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

[Berniece]

Evenepoel tends to overanalyze, look for excuses, it's almost like he feels like he should win and if he doesn't he owes us an explanation. It's okay Remco, you'll lose to Pogacar 9 out of 10 times, nothing to be ashamed or worried about. Sunday was an anomaly where Pogacar burned his matches too early. Still nearly won though...

Or it’s just the truth? That’s like saying Pogacar losing that sprint to Vingegaard last TDF had nothing to do with a hunger knock. Or Roglic in Paris-Nice last year in the cold.

When you are cold it takes a lot of energy. There must be an explanation because he lost to riders he could’ve won from. Not Pogacar, but others.

 

[KoopaCycling]

I did not see the race, but on a certain podcast they said that remco saw Pogacar remove his rain jacket, so followed suit.
Personally I think he felt good today, but found himself flabbergasted when his legs were gone when it mattered most. And Rain jacket is first reason that comes to his mind when looking for answers. I'm sure it did not help, but maybe he simply did not have it today. It happens. He's human after all.

 

[Berniece]

I did not see the race, but on a certain podcast they said that remco saw Pogacar remove his rain jacket, so followed suit

That’s not true. Evenepoel removed his rain jacket, 75km’s before the finish. Pogacar removed it 15km’s or something before the finish together with his long sleeves. Remco did remove his long sleeves after he saw Pogacar without sleeves.

 

[theyoungest]

Or it’s just the truth? That’s like saying Pogacar losing that sprint to Vingegaard last TDF had nothing to do with a hunger knock. Or Roglic in Paris-Nice last year in the cold.

When you are cold it takes a lot of energy. There must be an explanation because he lost to riders he could’ve won from. Not Pogacar, but others.

It's not just about today, Evenepoel always gives these elaborate explanations when things don't quite go his way. I mean, it's good to analyze and see where you can improve, but you also have to accept your limitations. Sure, he could probably have done a little better, but Pogi was simply on another level today (like most days).

 

[Berniece]

It's not just about today, Evenepoel always gives these elaborate explanations when things don't quite go his way. I mean, it's good to analyze and see where you can improve, but you also have to accept your limitations. Sure, he could probably have done a little better, but Pogi was simply on another level today (like most days).

I agree that Evenepoel always gives an explanation on why something didn’t go as planned. I just don’t see it as an excuse, but just as an explanation. It’s not like he said he would’ve won today. He’s just saying that he underperformed and what the reason for it was.

Better like that than that we have to guess.

 

[Froome]

I agree that Evenepoel always gives an explanation on why something didn’t go as planned. I just don’t see it as an excuse, but just as an explanation. It’s not like he said he would’ve won today. He’s just saying that he underperformed and what the reason for it was.

Better like that than that we have to guess.

Van der poel can't have an excuse for the fact he was sick before Tour Flandres.

Evenepoel can't have any excuses when he came back 5 days ago from a serious crash.

Vingegaard can't have a excuse after the Tour when in April he almost died.

Pogacar can have all the excuses he wants. He lost the Tour because of the wrist, he loses Amstel because he was "tired".

 

[KenFiamingo]

Everything he has shown since his return is a (mental) bonus IMO. I did not expect him to pull this off already.

Sunday definitely suits him better, but he needs attrition and some chaos to have a shot at winning. Shapewise he has a decent foundation, he's able to push the watts, dig deep and recover. But in the climbing department alone, he doesn't stand a chance against Pogacar.

Because of that I'm also not sure with what intent he participates in Romandie, but a "5 minutes of bad legs"-moment when aiming at the GC is very likely IMO. But if it helps to put on the GT mindset and start focussing on weight and climbing, then I'm happy with it.

 

[Sciatic]

I agree that Evenepoel always gives an explanation on why something didn’t go as planned. I just don’t see it as an excuse, but just as an explanation. It’s not like he said he would’ve won today. He’s just saying that he underperformed and what the reason for it was.

Better like that than that we have to guess.

I just think he’s very transparent about what he’s thinking and feeling.

 

[red_flanders]

Evenepoel gave an explanation for his performance. Took off his rain jacket too early, which resulted in him eventually being cold and losing energy because of it. Wouldn't have won the race, but might have fought for podium.

It's so tiresome to see him make these rookie mistakes. Taking of your jacket when everyone in the peloton was still wearing theirs. Hopefully he doesn't get sick because of it.

That’s a lame excuse.

Ya got trounced. Own it.

 

[Shortcut]

Van der poel can't have an excuse for the fact he was sick before Tour Flandres.

Evenepoel can't have any excuses when he came back 5 days ago from a serious crash.

Vingegaard can't have a excuse after the Tour when in April he almost died.

Pogacar can have all the excuses he wants. He lost the Tour because of the wrist, he loses Amstel because he was "tired

Despite the need for excuses, the mentioned races and results are still better than anything Remco has ever achieved in those two races (second at Amstel and the Tour de France, while Remco has never done better than third in either of them).
So, the standard of Pogacar is so much higher than Remco’s that he needs an excuse for a “disastrous result,” which would, in fact, be the best result of Remco’s career.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I agree that Evenepoel always gives an explanation on why something didn’t go as planned. I just don’t see it as an excuse, but just as an explanation. It’s not like he said he would’ve won today. He’s just saying that he underperformed and what the reason for it was.

Better like that than that we have to guess.

I get where TheYoungest is coming from (and i don't mean north of the border). And yes, it becomes tiresome especially when -if true- these are indeed rookie mistakes. The thing is, how long and how often should he still be making those? I said earlier that the team still seems to be scratching their heads when it comes to his abilities (and i mean both ways). And yet somehow they allow him to make these mistakes, in between crashes, recovery, being off-weight... Missed opportunities one after another.
They are always very quick with a "so obvious" explanation after the facts but somehow it's never obvious enough that he either already knows not to make the mistake, or the car tells him not to make it. As if "yeah, it's so obvious he was cold" and yet it wasn't obvious enough that he was still making the mistake to begin with or that somebody with experience in the team car who knows him through and through could tell him to wait to take it off. This is also what i was talking about earlier. It was so obvious last year in Paris Nice that he should have closed the gap to Jorgenson, McNulty and Skjelmose himself instead of look at Roglic for help when it was all flat roads to the finish. But he didn't think of it and the team car didn't tell him. It's so obvious you don't lead out a sprint into a headwind for the last 3km and especially don't open up the sprint with 2 guys in your wheel with 250m from the finish into that headwind. It's all so obvious, but somehow he doesn't know all that and somehow whoever is in the teamcar can't remind him. How long do they expect him to keep racing if at 25 he's still making mistakes you shouldn't make as U23 anymore.
Of course he's not the only one making stupid mistakes, Van der Poel has also made his fair share ( WCC 2019, WCC 2022, Olympics MTB), even Pogacar (Amstel, TDF 2024 hungerknock...) but i can't shake the impression that it happens far more frequently with Evenepoel. I mean, there is a point where it doesn't matter anymore whether it's true or whether it's an excuse (or both).

 

[Extinction]

Despite the need for excuses, the mentioned races and results are still better than anything Remco has ever achieved in those two races (second at Amstel and the Tour de France, while Remco has never done better than third in either of them).
So, the standard of Pogacar is so much higher than Remco’s that he needs an excuse for a “disastrous result,” which would, in fact, be the best result of Remco’s career.

2nd Tour de France?

 

[EllaChimp]

Not sure if this is a joke thread about Remco or what, going by the odd title, but regardless, I just thought I'd share this photo I took of him on the podium in Nice last year (Paris-Nice race). First time I've seen him but I'm sure it won't be the last. I love watching him race. I love going to watch races anyway. Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriactico are two of my favourites to go and watch stages of but also really love Strade-Bianche and Milano-Sanrremo. They're the easiest to attend abroad for me too, for various reasons. It's so great to watch these races. I just wish I could go to more throughout the year!

https://imgur.com/JDx7by3

View: https://imgur.com/JDx7by3

View: https://imgur.com/GudDiMu

 

[pelotonIQ]

If he felt cold, why didn't he put the rain-jacket back on? This is why it's a weak excuse.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

If he felt cold, why didn't he put the rain-jacket back on? This is why it's a weak excuse.

He threw it away on the side of the road. I can understand he didn't go back and ask for a new one at the team car, because the final had started, it was wet and slippery and everybody was fighting for position. He probably also didn't know he needed it until he faced the consequences on Mur de Huy. It's not so much a problem that it's an excuse, it's far more infuriating that it's plain stupid. If in fact this was the issue.

Not sure if this is a joke thread about Remco or what, going by the odd title

It is not a joke thread, the thread was created in 2018 when Remco was already a phenomenon, winning the junior European championship road race by 10 minutes and lapping over half of the peloton (forcing them to leave the race). Winning the worldchampionship after a crash (he also had to turn back to get his bikecomputer) and needing to chase down a gap of over 2 minutes and finishing solo. The reference to Merckx was obviously tongue in cheek since he was only a junior, but his results where already stellar and he is still known as the best junior in history. This was even before Pogacar turned pro.

 

[Berniece]

I get where TheYoungest is coming from (and i don't mean north of the border). And yes, it becomes tiresome especially when -if true- these are indeed rookie mistakes. The thing is, how long and how often should he still be making those? I said earlier that the team still seems to be scratching their heads when it comes to his abilities (and i mean both ways). And yet somehow they allow him to make these mistakes, in between crashes, recovery, being off-weight... Missed opportunities one after another.
They are always very quick with a "so obvious" explanation after the facts but somehow it's never obvious enough that he either already knows not to make the mistake, or the car tells him not to make it. As if "yeah, it's so obvious he was cold" and yet it wasn't obvious enough that he was still making the mistake to begin with or that somebody with experience in the team car who knows him through and through could tell him to wait to take it off. This is also what i was talking about earlier. It was so obvious last year in Paris Nice that he should have closed the gap to Jorgenson, McNulty and Skjelmose himself instead of look at Roglic for help when it was all flat roads to the finish. But he didn't think of it and the team car didn't tell him. It's so obvious you don't lead out a sprint into a headwind for the last 3km and especially don't open up the sprint with 2 guys in your wheel with 250m from the finish into that headwind. It's all so obvious, but somehow he doesn't know all that and somehow whoever is in the teamcar can't remind him. How long do they expect him to keep racing if at 25 he's still making mistakes you shouldn't make as U23 anymore.
Of course he's not the only one making stupid mistakes, Van der Poel has also made his fair share ( WCC 2019, WCC 2022, Olympics MTB), even Pogacar (Amstel, TDF 2024 hungerknock...) but i can't shake the impression that it happens far more frequently with Evenepoel. I mean, there is a point where it doesn't matter anymore whether it's true or whether it's an excuse (or both).

Is the team who thinks Evenepoel knows what he is doing, and doesn’t second guess him. Which is an issue in itself, and won’t change ever. No matter where he rides. He’s too sure of himself, too good a rider, that he can do what he want.

 

[EllaChimp]

He threw it away on the side of the road. I can understand he didn't go back and ask for a new one at the team car, because the final had started, it was wet and slippery and everybody was fighting for position. He probably also didn't know he needed it until he faced the consequences on Mur de Huy. It's not so much a problem that it's an excuse, it's far more infuriating that it's plain stupid. If in fact this was the issue.

It is not a joke thread, the thread was created in 2018 when Remco was already a phenomenon, winning the junior European championship road race by 10 minutes and lapping over half of the peloton (forcing them to leave the race). Winning the worldchampionship after a crash (he also had to turn back to get his bikecomputer) and needing to chase down a gap of over 2 minutes and finishing solo. The reference to Merckx was obviously tongue in cheek since he was only a junior, but his results where already stellar and he is still known as the best junior in history. This was even before Pogacar turned pro.

Ah cool, good to read. It's just that some people seem to have a thing against Remco, for some reason, and tend mock him a lot or are just generally negative about him, so I wasn't sure if this thread was going to be just mocking him,or whayever. I do like Remco, I think he's a phenomenal rider and he makes me laugh with his antics too. I like how he says what he thinks about things that annoy him. He's not afraid to speak up, perhaps too much at times but thats just him. Part of his charm, I guess, lol. I have many favourite riders but Remco's in my Top Ten for sure!

 

[veganrob]

Remco is still not 100% fit either. He has much room for improvement and he will. He kinda went from the IL to the meatgrinder in racing. He has performed very well in my opinion.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Is the team who thinks Evenepoel knows what he is doing, and doesn’t second guess him. Which is an issue in itself, and won’t change ever. No matter where he rides. He’s too sure of himself, too good a rider, that he can do what he want.

Well you know when i mention the team car...

 

[ChasingPotatoes]

Evenepoel gave an explanation for his performance. Took off his rain jacket too early, which resulted in him eventually being cold and losing energy because of it. Wouldn't have won the race, but might have fought for podium.

It's so tiresome to see him make these rookie mistakes. Taking of your jacket when everyone in the peloton was still wearing theirs. Hopefully he doesn't get sick because of it.

I told him. Maybe his team should designate one of the guys in the car to just scroll through the cyclingnews forum to get the latest advice?

Page 10 - La Flèche Wallonne 2025, 23rd April

Page 10 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

forum.cyclingnews.com

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I told him. Maybe his team should designate one of the guys in the car to just scroll through the cyclingnews forum to get the latest advice?

Page 10 - La Flèche Wallonne 2025, 23rd April

Page 10 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

forum.cyclingnews.com

It must be funny for them. They must be laughing their asses off, hearing about people here, while they know they are so much smarter and never making dumb-ass mistakes. And by never i mean at least until the next race.

 

[KoopaCycling]

That’s not true. Evenepoel removed his rain jacket, 75km’s before the finish. Pogacar removed it 15km’s or something before the finish together with his long sleeves. Remco did remove his long sleeves after he saw Pogacar without sleeves.

Ah okay. I admit to listening to it at 2x times the speed whilst doing something else cause of lack of time yesterday. Guess i misheard that bit.

 

[Berniece]

Ah okay. I admit to listening to it at 2x times the speed whilst doing something else cause of lack of time yesterday. Guess i misheard that bit.

No worries, just heard a podcast that also misheard it and said Evenepoel removed his jacket with 35km's to go. Which made the rest of the analysis moot based on that.

 

[Berflamand]

Everything he has shown since his return is a (mental) bonus IMO. I did not expect him to pull this off already.

Sunday definitely suits him better, but he needs attrition and some chaos to have a shot at winning. Shapewise he has a decent foundation, he's able to push the watts, dig deep and recover. But in the climbing department alone, he doesn't stand a chance against Pogacar.

Because of that I'm also not sure with what intent he participates in Romandie, but a "5 minutes of bad legs"-moment when aiming at the GC is very likely IMO. But if it helps to put on the GT mindset and start focussing on weight and climbing, then I'm happy with it.

There are two TT's (well, one TT and a very short prologue) so even if he's not on the level to fight for a good GC, it will be a good test to see how his shoulder holds up in the TT position and if he's still at his top TT level.

 

[Berniece]

Because of that I'm also not sure with what intent he participates in Romandie, but a "5 minutes of bad legs"-moment when aiming at the GC is very likely IMO. But if it helps to put on the GT mindset and start focussing on weight and climbing, then I'm happy with it.

Why do you think he might have 5 minutes of bad legs when climbing in Romandie? I have a feeling he's in similar "climbing" shape as he was in Paris-Nice last year. Wouldn't that be enough to win Romandie knowing there is a prologue and ITT?