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

[Extinction]

Big fan of Remco's here (he's probably my favorite WT rider) but for me there's just a little bigger picture in play... I don't have the seemingly photographic memory of someone like Libertine for example, so I can't recite all the specific times I've seen this, but it just seems there are too many times I'm looking at the screen and yelling "What the heck are you doing riding so far back?!?!" As far as yesterday goes, in the micro-view it's not the end of the world (though I believe that was a winnable stage for him), but in the larger picture imho he just cannot afford to be spending energy needlessly like that; yes, he looked REALLY sharp closing that gap, but how much better would it have been to have that bullet to fire in the sprint instead?

So much of success in ANY endeavor in life is about good habits, and he unfortunately seems to have this bad habit of drifting back/losing position/etc where I just don't see Pog or Ving having those issues. I understand he lost some ground going downhill as well so there is that to factor in but it doesn't negate the fact he was out of position right at a moment when anyone thinking clearly can see the race was at the front, and that's where he needed to be; perhaps as you suggest not the end of the world, but in the larger picture, if he is going to compete with the very very tippy top guys in GC he simply can't afford to be giving that energy away for no reason other than inattentiveness or questionable decision making. Yes, he was able to bridge up but that just as easily could have been the race going up the road and POOF! GC over for him before it starts. Just my .02 of course

Again, just to be clear, I love the guy and am VERY pumped to see him looking so sharp; I do believe he is going to surprise us all in the next 2 months, just a little frustrating to watch at times. Anyway, onward Remco!

Indeed, he needs to always be at the front. Move up lad should be what race radio is telling him!

 

[Andre]

I didn't quite see if once the 5 were out in front, did Vingo or Tadej take any pulls, or was it just Remco and MVDP working?

 

[Andre]

...on another topic; Contador is saying that it could be dangerous for Remco to lose too much weight before TDF: "Ciudado. De un año a otro, perder ese peso para el Tour de Francia es peligroso, salvo que haya perdido tono muscular en el tren superior y por eso haya podido recortar ahí dos kilos. En el tren inferior es complicado que haya recortado tanto", comentó Contador.

 

[red_flanders]

...on another topic; Contador is saying that it could be dangerous for Remco to lose too much weight before TDF: "Ciudado. De un año a otro, perder ese peso para el Tour de Francia es peligroso, salvo que haya perdido tono muscular en el tren superior y por eso haya podido recortar ahí dos kilos. En el tren inferior es complicado que haya recortado tanto", comentó Contador.

Interesting. The Google sez:

"Careful. Losing that weight for the Tour de France from one year to the next is dangerous, unless you've lost muscle tone in your upper body and that's why you've been able to cut two kilos there. It's hard to see how much you've lost in your lower body."

That might generally be true, but Evenepoel seems like he had some margin to lose, and he's been doing it slowly. "Careful" seems on point, but I'd be surprised if it's not better for him.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The rumour is that the man formerly known as fatco has increased his 30 minute power by 40(!!?) watts.

Big if true.

Where does this come from, unless it was intended as a joke?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Remco is riding smart. He's at the back chilling with breaking distance until the final when he moves up. Yes, yesterday wasn't that good towards the end, but the amount of stress that you dodge is huge and that maybe was as much on his team as it was on him

 

[SHAD0W93]

I didn't quite see if once the 5 were out in front, did Vingo or Tadej take any pulls, or was it just Remco and MVDP working?

They were pulling but not for as long as MVDP or Evenepoel and Vingegaard was even skipping turns.

 

[Oldman]

I didn't quite see if once the 5 were out in front, did Vingo or Tadej take any pulls, or was it just Remco and MVDP working?

They all had to take pulls and did. In that chaos it's often better to take an aggressive action to gain positioning in the break. It helps you sort out the sprint order if that looks like the possibility and you try to do that well before the last km. Saving gas for the sprint is the whole point as there wasn't really enough GC time gains to be had. Tadej settled behind MvP at 600m and waited. They were racing.

Now today's stage you saw some aggression on positioning from JV, UAE at about 9km that started to settle back at the 3km mark. You didn't see any of yesterday's combatants near the front as pack gaps were unlikely but crazy sprint crashes and stupid navigation of tricky 2km obstacles were very likely. MVP was there but none of the GC guys.

 

[Oldman]

They were pulling but not for as long as MVDP or Evenepoel and Vingegaard was even skipping turns.

Vingo followed an attack near the top of the last hill, jumped and Pogacar hammered the advantage they had right away. Once it was clear MvP was in the house the guys would presume not to lead him out. Remco responded quickly enough but no one was going to lead MVP into the last 600meter. Period. They worked enough to have a gap and Pogacar was just faster than everyone else. The aerial shot showed a very impressive surge that Vindegaard latched onto. Evenepoel and Buitrago were clearly out of acceleration.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Vingo followed an attack near the top of the last hill, jumped and Pogacar hammered the advantage they had right away. Once it was clear MvP was in the house the guys would presume not to lead him out. Remco responded quickly enough but no one was going to lead MVP into the last 600meter. Period. They worked enough to have a gap and Pogacar was just faster than everyone else. The aerial shot showed a very impressive surge that Vindegaard latched onto. Evenepoel and Buitrago were clearly out of acceleration.

Okay, and doesn’t change the fact Vingegaard was still skipping turns before the finish. Which is fine, there’s nothing wrong with that.

 

[KoopaCycling]

As

Interesting. The Google sez:

"Careful. Losing that weight for the Tour de France from one year to the next is dangerous, unless you've lost muscle tone in your upper body and that's why you've been able to cut two kilos there. It's hard to see how much you've lost in your lower body."

That might generally be true, but Evenepoel seems like he had some margin to lose, and he's been doing it slowly. "Careful" seems on point, but I'd be surprised if it's not better for him.

As it happens, there's an article from lefevre that claims it was Remco's decision to be slimmer this year, not the dietitian.

I can see the argument for both. Short term, remco needs to be as sharp as possible whilst maintaining power to be able to compete with the likes of Jonas and Tadej. Long term it's more of a question mark whether being so slim will have negative consequences on his career. I can see how a dietitian may feel you are pushing your body over its limits, and it ain't that healthy to do so.

If memory serves Bardet was really slim at 1 point and got 2 TdF podium spots to show for it. But it wasn't maintainable.
I'm hoping the dietistan is wrong, and remco can compete long term whilst being sharper. And it not being an atttack on his body.

 

[Berniece]

As it happens, there's an article from lefevre that claims it was Remco's decision to be slimmer this year, not the dietitian.

I can see the argument for both. Short term, remco needs to be as sharp as possible whilst maintaining power to be able to compete with the likes of Jonas and Tadej. Long term it's more of a question mark whether being so slim will have negative consequences on his career. I can see how a dietitian may feel you are pushing your body over its limits, and it ain't that healthy to do so.

If memory serves Bardet was really slim at 1 point and got 2 TdF podium spots to show for it. But it wasn't maintainable.
I'm hoping the dietistan is wrong, and remco can compete long term whilst being sharper. And it not being an atttack on his body.

I wonder if the dietitian is capable now. They know the goal, winning the TDF, it’s as if they don’t understand what it takes and basic W/kg metrics.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

As

As it happens, there's an article from lefevre that claims it was Remco's decision to be slimmer this year, not the dietitian.

I can see the argument for both. Short term, remco needs to be as sharp as possible whilst maintaining power to be able to compete with the likes of Jonas and Tadej. Long term it's more of a question mark whether being so slim will have negative consequences on his career. I can see how a dietitian may feel you are pushing your body over its limits, and it ain't that healthy to do so.

If memory serves Bardet was really slim at 1 point and got 2 TdF podium spots to show for it. But it wasn't maintainable.
I'm hoping the dietistan is wrong, and remco can compete long term whilst being sharper. And it not being an atttack on his body.

What I read was about last year, not this year.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Where does this come from, unless it was intended as a joke?

I saw some random blokes on twitter saying it, might’ve been under a dieter loos or ammatypgovvgcdhu tweet. It’s probably nonsense but I’m choosing to believe it anyway.

 

[Oldman]

Okay, and doesn’t change the fact Vingegaard was still skipping turns before the finish. Which is fine, there’s nothing wrong with that.

He's not the pre eminent sprinter in that group; why should he trade pulls with VanderPoel and Remco?
You saw today in Stage 3 how a super young TT WC handled MvP. As an unknown he could pull that off...once.
Be exciting to see how he fares tomorrow. He may still be in yellow!

 

[SHAD0W93]

He's not the pre eminent sprinter in that group; why should he trade pulls with VanderPoel and Remco?
You saw today in Stage 3 how a super young TT WC handled MvP. As an unknown he could pull that off...once.
Be exciting to see how he fares tomorrow. He may still be in yellow!

I never said there was anything wrong with it, I think it’s smart especially when Evenepoel caught back up. I was just answering the question.

 

[Berniece]

Tomorrow will be Evenepoel’s second victory of the season as long as he stays upright. Also victory number 1.000 for the Quickstep team.

 

[AmRacer]

Tomorrow will be Evenepoel’s second victory of the season as long as he stays upright. Also victory number 1.000 for the Quickstep team.

Pogi's #97

 

[houtdffan]

give how easily Remco bridged on stage 1, I could see a 2023 giro-like drubbing handed out by Remco. Very similar TT tomorrow as Stage 1 of 2023 giro

 

[KoopaCycling]

1 Evenepoel
2. pogacar (On 5-10 sec from remco)
2. Vingegaard (On 20 sec from remco)

is my prediction (without trouble)

 

[rghysens]

Tomorrow will be Evenepoel’s second victory of the season as long as he stays upright. Also victory number 1.000 for the Quickstep team.

Naahhh.... profile is more suited to Pog.

 

[CyclistAbi]

With a new tattoo it's clear what team Remco is eying to sign next and on who will win tomorrows stage.

 

[Berniece]

Naahhh.... profile is more suited to Pog.

Profile of tomorrow? Because of that small bump? Against the back-to-back WC ITT?

 

[Oldman]

give how easily Remco bridged on stage 1, I could see a 2023 giro-like drubbing handed out by Remco. Very similar TT tomorrow as Stage 1 of 2023 giro

Impressive the ability to witness 60 seconds of his effort and conclude he will crush everyone.
How easily Pogacar consolidated Jonas' move and how easily he relegated everyone in the sprint may mean something, too.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Hmmm…I can’t help but notice that Foss neglected to mention someone.

"I think definitely this TT is suited for a time trial bike as long as you can push the power, so for me it was no question, but I have to admit I was really surprised when I saw the wall in front of us," said Foss, in reference to the climb in the middle of the route.

"I'm expecting some nucleur stuff from Jonas and Pogi today. I don't think I have a chance to be honest, but I gas it a good crack. I think it was a really good TT from me, but I'm curious to see how fast they will go."