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

[Logic-is-your-friend]

In a top shape in which he would win LBL? Or at the start of a WC or GT? I would think he puts a minute on everyone

Look at his Giro '23 opening TT over 19k, which was one of the more impressive medium length TT's he's done. Almeida finished only ~30s down. It wouldn't have been uncommon for Almeida to suddenly underperform in a TT, and he could have finished around Küng's time or even Rodriguez. But when the opposition is in good shape and has a good day, even the best TT can only be so much better.
In the first TDF '24 TT, Evenepoel took ~57s on Almeida over 25km. Today's TT was only 17km, so with Almeida on a decent day, 60 sec was never going to happen.

 

[jmdirt]

Look at his Giro '23 opening TT over 19k, which was one of the more impressive medium length TT's he's done. Almeida finished only ~30s down. It wouldn't have been uncommon for Almeida to suddenly underperform in a TT, and he could have finished around Küng's time or even Rodriguez. But when the opposition is in good shape and has a good day, even the best TT can only be so much better.
In the first TDF '24 TT, Evenepoel took ~57s on Almeida over 25km. Today's TT was only 17km, so with Almeida on a decent day, 60 sec was never going to happen.

I think that happens all too often on the www...people make "unequal based" assertions. Somewhat like your example, RE didn't quite take a minute over 25K so why would he take a minute over 17K? He's a great TTer so he should take a minute no matter the distance, or profile, not to mention level of form (of all involved)?

Note: this is not a slam on Bernice per se, just the practice of drawing conclusions based on unequal things...probably sprinkled with a little exaggeration to support an assertion.

 

[houtdffan]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE0dOjtRVks


Remco getting ripped for riding for Lecerf by Lantern Rouge, as is QS

 

[Berniece]

I think that happens all too often on the www...people make "unequal based" assertions. Somewhat like your example, RE didn't quite take a minute over 25K so why would he take a minute over 17K? He's a great TTer so he should take a minute no matter the distance, or profile, not to mention level of form (of all involved)?

Note: this is not a slam on Bernice per se, just the practice of drawing conclusions based on unequal things...probably sprinkled with a little exaggeration to support an assertion.

It’s an underestimation of Almeida combined with not remembering results good enough. And indeed an exaggeration on RE’s capabilities

 

[Red Rick]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE0dOjtRVks


Remco getting ripped for riding for Lecerf by Lantern Rouge, as is QS

For once, they're actually right.

 

[Andre]

5th place finish at around 1.30 from the winner in Tour de Romandie courtesy of his TT.
His form looked good. His Bike Handling seemed fine enough as well.
Objectively that's not bad given that Almeida been performing quite well all year so far.

agreed...Also, Almeida is at 95% form and Remco around 80%. Remco looks very good going downhill these days. Just a little more improvement on his climbing and he''l be ok

 

[Oldman]

Yes, but this year it's Almeida, last year it's Jorgenson, the year before that it's Skjelmose, and the year before that it's G. Thomas. It has to be Remco who takes a step forward in these races and not always be behind someone who's in good shape.

like not crashing? Not always in the plan, you know?

 

[Ripper]

Remco taking a restweek. Giro announcement incoming ^^. jk.
I do hope this giro will prove more interesting than currently advertised.

I haven't even been keeping up! Who is racing for the GC in this Giro?

 

[jmdirt]

It’s an underestimation of Almeida combined with not remembering results good enough. And indeed an exaggeration on RE’s capabilities

Believe me, I can't call anyone's memory into question, because if it happened before the last time I slept, there's a good chance I won't have a good or any memory of it. I wonder if I could use that in court if needed?!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I haven't even been keeping up! Who is racing for the GC in this Giro?

Landa, Roglic, Ayuso (iirc)...
Edit: the Yateseses, Hindley, Arensman, Tiberi...

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

For once, they're actually right.

Oh no, you're not gonna sucker me into watching LRCP for the first time in 2 years.

 

[Berniece]

Beautiful picture of the ITT yesterday

 

[Berflamand]

So his comeback resulted in:

• Win at Brabantse Pijl
• Podium at Amstel
• Top 10 at Flèche Wallone
• Offday at Liège
• TT win and top 5 GC at Romandie

Perhaps it's a little bit less than hoped for in a best case scenario, especially in Liège after a very promising start at Brabantse Pijl and Amstel, but it's definitely within a realistic scope of expectations and it looks promising for a very strong summer and fall season.

I'm mostly happy his shoulder doesn't seem to hinder him anymore (not even in TT's) so there's nothing holding him back anymore to reach his previous best level and hopefully be able to improve further.

 

[pelotonIQ]

Remco getting ripped for riding for Lecerf by Lantern Rouge, as is QS

Remco knew that he wouldn't be able to keep up with the GC guys, he had 2 options: Attempt to keep up and later get dropped with the camera all in his face or the safer option by dropping back helping a teammate.

 

[AmRacer]

Remco knew that he wouldn't be able to keep up with the GC guys, he had 2 options: Attempt to keep up and later get dropped with the camera all in his face or the safer option by dropping back helping a teammate.

.with a camera all in his face.

 

[Berniece]

Remco knew that he wouldn't be able to keep up with the GC guys, he had 2 options: Attempt to keep up and later get dropped with the camera all in his face or the safer option by dropping back helping a teammate.

Indeed, so why is that a problem for LR?

 

[Red Rick]

Indeed, so why is that a problem for LR?

Because avoiding criticism is more important than getting best possible result?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Boy sure can't wait to watch one of my favourite riders, Remco Evenepoel in the 'Belgian Championships Road Race', in fact I think I'll book my unrefundable ticket now so I can get a glimpse of the great man on the road.

 

[Berniece]

Because avoiding criticism is more important than getting best possible result?

What a silly take. The end result like this is better for the team, isn't that more important? If he went for himself he would've finished 4th instead of 5th. Is that worth it compared to helping your teammate ride top 10 too which might also get him to dig even more deep when he's working for you?

 

[Berniece]

Boy sure can't wait to watch one of my favourite riders, Remco Evenepoel in the 'Belgian Championships Road Race', in fact I think I'll book my unrefundable ticket now so I can get a glimpse of the great man on the road.

What is even more silly, he doesn't have the time to recon TDF stages. If he skipped NC, he could've taken the time to do that.

 

[Tim Cahill]

What is even more silly, he doesn't have the time to recon TDF stages. If he skipped NC, he could've taken the time to do that.

I'll give him a 50% chance of riding it. Problem is even if he pulls an excuse out of the hat he still has to travel to and ride around looking keen on Belgian roads for instagram so his preparation is still interrupted.

 

[Berniece]

I'll give him a 50% chance of riding it. Problem is even if he pulls an excuse out of the hat he still has to travel to and ride around looking keen on Belgian roads for instagram so his preparation is still interrupted.

I don't know, they said they decided during the week of Romandie that he'll definitely ride both NC's (ITT + RR). I can't imagine them bailing on that plan unless something goes really wrong in preparation which will be shown during Dauphine. A performance similar to last year for example.

 

[Berflamand]

What is even more silly, he doesn't have the time to recon TDF stages. If he skipped NC, he could've taken the time to do that.

He can't simply skip the NC Road Race unless he fakes an injury/illness. He could skip the NC TT but I kinda prefer that he rides both with a chance to win (and a very high chance at the TT) over some recons of the TDF stages.

Are recons even that important nowadays with so many possible tools like Veloviewer, ...?

 

[Berniece]

He can't simply skip the NC Road Race unless he fakes an injury/illness. He could skip the NC TT but I kinda prefer that he rides both with a chance to win (and a very high chance at the TT) over some recons of the TDF stages.

Are recons even that important nowadays with so many possible tools like Veloviewer, ...?

Yeah I was implying that he should just fake it. I find it silly that it's obligatory.

I think veloviewer helps, but it's not the same as riding it yourself. Even more so descends of important mountain stages. Did they learn nothing from last year? He wants to reduce the gap towards Pogacar. On stage 4 alone he lost 25s in the descend on Pogacar. Work on it, which also means doing more recons to really understand each corner.

I find that more important than the NC, even if he has a chance of winning both ITT and RR.

 

[Red Rick]

What a silly take. The end result like this is better for the team, isn't that more important? If he went for himself he would've finished 4th instead of 5th. Is that worth it compared to helping your teammate ride top 10 too which might also get him to dig even more deep when he's working for you?

4th instead of 5th is something you have no idea about before events unfold because he tapped out before finding out. And I don't buy that pacing Lecerf up a climb once is gonna make any tangible impact and it's much more important how he treats his teammates behind the scenes.

I don't think it's scandalous or terrible what Evenepoel did, but I also think it's quite obvious PR spin people are falling into.