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I think Evenepoel quite often expects more from himself given his training data, past performances and expected condition during certain races. And whenever he falls short he tries and find an explanation. Reality is, you are rarely at 100% during race conditions. Some minor illness, lack of sleep, build up fatigue, crash, ... .
I saw the crash btw. And it's hard to judge. He fell on his back and head for the most methinks. And whilst that can be bad, you can also get lucky. rolling motion, hardest part of the skeleton, helmet, ... .
Not sure how much the crash is truly affecting his performance. I think we just seeing an Evenepoel who expected to be close to his peak, and found out his climbing form in race fell short from training performance.
It's why he is looking for answer past the crash. Pollen, winter, ... .
I still think he'll come good with 3 more weeks of training , and a week of racing in his legs before the mountains hit in the TdF. But maybe he'll fall short. It happens.
I saw the crash btw. And it's hard to judge. He fell on his back and head for the most methinks. And whilst that can be bad, you can also get lucky. rolling motion, hardest part of the skeleton, helmet, ... .
Not sure how much the crash is truly affecting his performance. I think we just seeing an Evenepoel who expected to be close to his peak, and found out his climbing form in race fell short from training performance.
It's why he is looking for answer past the crash. Pollen, winter, ... .
I still think he'll come good with 3 more weeks of training , and a week of racing in his legs before the mountains hit in the TdF. But maybe he'll fall short. It happens.
Even his staunchest fans have to see the recurring pattern of him and his team talking about his weight, and now he really has found his climbing legs, and now he'll definitely be closer to Pogacar... only to come up way short on the first proper climb. That otherwise inferior riders like Wellens and Johannessen on a good day can follow him doesn't mean that he is not at the climbing level we can expect from him. He's actually doing fairly well considering the level he showed not too long ago in Romandie.
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Even his most avid detractors have to acknowledge that when he is in (near-)top shape, without setbacks, that he is far above whatever riders like Wellens or Johannessen are able to put out on their best day. Surely. Right?
Nobody except his staunchest fans expected him to reach the level he showed in last year's TDF. Because nobody except his staunchest fans acknowledges the setbacks he often faces impacting his performance.
I'm not a detractor, I just don't really see him as the super climber some people perceive him to be. It's just his physique, how he's built. I think he can be a great rider on almost every terrain, but in the high mountains he'll always have his limits. And yes, then some inferior rider on a great day can maybe follow him for a while.
why is why we need to go back to having a tour de france, not the world climbing championships
- Sep 12, 2022
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He’s the third best climber in the world, so then no one is a super climber besides Pogacar and Vingegaard
- Jun 7, 2011
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lol, you missed last year's Tour de France i guess. strangely enough i did not notice any c-tier riders in his wheel back then. So i guess unlike twice this weekend, last year in 3 weeks time there never was a Wellens or a Johannessen who was having "a great day". Man, please.
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he doesn't even mention his allergy until a flemish journalist asks him about his hoarse voice
- Sep 12, 2022
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He doesn’t look good, but he looked bad in last year’s Dauphine, too, and improved by significantly more than anyone else during that time period. I, like many, didn’t see his performance coming based on his climbing in the Dauphine. I imagine he will similarly improve. However, I would expect the gap to Pogacar to remain roughly the same, and I don’t see him closing it ever to be honest. Pogacar is about the same age, he’s IMO a more natural climber, and he’s produced best ever performances. But at his best he’s contending with Roglic for third best climber.
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On sporza he was more quick to highlight it, but only after the reporter asked why his form was not quite as expected. Or something like that.
Today on the same level as yesterday. Solid but not good. However if he can add some percentages till the TdF it will be fine. He needs to add those though. Still wait & see. Depending on trainer's and Remco projected trajectory all may be well. Or maybe not. No idea what Soudal and his trainers have in mind. However it is well known that the mountains come late this year. so hope remains for a very good tour.
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Looked the same to me. Did not see much difference with yesterday. easier day. Pogacar and Vingegaard clearly ahead, and Lipo maybe on lesser day but still right there with Remco at end of the easier climb.
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Clearly better. He could accelerate and Lipo couldn't follow, which he otherwise obviously would have. Previous two days there was zero acceleration.
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I don’t doubt it’ll be fine for TDF. Back to altitude, then winning double NC titles because why not, and off to the TDF
but, he HAS. TO. STOP. CRASHING!
- Jul 31, 2024
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Easier day though. In any case remco performance in this dauphine was not bad. If Pogacar and Vingegaard are not here he be fighting for the victory. I don't think Roglic/almeida level is that much better than Lipowitz level. A solid performance. But you can't qualify it as good, as he seemed intent on getting closer to those 2. Which did not happen. Seems on same difference as last year imo.
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Man, last year he was getting dropped by De Plus, Gee, Rodriguez and my grandma.
- Jul 31, 2024
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I'm not comparing with the dauphine of last year. more like difference in the tour.
- Jun 7, 2011
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Ok. I'm not expecting him to beat Pogacar at the Tour, but relative to their actual current level, i'm quite convinced he was being held back (be it by the crash or pollen) more compared to other riders. I just don't know how you can come to any conclusion after this weekend. We didn't get to see where he actually is.
IMO, he openly discusses things that may be messing with his performance, but honesty is rewarded with "he's just making excuses". The crash effected him. If his allergies are affecting his breathing, then that is effecting him. Not excuses, just facts.
Its a strange thing really: if racers are coy, they get criticized, and if they are honest they get criticized, so its really a no win.
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That is why i said wait and see. solid performance and hope remains.
I think his level is on par with the other podium candidates atm. If he stays healthy i think he'll be good enough to podium. But the goal was to creep closer. And I haven't seen that yet. Maybe cause of crash & pollen. Maybe he is in truth better than what we've seen. It's still a bit of a question mark. But i haven't seen enough to say he will be better than last year. But for his weight being better , and with luck he will have a better last prep before the start. Beyond that, he seems on the same difference with Pogacar & Vingegaard that he was last year during the tour.
I just hope he won't run into any problems. Both in his lead-up to the tour. as during the tour. I'd rather see him have an offday like he had in the vuelta 23. Than see him crash hard again. remco absolutely needs the next 2 years to be relative damage free
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- Sep 12, 2022
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I’m happy he’s just transparent and says what he thinks. What others think of it doesn’t matter. I just take it at face value
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