riders in the peloton that can. But a WC is a WC, he’s already vaccinated and it’s the biggest race in the fall.