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

[ChasingPotatoes]

Well, all of us Gen-X people are middle aged now

I only realized that after posting, so I had to adjust my post. I thought of Gen-X as young but that's obviously some decades too late!

 

[rghysens]

I went a bit deeper and wanted to see if I can check based on his Strava records in what shape he is. If I could find a similar training sessions like one of the last ones he uploaded. He did the same ride, basically at the same tempo. But he wasn't that impressive at Dauphine... So not sure what to expect then the next week. He might be much better at Romandie.

Before Dauphine/TDF	Before Brabantse Pijl

He was good enough to win the tt with a clear margin. His climbing legs were still on the shelf, though.

 

[houtdffan]

He was good enough to win the tt with a clear margin. His climbing legs were still on the shelf, though.

he was also quite sick at the Dauphine

 

[kingjr]

He'll be fine.

 

[Berniece]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1912204623475056708

 

[AmRacer]

Good to see him back. As for Evenepoel, personally, what intrigues me most next year is his trajectory in terms of level rather than just results. From a biological standpoint, it’s only natural that he improves more relative to many others—and not just due to age, but because of many other variables which only is natural he will continue to further improve and take steeps relative to many others from a biological standpoint.

I'm more curious about his progression than his results, to see whether his trajectory continues positively relative to others, which I suspect —but that still remains to be seen is the case. Lets see.Also like other said he seem to mentally been down and we never wish that upon anyone. Head up Aero Bullet.

Some riders aren't in the 'others' group.
Somehow, Remco and Jonas feels the same mentally. They are winners, but still fragile.

 

[Berniece]

I'm more curious about his progression than his results, to see whether his trajectory continues positively relative to others, which I suspect —but that still remains to be seen. Lets see.

Does it make sense to expect much when it comes to progression these next few weeks? I mean the level he achieved in Lombardia, then off-season, a crash and having to start build up again. So how much can he progressed compared to his level in Lombardia?

Later in the season I agree that I'm also curious. If he loses more than 9min in TDF to Pogacar again his progress is slowing down.

 

[Berniece]

A colleague of mine was on the same plane as him coming from Malaga. He said Evenepoel is mostly eager to just race at the moment. Being part of the peloton again. Based on the picture I saw of him he was looking good. Not as sharp as for the TDF, but definitely leaner than normally during spring season.

 

[Berniece]

Of course, that doesn’t apply to him now in the same degree duo to his lack of racing and winter; I was referring to later in the season naturally.

It's not like he was racing last year during this period anyway

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I only realized that after posting, so I had to adjust my post. I thought of Gen-X as young but that's obviously some decades too late!

Crikey, has it already been two or three decades since us Gen-Xers were young? Time flies...

Treasure your youth, young people!

 

[KoopaCycling]

Both remco and his team are talking down their ambitions. I would like to believe otherwise. But those words prove true enough last year before the dauphiné and again before the Tour of Britain. So starting to not expect to much for friday. Top15 maybe. At the same time, he looks to be in a solid shape judging from social media.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

If that was the most serious thing that has happened to him, his life is tiny and limited..
Guys like Armstrong and Benal, were not broken but actually facing deaths door able to see that blinding bright light in the beyond that is always talked about!!
Did his actions cause punctuated lung, cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, temporary death? What? Hitting the mailman and some broken bones needs some perspective. Wow! Social media over sharing ..sure..but now I hear what he has to say..wow!! Someone needs to make sure not too self absorbed!!
Don't Belgians have the equivalent of Danny Thomas, March of Dimes,ect commercials?

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt55SXu4xO8

Remco get some perspective!!

Grumpy old man alert!

But seriously, I think it's all relative, I think it must be pretty frustrating for a professional athlete to have to spend more time in physical therapy than in training. Judging by his post it sounds like Remco might have had a bit of an existential crisis...

I am surprised Remco is so open about his emotional struggles, but as others have mentioned, it's likely a generational thing. (Back in the 90s Remco would probably have been called Mr. Sensitive Ponytail Man, if he had a ponytail.)

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Crikey, has it already been two or three decades since us Gen-Xers were young? Time flies...

Still are, and always will be...

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Crikey, has it already been two or three decades since us Gen-Xers were young? Time flies...

Treasure your youth, young people!

Can it, gramps!


't was but a mere joke, sir

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Can it, gramps!


't was but a mere joke, sir

Lady. Middle-aged lady who thinks Roglic is handsome and charming.

 

[Didinho]

The only thing I’m worried about is the gutter on the Hertstraat Friday.



And the zone 50.

 

[red_flanders]

Both remco and his team are talking down their ambitions. I would like to believe otherwise. But those words prove true enough last year before the dauphiné and again before the Tour of Britain. So starting to not expect to much for friday. Top15 maybe. At the same time, he looks to be in a solid shape judging from social media.

They have talked down their ambitions several times over the last few years. Looking for GT podiums when obviously expecting to win, LBL, etc. I'm not saying you're wrong, but it's hard to tell when they really mean it. I'd be pretty shocked if he only placed top 15 in this race.

 

[red_flanders]

Grumpy old man alert!

But seriously, I think it's all relative, I think it must be pretty frustrating for a professional athlete to have to spend more time in physical therapy than in training. Judging by his post it sounds like Remco might have had a bit of an existential crisis...

I am surprised Remco is so open about his emotional struggles, but as others have mentioned, it's likely a generational thing. (Back in the 90s Remco would probably have been called Mr. Sensitive Ponytail Man, if he had a ponytail.)

Back in the 80s we'd have called it something more harsh.

 

[red_flanders]

Lady. Middle-aged lady who thinks Roglic is handsome and charming.

They did warn us about early-onset dementia...

 

[Pantani_lives]

Remco returns on Good Friday. Hopefully he won't get crucified.

 

[kingjr]

Lady. Middle-aged lady who thinks Roglic is handsome and charming.

I have this pet theory, that Pogacar fans tend to be young men, with a posting style reminiscent of the types who discuss whether Messi is better than Ronaldo on football forums, and Roglic fans middle-aged ladies with a certain theatricality I vaguely associate with writers of fan-fiction.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I have this pet theory, that Pogacar fans tend to be young men, with a posting style reminiscent of the types who discuss whether Messi is better than Ronaldo on football forums,

its the opposite way around. The you men who only look at stats and goals scored are disussing whether Ronaldo is better then Messi, while those who have lived longer and seen them play knows very well that’s not the case

But yeah, i think you are very much on point with the Pogacar vs Roglic vibe. How would you describe the Vingegaard and Remco fans?

 

[LookProGoSlow]

is Eddy ready?

 

[Extinction]

Remco is an 80s type rider, who would have performed well in the classics, monuments, stage races and grand tours, with great climbing skills and a wicked TT. But we aren't in the 80s. Now, there are monsters about: MvDP on the cobbles, Vingegaard for climbing and Tadej for everything. So what can he do as the next Merckx? Merckx wouldn't have been up to snuff today. I would say he's a shy short of metric greatness. He was born at the wrong time, otherwise he'd be a Hinault-Lemond-Kelly combo. Alas.

 

[YellowSocks]

Lady. Middle-aged lady who thinks Roglic is handsome and charming.

What about Grischa Niermann? I must confess I'm not totally indifferent.
(Let's be honest, riders still in activity are a little too young for me.)