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

[Berniece]

Good showing in the prologue. Not his parcours at all, and was able to compete with the best.

 

[AmRacer]

Good showing in the prologue. Not his parcours at all, and was able to compete with the best.

Compete? The best?

 

[yaco]

That doesn‘t actually show that it was a matter of legs, could still be him basically giving up on RaF.

You dont give up if you have the legs.

 

[AmRacer]

You dont give up if you have the legs.

You shouldn't give up if you have the legs.

 

[laarsland]

Compete? The best?

Hey man, he didn’t sit up! Progress!

 

[houtdffan]

Remco is going to be hearing about that day when he gave up at LBL for the next 10 years

 

[Gratemans]

I still think him going back and forth on explaining what happened at LBL, and ultimately throwing his team under the bus is just plain pathetic and unprofessional.
But I also fully agree with his reaction to Van Gucht's BS. It's got the stench of veiled xenophobia all over it. I never liked that slick douchebag in the first place.

But aside from that, I just keep wondering, why doesn't he carry himself better? He just keeps on jumping from one PR gaffe to the next. This dude could really benefit from making a move, and leaving some of his entourage behind.

 

[Andre]

I'm not sure what to think about Remco and Romandie. When he came back from injury, he won the first race...then almost won his second race. Then he said he is in better shape than he first thought he was. But then there was the L/B/L fiasco, and he admits the form is not really there. Confusing! So now, I have no idea what will happen, but I hope it's something good.

 

[Oldman]

This pretty much aligns with what I said. That he didnt seem to be that cooked.

Just that his position was so poor going into Redoute, that he basically forfeited by finding himself in such an unfavorable position. Giving too much of an advantage to others.

Vervaeke dropped early. Serry was seen dropping as well.

You can say the team, with the guys he had left, should have helped him stay in the front. Remco could have tried to follow other riders and teams as well though. It just doesnt seem like he wanted to or could get involved in the fight for position. That the peloton was still quite big was bad for him, if this is a problem.

Yeah, the peloton was big for Tadej, Gulio and a few others. That's why the King left the building.*
He made all of those mistakes and it's possible he just caved knowing he didn't really have it. That's OK considering he's hammered himself with not enough preparation.
That the Belgian media is up his as* about everything including family finances and the micro analysis of fans has to be nightmarish.
He's a young bike racer that will age well. Like good wine, that quality aging needs some quiet rest time and less light/heat. Unfortunately he keeps responding to that demand instead of saying the truth: "I'm not quite ready."

*Statement made by announcer when fans demanded another encore of Elvis.

 

[Oldman]

Bike Cancellara wasn’t even wrapped so I’d that a good benchmark?

Humility is learned. Wiggins had track titles and a Tour, Cancellara dropped everyone in the classics. They were confident in what they'd done. Keepin' their heads down and continuing to crush.

 

[peterfin]

Humility is learned. Wiggins had track titles and a Tour, Cancellara dropped everyone in the classics. They were confident in what they'd done. Keepin' their heads down and continuing to crush.

How much of this is Remco's idea actually? Don't forget that these days for companies it's all about marketing and doing the extra mile for being seen. Remco is important for Specialized. For example, Specialized gave him a real gold plated bike after his double, it's not that Remco asked for it.

 

[Berniece]

Humility is learned. Wiggins had track titles and a Tour, Cancellara dropped everyone in the classics. They were confident in what they'd done. Keepin' their heads down and continuing to crush.

Why is it a bad thing your bike matches your outfit? Or that you are congratulated for winning these titles with a new wrap? Are they allowed to have anything nice? Or do they only have to work and win like a robot?

 

[Barkintheeye]

Wiggins and Cancellara didn't wear much gold while holding both titles.

I had forgotten how much I appreciated watching races with Cancellara back in the day. Amazing rider who looked great on the bike and could animate races and put on a spectacular show.

 

[Netserk]

Bike Cancellara wasn’t even wrapped so I’d that a good benchmark?

I think the rules regarding the WC jersey are so strict that it was never possible for Evenepoel to have any gold on his jersey nor on his shorts. Cancellara had gold on his jersey only when he wasn't WC.

 

[Berniece]

I think the rules regarding the WC jersey are so strict that it was never possible for Evenepoel to have any gold on his jersey nor on his shorts. Cancellara had gold on his jersey only when he wasn't WC.

I misinterpreted your post. I thought you meant to say that they looked more appealing than Evenepoel

 

[Netserk]

I misinterpreted your post. I thought you meant to say that they looked more appealing than Evenepoel

It was a simple observation of the previous WC and OG holders. There was no evaluation or judgement in my post.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I still think him going back and forth on explaining what happened at LBL, and ultimately throwing his team under the bus is just plain pathetic and unprofessional.
But I also fully agree with his reaction to Van Gucht's BS. It's got the stench of veiled xenophobia all over it. I never liked that slick douchebag in the first place.

But aside from that, I just keep wondering, why doesn't he carry himself better? He just keeps on jumping from one PR gaffe to the next. This dude could really benefit from making a move, and leaving some of his entourage behind.

Living in the States and not following anyone's socials I'm completely out of the loop when it comes to Remco and the Belgian media, hadn't even heard of this Van Gucht individual. So I googled a bit and found this article... why does Remco even bother with such characters? Seems like it would take way too much energy to go back and forth with the media online, in that respect I think riders had it a bit easier way back when the internet didn't exist.

Remco Evenepoel hits back HARD after Belgian journalist spreads rumours of his family life: "Maybe you should worry more about your own family"

In the early years of his career, Remco Evenepoel was known for quite hard public statements that often came from the fact that he was so heavily exposed to the media and it's pressure since a young a...

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Living in the States and not following anyone's socials I'm completely out of the loop when it comes to Remco and the Belgian media, hadn't even heard of this Van Gucht individual. So I googled a bit and found this article... why does Remco even bother with such characters? Seems like it would take way too much energy to go back and forth with the media online, in that respect I think riders had it a bit easier way back when the internet didn't exist.

Remco Evenepoel hits back HARD after Belgian journalist spreads rumours of his family life: "Maybe you should worry more about your own family"

In the early years of his career, Remco Evenepoel was known for quite hard public statements that often came from the fact that he was so heavily exposed to the media and it's pressure since a young a...

cyclinguptodate.com

Van Gucht is a "pretty boy" / sleazebag. He's married to former world and Olympic champion Blanca Vlasic. He's a commentator on Sporza for women's races. Sporza couldn't get rid of Wuyts fast enough, but the two successors they put in place are far worse and don't have half the understanding of the sport.

He also hosts Wielerclub Wattage, a podcast before a live audience in theaters, which has become too successful for its own good, and is basically about Van Aert and Evenepoel when it concerns Belgian riders.

A few years ago he joined a Belgian comedian as a host of the show, but he got kicked out because he wanted to be paid more. He thought he was the star of the show.

But I agree, Evenepoel should not bother himself with these things, it only adds to the mental strain.

 

[Oldman]

Why is it a bad thing your bike matches your outfit? Or that you are congratulated for winning these titles with a new wrap? Are they allowed to have anything nice? Or do they only have to work and win like a robot?

Ask Remco. I've never been in the position that any of the riders mentioned have.
Leaders jersies, yes. They were poorly fitted for a climber, to be sure but required.

 

[Oldman]

How much of this is Remco's idea actually? Don't forget that these days for companies it's all about marketing and doing the extra mile for being seen. Remco is important for Specialized. For example, Specialized gave him a real gold plated bike after his double, it's not that Remco asked for it.

Totally agree on the pressure and likely not Remco's idea. As a racer I'd think he'd like some pack anonymity so he make a move without it being visible from space.

 

[Andre]

I'm glad Remco put that journalist in his place. Keep the energy for the races.

 

[Oldman]

Compete? The best?

Hey...it's a carnival event and designed to promote teams that have a sprinter than can start from a dead stop.

 

[Berniece]

Hey...it's a carnival event and designed to promote teams that have a sprinter than can start from a dead stop.

I meant it more as in “the best at Romandie” and compete by finishing so well on a course not made for him

 

[KoopaCycling]

I like Remco confidence, even if it don't feel that warranted. I felt his day yesterday was mediocre. Team had to do lots of work only for him to lose time on Van Eetvelt. Almeida looking comfortable. Yet he feels he is getting stronger so that is good.

 

[Berniece]

I like Remco confidence, even if it don't feel that warranted. I felt his day yesterday was mediocre. Team had to do lots of work only for him to lose time on Van Eetvelt. Almeida looking comfortable. Yet he feels he is getting stronger so that is good.

SOQ really should start putting their eggs in multiple baskets. This would actually help Evenepoel's case too. They act as if they have the team like UAE to suffocate everyone on a climb, and then the power of Pogacar in Evenepoel to just ride away. That's not the case at the moment. Create chaos, and attack at the right moment.

Yesterday SOQ took charge, but everyone knows they just have to sit on Evenepoels wheel, who doesn't have the strength at the moment to drop everyone. Put others in the front group so you don't have to do anything, and make sure Evenepoel is near the front of the peloton. Then he can attack from behind instead of from the front.