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

[rghysens]

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?

In paris nice last year there wasn´t 20km @ 7%

 

[Berniece]

In paris nice last year there wasn´t 20km @ 7%

Sure, but he also showed that he was equal with Jorgenson and better than anyone else in the race uphill. He might not be at his needed GT weight, but not sure that is necessary to defeat Almeida.

 

[ChasingPotatoes]

What I don't understand is the rainjacket 'management' and choice:
About choice:
I still see some flappy designs or designs that seem to be no stretch and some jackets with a shiny fabric. I would expect that the flappy (catches wind) / non-stretch (hinders racing) / shiny (not very breathable) jackets are a no-go. What works when it's pooring rain is either a small rainjacket without sleeves (I saw Ineos ride in those) and I know Gabba is a pretty good design (non-flappy, stretch, breathable and still relatively rain-resistant) and I would expect most teams ride with that or something with similar function.

That's for the choice, and I honestly don't know if all teams do that well.

The other thing is the rainjacket management:
When to wear a jacket and when not, is imho mostly determined by someone in the car having a good app predicting chance for more rainshowers, and a look around to see if competitors are still wearing or not.
Next, there is something to be said about how to put it on / take it off. If it's on at the start and off halfway the race, it should be fine to do it on the bike. But if it has to be on in the race, a non-sleeve jacket will generally work, but most jackets with sleeves are very hard to put on while racing. You could as well plan to put one one by having a controlled stop (like in a bike change) with some team mates. That would probably save more energy than to risk it to do it on the bike, or not dare to put one one and get cold.
Last, there is something to be said about changing a wet jacket for a dry one. I hardly ever see someone doing this, but I would assume it could be beneficial. I thought Nys did this in the race?

What's for sure is that Evenepoel not only made the (rookie) mistake to take it off too soon, but there was no plan at all what to do when it would start raining again. The team could either decide to ease up and allow Evenepoel to put on a new jacket, or they could have provided him or some of his helpers with small sleeveless jackets that fit in the back pockets, or they could at least have warned him through the radio that it was a big gamble to take it off with 75K to go.

 

[Jan the Man]

The rain jacket made no difference to the end result yesterday (in terms of victory). First and foremost different riders have a tendency to excel in different conditions. We know Pog thrives relative to others (of a similar statute/build) in poor weather. Remco getting cold may have resulted in a poorer result relative to some others he would be expected to beat.

His best explanation is that he is coming back from a long term injury - it is his thrid race day and some variance is to be absolutely expected. He performed above my expectations in Amstel, slightly below here.

He will be a strong second favourite for Liege. If he plays his cards right he could disrupt Pog’s plans, but Pog is justifiably the favourite.

Often it is not the riders who make these ‘excuses’ (i prefer explanation) but even if it is the rider it is understadable because they are looking for reasons why they did not meet what they consider optimal performance whether that is winning or getting a Top 10. For Pog and Remco most of the time optimal performance is winning but Top 3 minimum.

 

[ChasingPotatoes]

The rain jacket made no difference to the end result yesterday (in terms of victory). First and foremost different riders have a tendency to excel in different conditions. We know Pog thrives relative to others (of a similar statute/build) in poor weather. Remco getting cold may have resulted in a poorer result relative to some others he would be expected to beat.

His best explanation is that he is coming back from a long term injury - it is his thrid race day and some variance is to be absolutely expected. He performed above my expectations in Amstel, slightly below here.

He will be a strong second favourite for Liege. If he plays his cards right he could disrupt Pog’s plans, but Pog is justifiably the favourite.

Often it is not the riders who make these ‘excuses’ (i prefer explanation) but even if it is the rider it is understadable because they are looking for reasons why they did not meet what they consider optimal performance whether that is winning or getting a Top 10. For Pog and Remco most of the time optimal performance is winning but Top 3 minimum.

All true, but my comment wasn't, in any way, suggesting anything about the results of the race. It's a general comment / question, with regards to how teams manage their rainy races and how they can optimise this. I also think that rain is factor that is very personal.

So if we're having to analyse the specifics of rainy racing and how the race favourites cope with that: imho the difference between Pog and other riders is even greater when the race faces adverse weather. So I expect, on Sunday with mild weather predicted, a slightly more balanced competition (with Pog still being the outright favourite).

 

[Berniece]

He will be a strong second favourite for Liege. If he plays his cards right he could disrupt Pog’s plans, but Pog is justifiably the favourite.

Not sure about that. UAE is so strong that they can just put the race in lock until Pogacar wants to attack. Don't think there's much to disrupt unless you are stronger, or almost as strong that you can sit in the wheel.

 

[Jan the Man]

Not sure about that. UAE is so strong that they can just put the race in lock until Pogacar wants to attack. Don't think there's much to disrupt unless you are stronger, or almost as strong that you can sit in the wheel.

Don’t think UAE will be as strong as you credit - Vermeesch who is a great workhorse but in place of Christen means they are losing climbing ability in the most climb heavy classic. Granted McNulty is a good tempo climber but if Remco goes on La Redoute i doubt Pog will resist following and making it a 2 up battle is his best shot- allowing UAE to control and waiting to Roche aux Facons will be a big mistake judging by Huy because it is a climb of not too dissimilar characteristic

 

[Berniece]

Don’t think UAE will be as strong as you credit - Vermeesch who is a great workhorse but in place of Christen means they are losing climbing ability in the most climb heavy classic. Granted McNulty is a good tempo climber but if Remco goes on La Redoute i doubt Pog will resist following and making it a 2 up battle is his best shot- allowing UAE to control and waiting to Roche aux Facons will be a big mistake judging by Huy because it is a climb of not too dissimilar characteristic

I think Pogacar will also want to go on La Redoute, and not wait longer. So if you want to disrupt that plan you need to go even earlier. Not a problem for Evenepoel, but if UAE takes control of the race from the start. I don't see a possibility for Evenepoel to go earlier.

Is it sure that Vermeersch replaces Christen? Because Christen is still on the startlist according to PCS. And there's also Sivakov.

 

[Red Rick]

The whole issue with Liege's route is generally the long easy section before La Redoute which limits any action before.

 

[Jan the Man]

I think Pogacar will also want to go on La Redoute, and not wait longer. So if you want to disrupt that plan you need to go even earlier. Not a problem for Evenepoel, but if UAE takes control of the race from the start. I don't see a possibility for Evenepoel to go earlier.

Is it sure that Vermeersch replaces Christen? Because Christen is still on the startlist according to PCS. And there's also Sivakov.

Fair comment- according to UAE communique Vermeersch is in place of Christen but take your point about PCS

 

[Berniece]

The whole issue with Liege's route is generally the long easy section before La Redoute which limits any action before.

You mean those 11km's between top of Desnie and bottom of La Redoute? That's true, I'm not sure you can make it so hard that if Evenepoel would attack after Desnie no one is able to follow (besides Pogacar), and if he decides not to follow, that UAE wouldn't have anyone there to help Pogacar during that 11km's.

If it's like in AGR, he can get a gap, and 8 riders aren't able to close it, sure. But that won't be the case there, and UAE will have riders in that group.