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

[Berniece]

I didn't smoke anything, don't be rude and act like some Nostradamus. Like I said, I support my opinion on facts and evidence. It was Remco who said he was in similar shape to the one he showed in the Tour 2024. Not me, it was Remco who said that.

And then he crashed and had a pollen attack (allergies).

If Pogacar says he’s in his best shape, and crashes tomorrow, stays riding but loses TDF by 10min we aren’t going to say it’s due to the crash and we didn’t see his true power?

 

[AmRacer]

And then he crashed and had a pollen attack (allergies).

If Pogacar says he’s in his best shape, and crashes tomorrow, stays riding but loses TDF by 10min we aren’t going to say it’s due to the crash and we didn’t see his true power?

We have seen Pogi's true powers 99 times, including 3 TdF

 

[Peyroteo94]

And then he crashed and had a pollen attack (allergies).

If Pogacar says he’s in his best shape, and crashes tomorrow, stays riding but loses TDF by 10min we aren’t going to say it’s due to the crash and we didn’t see his true power?

But Remco said the crash didn't hamper him which I hope it's not true and his naivety is talking louder.

 

[Berniece]

But Remco said the crash didn't hamper him which I hope it's not true and his naivety is talking louder.

And afterwards he said it might did, and everyone that saw the crash knew it would have an impact

 

[Peyroteo94]

And afterwards he said it might did, and everyone that saw the crash knew it would have an impact

If you read the Dauphine thread (or this thread) 3 weeks ago, I said his crash was hard and his level could really be lower due to his crash.
I agree with on this but again, if the rider himself said the crash didn't affect him, who am I to say the opposite?

 

[Berniece]

If you read the Dauphine thread (or this thread) 3 weeks ago, I said his crash was hard and his level could really be lower due to his crash.
I agree with on this but again, if the rider himself said the crash didn't affect him, who am I to say the opposite?

You said to Logic that Evenepoel said he was at his best like in TDF 2024, and the crash didn't effect him according to himself. BUT afterwards he said it might have influenced his performance together with the pollen allergy, so the argument you used against Logic is gone.

Look, let's just hope that the big 4 gets through those first 11 stages without any issues, and we'll see how it goes.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

[[content deleted]] Like I said, I support my opinion on facts and evidence. It was Remco who said he was in similar shape to the one he showed in the Tour 2024. Not me, it was Remco who said that.

No, it was not him who said that. He said he was at the same WEIGHT as during the TDF last year. Not the same form.

 

[red_flanders]

I wouldn't put overly much stock in the "crash didn't affect me" stuff. Could be bluffing, smokescreen, or just a tough thing to actually self-evaluate.

 

[Peyroteo94]

You said to Logic that Evenepoel said he was at his best like in TDF 2024, and the crash didn't effect him according to himself. BUT afterwards he said it might have influenced his performance together with the pollen allergy, so the argument you used against Logic is gone.

Look, let's just hope that the big 4 gets through those first 11 stages without any issues, and we'll see how it goes.

He told that as a possibility (we don't know if it's true) because he wasn't expecting such a big gap between him and his main rivals. We will know in 3 weeks if that was true or just an excuse. But let's move on.

 

[Berniece]

He told that as a possibility (we don't know if it's true) because he wasn't expecting such a big gap between him and his main rivals. We will know in 3 weeks if that was true or just an excuse. But let's move on.

Since Lipowitz was better than him I’m pretty sure it had an influence…

 

[Extinction]

View: https://youtu.be/DkR6uW1EHV4?si=LNYKrL6iUXTbz6SG

In any case, he looks lean and ready. Look at the vein running down his leg and the muscle definition..

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

He looks lean as hell. Definitely ready

 

[Oldman]

Wow. Surprised to read that opinion. I can't see any world where Jorgenson has more upside now or later than Remco. Doesn't seem close to me.

Speaking as a GC threat. This Tour's climbs will provide opportunities so see them side by side, I hope.

 

[Flamin]

He will never be competitive in the Tour against Pogacar (without crashes). He already realized that, I still think he should change teams (go to Ineos or Redbull) for a last opportunity but I fear it won't work. He is just not physically/biologically built to climb high mountains. Even this Dauphiné, he arrived very close to his ceilling (similar level to the one he showed in the Tour 2024) and the gap to Pogacar was bigger than ever (15 s/km).
I will give an opposite example. There is zero chance Vingegaard or Pogacar, even if they practise their TT every day, they will never be competitive against Remco (in good shape) in flat TTs. Remco's body is perfect to cut the wind.

Pog will likely hit his ceiling way before Remco does. Remco is not only younger, he also lost around 2 years of training because of injuries. That's huge. Will he ever actually beat Pog? Perhaps not, but surely will Remco be very close to winning the Tour one day. If he sets his mind to it, that is. (and if he stays injury-free of course)

Because I think Remco will soon start focusing on other goals, mainly the classics, which are his natural habitat. He's not going to live like a monk for years and years, to 'merely' have A chance to win the Tour at some point. He's too much of a winner for that.

Imo this Tour is going to play a major role. Will he finish closer to Pog and Vingo than last year, then the Tour will be his main focus again next year. If not, we'll see him at the start of Milan Sanremo. Maybe Omloop already, why not.

 

[Berniece]

I’m so annoyed by his lack of taking stages like this seriously. Even if there was a very very very small chance of winning the Tour, it’s gone. Taking yellow stage 5, gone.

 

[Ulle97]

He's just not good enough.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Damn

 

[Billy The Kid]

What the *** was that? Either he is sick or he did that on purpose..He didnt even help to pull the second group one time?Flat road and sidewind should be walk in the park for the best TT’er in the world!Something really wrong here

 

[Extinction]

What was that? Either he is sick or he did that on purpose..He didnt even help to pull the second group one time?Flat road and sidewind should be walk in the park for the best TT’er in the world!Something really wrong here

Yea, it looked strange. When Jonas and Pog are at the front, Remco needs to be at the front, especially with wind. That he didn't try something after was not a good sign.

 

[Billy The Kid]

I’m so annoyed by his lack of taking stages like this seriously. Even if there was a very very very small chance of winning the Tour, it’s gone. Taking yellow stage 5, gone.

Yes. He had plenty of oppurtunities 1-15k before the last wind sector to move up in the peleton!Either he is sick or else is an incredible amateurish tactical mistake by him and the team!Really strange as the team looked good in the earlier wind sectors with Cattaneo,Eenkhoorn,Remco,Schachmann and Van Wilder all looking good and in the correct positions!

 

[Extinction]

Yes. He had plenty of oppurtunities 1-15k before the last wind sector to move up in the peleton!Either he is sick or else is an incredible amateurish tactical mistake by him and the team!Really strange as the team looked good in the earlier wind sectors with Cattaneo,Eenkhoorn,Remco,Schachmann and Van Wilder all looking good and in the correct positions!

If he's not sick, somebody in team management should have their head chopped off.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I’m so annoyed by his lack of taking stages like this seriously. Even if there was a very very very small chance of winning the Tour, it’s gone. Taking yellow stage 5, gone.

Taking yellow after stage 5 was a likely outcome indeed but now it's an uphill battle.

 

[Stablo]

I’m so annoyed by his lack of taking stages like this seriously. Even if there was a very very very small chance of winning the Tour, it’s gone. Taking yellow stage 5, gone.

I also can't understand how were they sleeping at that moment. I didn't think his going to win the Tour either, but now getting the yellow after stage 5 is also gone like you said.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

If he's not sick, somebody in team management should have their head chopped off.

That probably wouldn't improve their performance, but it possibly wouldn't make it any worse either.

 

[No Excuses]

You can't lose time on a stage like this. He is lucky that rogla, almeida and Lipo lost time too.