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

[red_flanders]

I 100% disagree with this. Sports change, which means the physiological requirements change. Training changes as well, and adaptation to new training changes are pretty individual too.

Sure, adaptations to training are individual. What you say isn’t wrong. But I said “dominant“ riders. That isn’t really going to change. The big talents are always a level above.

And my larger point wasn’t at all about training, it was about whether aero bikes were going to give Remco more or less an advantage. Seems clear to me it’s less.

And despite the real advantages in bike aerodynamics, it’s still a relatively minor factor compared to the rider. The rider’s CDA is a MUCH larger factor than the bike’s.

 

[Berniece]

It is a data point of level at given time. And 7th in the Dauphine, winning the ITT, when taking into account illness is hardly the worst possible prep. TdFs have been won on less. Pogacar was 4th in the 2020 Dauphine, dropping 1'30 on the MTF. Vingegaard got beaten in breakaways in the 2021 Dauphine. Etc.

He lost to riders like Gee, Vlasov, and De Plus... If that isn't a sign his prep was ***, I don't know what is.

 

[Netserk]

But I said “dominant“ riders. That isn’t really going to change. The big talents are always a level above.

So you also think LeMond would be a level above if he was born a decade later?

 

[houtdffan]

He was 7th in the Dauphine, and apart from Isola he was closer to Almeida than to Vingegaard, who had an even worse preperation.

Remco literally was 10 minutes ahead of Almeida and 3 minutes behind Vingo. Not sure how you get he was closer to Almeida

 

[Red Rick]

Remco literally was 10 minutes ahead of Almeida and 3 minutes behind Vingo. Not sure how you get he was closer to Almeida

Brainfart, I meant the MTFs specifically

 

[houtdffan]

Brainfart, I meant the MTFs specifically

he still was closer to Vingo than Almeida, else he wouldn't have finished 10 min ahead.

How much did he gain on Almeida in the TT and stage 11?

 

[red_flanders]

So you also think LeMond would be a level above if he was born a decade later?

Sure I said that.

 

[Netserk]

Sure I said that.

Unless he doesn't count as a big talent or your "always" didn't mean always, then you sure did.

 

[greyclouds]

Is Pogacar always going to be so lucky that Evenepoel crashes in April and has a bad preparation for the TDF? Or are we just ignoring that piece of context on why he lost that much time on a MTF?

Based on past and expected future performances, Pogacar has no reason to particularly fear Remco at the Tour de France, even with optimal preparation.

Pogacar is performing at all-time best level; Remco is not, and there's no indication that he will, simple as that. Will he ever get to that level? Maybe but who knows.

 

[red_flanders]

Unless he doesn't count as a big talent or your "always" didn't mean always, then you sure did.

there are about 20 different ways to phrase your question that aren’t putting words in my mouth.

Of course Lemond would have dominated. If he was using the same “training” as everyone else.

I hope there won’t be a list of riders you’ll ask me to explain.

 

[Netserk]

there are about 20 different ways to phrase your question that aren’t putting words in my mouth.

Of course Lemond would have dominated. If he was using the same “training” as everyone else.

I hope there won’t be a list of riders you’ll ask me to explain.

I'll offer a more open question then. Was there any of the "big talents" who "dominated" in the 90's who wouldn't be "a level above" a decade earlier?

 

[AmRacer]

I have several times asked for a name change on this thread, but now I think '.....Eddy Merckx...' is just fine.

'...is the next Tadej Pogačar thread' would be too much.