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

[jmdirt]

This kid is good!

I know that training is 'amazing' now, but what a way to come back after a long recovery, and a long gap since his last race.

 

[Medvind]

Very impressive by Remco considering he didn't seem to be on a super day, otherwise he would have been more aggressive on Gulperberg wouldn't he?

Clearly this was a good sign and should give him some confidence.
He will be supermotivated to win LBL. Another great battle hopefully awaits.

 

[houtdffan]

could see a Remco solo on FW

Not sure Pog will be able to contend there. He seems to be gradually declining in form (no shame at all in that given his full classics season)

 

[peterfin]

Jan Baekelands had a chat with Remco and apparantly he said that his crash made it difficult today. He hit his elbow and back, which felt "blocked" during the race.

 

[Berniece]

We can argue that Remco had to go on the Cauberg but I think it was not a bad idea to test Pogacar in the sprint. His main error was starting too early. He should get proper sprint training because it can be a weapon in the future.

It’s true, might be important for Liege. Next week don’t take the lead anymore

 

[Medvind]

Jan Baekelands had a chat with Remco and apparantly he said that his crash made it difficult today. He hit his elbow and back, which felt "blocked" during the race.

Even more impressive than!

 

[Jan the Man]

Great signs for Liege. Won’t go as far as saying he’s favourite but he’s clearly in great shape and on the up whilst Pog will find difficult to keep insane shape going. Should be a great battle and would not be surprised to see a two up sprint

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

Nice to see him back in a 250+ km race. Amazing engine as always, maybe trusted his sprint a bit too much, could have used a dig on Cauberg, but hindsight is 20/20. Unfortunately for FW an Liege i think he still suffers a bit on the climb, like he always does after a long stop.

 

[Extinction]

Remco did what he did against Wout, fire first, bit that was a losing proposition in a three-up sprint.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I don‘t think it would have cost him much to attack on Cauberg, considering he looked like the strongest in the group. I don‘t need hindsight to know that he‘s not the next Cipollini, although he could have had a better chance with better timing on his sprint as well. Constantly trying to make up for Pogačar‘s solo by showing how much he can pull all the time while Pogačar does some half-assed rolling-through maybe isn‘t that smart either though.

 

[jmdirt]

Jan Baekelands had a chat with Remco and apparantly he said that his crash made it difficult today. He hit his elbow and back, which felt "blocked" during the race.

His 'blocked' is pretty good huh?

 

[Medvind]

“That big crash cost me a lot of energy. It was very hectic to chase on those narrow roads. You pay for that in cash at the end. I think I would win the race without that crash. But that will be for next year.”

Nothing wrong with the confidence!

https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20250420_95587500

 

[Red Rick]

We can argue that Remco had to go on the Cauberg but I think it was not a bad idea to test Pogacar in the sprint. His main error was starting too early. He should get proper sprint training because it can be a weapon in the future.

It's being stuck between a rock and a hard place. I guess it's a pretty big mistake to let yourself be forced to lead out the sprint.

 

[TrekCyclist]

He positioning was terrible before Gulpenerberg. Around 30, if I saw it right.
On Kruisberg he should have tried to close the gap if he felt he had it.
Anyway, great race.

 

[Frobisher Bay]

Great race today. Thought he lacked knowledge of the terrain, his positioning was rather bad. (Has always been a problem) This is less of a problem in the more straight forward Doyenne. Hope he wins there!

 

[Gratemans]

Great signs for Liege. Won’t go as far as saying he’s favourite but he’s clearly in great shape and on the up whilst Pog will find difficult to keep insane shape going. Should be a great battle and would not be surprised to see a two up sprint

I don't know, but as a more or less neutral observer I would actually call him the big favourite for next week.

 

[VDB44]

Great race today. Thought he lacked knowledge of the terrain, his positioning was rather bad. (Has always been a problem) This is less of a problem in the more straight forward Doyenne. Hope he wins there!

On Belgian TV he told he had to chase 30k after the crash, it took a lot of energy, that's why he gambled on Gulperberg by taking it more easy and reload a little bit. And then from Keutenberg go full gas again.

 

[Medvind]

On Belgian TV he told he had to chase 30k after the crash, it took a lot of energy, that's why he gambled on Gulperberg by taking it more easy and reload a little bit. And then from Keutenberg go full gas again.

Smart racing, almost worked out.

He will be lethal in LBL.

 

[Salvarani]

Form will be better and just increasing. I have him as favorite now in a week. Looks to be on pace and on good tradjectory.

 

[ChasingPotatoes]

Maybe his positioning was off due to his crash and him having to re-position himself in the group? He isn't the best bike handler and best in positioning, but it doesn't help if you're on the backfoot for quite a few chasing kms before the attacks fly off the front.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He didn't win, so what. Amstel is a nice race to win, but it will not be the pinnacle (nor pineapple) of his career. What was important was that he was Pogacar's equal today. That there is hope cycling can be a bit less boring (as long as he stays healthy and doesn't crash). That it's possible to control Pogacar. I think neither Evenepoel nor Pogacar were at their best, but on a course like this he can go toe to toe.

Everyone's a winner, baby, that's the truth.

 

[Red Rick]

He didn't win, so what. Amstel is a nice race to win, but it will not be the pinnacle (nor pineapple) of his career. What was important was that he was Pogacar's equal today. That there is hope cycling can be a bit less boring (as long as he stays healthy and doesn't crash). That it's possible to control Pogacar. I think neither Evenepoel nor Pogacar were at their best, but on a course like this he can go toe to toe.

Everyone's a winner, baby, that's the truth.

Think it just shows it's been a waste not racing Sanremo and RVV too

 

[Medvind]

Last time he rode FW he came 43rd.

So, will he just use FW as a prep race before LBL or will he actually try to win?
If the latter I wonder how he will try to win. Betting on beating the likes of Pog and Nys on Huy seems a bit optimistic. Attack before Huy? Will be hard to shake Pog and Lidl-Trek will probably be on the alert.

Or maybe he just want to test himself against Pog et al on Huy to see where he stands on such a final nowdays. His explosiveness has improved after all.

An "easier" race effort on wednesday seems smart before LBL and after the hard race today.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Last time he rode FW he came 43rd.

So, will he just use FW as a prep race before LBL or will he actually try to win?
If the latter I wonder how he will try to win. Betting on beating the likes of Pog and Nys on Huy seems a bit optimistic. Attack before Huy? Will be hard to shake Pog and Lidl-Trek will probably be on the alert.

Or maybe he just want to test himself against Pog et al on Huy to see where he stands on such a final nowdays. His explosiveness has improved after all.

An "easier" race effort on wednesday seems smart before LBL and after the hard race today.

Last time he rode FW he was riding for Alaphilippe.

 

[Medvind]

Last time he rode FW he was riding for Alaphilippe.

Jesus, I should have remebered that. Painful.

Still, does he think he can win over Pog and Nys on Huy?