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

[Keldergoat]

Instead of looking at the race names, I suggest you look at who he beat on GC in 2020 (he was 20 years old) and you will find names such as S. Yates, Almeida, Vingegaard and Landa. Him winning Vuelta 2 years later despite the crash shows how much better he could have been, he was called the next Merckx and the next Belgian hope to win TdF.

For all of these guys the races in which Evenepoel beat them were not even second tier goals of that season. Winning against the big guys is one thing, but winning against the big guys when it is one of their main goals of the season is a completely different ballgame.

 

[AlpRaid]

Odds are you are correct in that he is in a tight battle for third. However i still want to see his performance in the big mountains before making that final conclusion. I would wait for Hautacam and his performance during the mountain TT before deciding how to ride the remainder of the tour. I think it's a perfect time to make up a bilan after stage 13.

Decide after that stage to ride tactically for third (if he hasn't fallen through the ice by then) or continue to ride to the max of my capablilties so as to measure myself against Tadej and Jonas.

that makes a great deal of sense.

 

[Oldman]

Remco is feeling confident: “I think I'm going to let them play their game. When I attacked yesterday, they did not react. That's a good sign. I'll have to choose my moment when my legs feel right. It's good for us that they're focused on each other..."

Remco: it doesn't mean what you think it does. The guys going for the first two podium spots consider the threats to them at this point. Who did react? Look at the group catching up to Tadej and Jonas at the line. All of those guys want 3rd place, badly. They are all hoping you get the gap...

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Remco is feeling confident: “I think I'm going to let them play their game. When I attacked yesterday, they did not react. That's a good sign. I'll have to choose my moment when my legs feel right. It's good for us that they're focused on each other..."

Remco: it doesn't mean what you think it does. The guys going for the first two podium spots consider the threats to them at this point. Who did react? Look at the group catching up to Tadej and Jonas at the line. All of those guys want 3rd place, badly. They are all hoping you get the gap...

It meant exactly what he meant.

 

[AmRacer]

It meant exactly what he meant.

As long as the two don't go full gas, Remco is closer to them.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

For all of these guys the races in which Evenepoel beat them were not even second tier goals of that season. Winning against the big guys is one thing, but winning against the big guys when it is one of their main goals of the season is a completely different ballgame.

This has to be the biggest load of crap that people keep regurgitating.

2020 was covid year, and nobody knew when/how many chances would be coming along the next months/years. Everybody raced hard, all teams needed the points, riders only had limited options to show themselves in order to get a new contract, etc. The biggest difference is that the lesser natural talents had a harder time adjusting because their floor is way lower than that of the big talents (like Evenepoel, Pogacar...) which means they could not set goals long in advance and peak for certain races like they otherwise could have.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Instead of looking at the race names, I suggest you look at who he beat on GC in 2020 (he was 20 years old) and you will find names such as S. Yates, Almeida, Vingegaard and Landa. Him winning Vuelta 2 years later despite the crash shows how much better he could have been, he was called the next Merckx and the next Belgian hope to win TdF.

This has to be the biggest load of crap that people keep regurgitating.

2020 was covid year, and nobody knew when/how many chances would be coming along the next months/years. Everybody raced hard, all teams needed the points, riders only had limited options to show themselves in order to get a new contract, etc. The biggest difference is that the lesser natural talents had a harder time adjusting because their floor is way lower than that of the big talents (like Evenepoel, Pogacar...) which means they could not set goals long in advance and peak for certain races like they otherwise could have.

What races are you guys taking about? I don’t see any GTs or top 7 one week races in 2020. Vingegaard and Almeida were still not real players at the time either, so not great reference points. Do you mean 2021?

 

[AlpRaid]

2020 was covid year, and nobody knew when/how many chances would be coming along the next months/years. Everybody raced hard, all teams needed the points, riders only had limited options to show themselves in order to get a new contract, etc.

Agreed. In fact, riders actually emphasized the fact that everyone was racing like there was no tomorrow.

 

[AlpRaid]

What races are you guys taking about? I don’t see any GTs or top 7 one week races in 2020. Vingegaard and Almeida were still not real players at the time either, so not great reference points. Do you mean 2021?

Almeida was working for Remco in 2020.

How things have changed since joining Gianetti.

Interesting how Remco points out the crazy improvement of Pog (and Vingo) during the interview... ;-)

thing is at age 20, kid was winning every race he entered, and was about to win Lombardy on his first monument try.

What could have been without all the crashes/illnesses and/or his rivals' perplexing improvements?

Despite this, he has been able to carve out an amazing palmares for a 25 year-old.

I got to say, you watch that interview and how can you not like the guy -- so genuine.

 

[jmdirt]

But they keep telling me Pog is once in a lifetime.

Ah, but whose lifetime?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Almeida was working for Remco in 2020.

How things have changed since joining Gianetti.

Interesting how Remco points out the crazy improvement of Pog (and Vingo) during the interview... ;-)

thing is at age 20, kid was winning every race he entered, and was about to win Lombardy on his first monument try.

Despite this, he has been able to carve out an amazing palmares for a 25 year. However, what could have been without all the crashes/illnesses and/or his rivals' perplexing improvements?

I got to say, you watch that interview and how can you not like the guy -- so genuine.

Remco wasn't racing many mountain stages in 2020. Unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to see him in the Giro but it is very possible he would give us a clear picture about his lack of ability to climb high mountains (he is good but probably far from Pogacar 2020) compared to his otherworldy ability to race in rolling terrain.
He is an overrated climber, facts are there to see. He is not close to perform what he normally does in hilly stages or TTs.

 

[Berniece]

Remco wasn't racing many mountain stages in 2020. Unfortunately we didn't have the opportunity to see him in the Giro but it is very possible he would give us a clear picture about his lack of ability to climb high mountains (he is good but probably far from Pogacar 2020) compared to his otherworldy ability to race in rolling terrain.
He is an overrated climber, facts are there to see. He is not close to perform what he normally does in hilly stages or TTs.

Depending on his weight, he would’ve won that Giro

 

[AmRacer]

Depending on his weight, he would’ve won that Giro

Nope

 

[YavorD]

Depending on his weight, he would’ve won that Giro

Let's just agree on could've.
He certainly had and interesting team with Masnada and Almeida though.

Edit:
On the other hand, he would gain 2 minutes on Almeida (who finished on 2.57) in TTs alone and he finished less then 3 minutes back. And I think he would've climbed better than him at the time.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Depending on his weight, he would’ve won that Giro

You are always claiming these things about Remco. If he didn't crash, he would win the Giro 2020, if he didn't have Covid he would have won the Giro 2023, Vuelta 2023, he didn't have the best preparation. If he didn't have a crash in December, he would win LBL 2025.
These things were all said by you. Why you keep telling he would have won everything, even if there isn't a single sign he was able to actually win those races (I'm not saying he would not win but I think we can't also say he would have won because we didn't have a single mountain stage to see his level. Or he was facing better competition- Pogacar in LBL 2025).
You keep saying these things to somewhat keep some faith on him but these are just wishful thinkings. And again, you will be totally wrong because you said Remco would be closer to Vingegaard and Pogacar in the Tour and from what we are watching (stage 10 - a medium mountain stage) Remco will probably be 6' behind Pogacar after stage 14.

 

[KoopaCycling]

I actually think 2020 Giro would have been a good showing. He was on form, winning Burgos and was counted as one of the favourites. Field was relative weak. And he already beaten most of the people in the top 10 that year in stage races.
Ofcourse there is a difference between having a good showing and winning the giro. Still there is something to be said about being in a good flow and having the feeling of youth on your side. Something i think Remco had till his crash. Something Lipo is having this season.

 

[chickenlips]

This thread is hilarious 😂

 

[AmRacer]

We are always claiming these things about Remco. If he didn't crash, he would win the Giro 2020, if he didn't have Covid he would have won the Giro 2023, Vuelta 2023, he didn't have the best preparation. If he didn't have a crash in December, he would win LBL 2025.
These things were all said by you. Why you keep telling he would have won everything, even if there isn't a single sign he was able to actually win those races (I'm not saying he would not win but I think we can't also say he would have won because we didn't have a single mountain stage to see his level. Or he was facing better competition- Pogacar in LBL 2025).
You keep saying these things to somewhat keep some faith on him but these are just wishful thinkings. And again, you will be totally wrong because you said Remco would be closer to Vingegaard and Pogacar in the Tour and from what we are watching (stage 10 - a medium mountain stage) Remco will probably be 6' behind Pogacar after stage 14.

Pogi and Jonas could've put minutes into Remco but they stopped pedalling. So depending on the parcours and how P&J races, it's impossible to say if Remco is closer. Unless he cracks

 

[KoopaCycling]

Pogi and Jonas could've put minutes into Remco but they stopped pedalling. So depending on the parcours and how P&J races, it's impossible to say if Remco is closer. Unless he cracks

30 sec had they pedaled,

I am very curious about the big mountains. Quietly hoping he proves my doubts wrong, and has a good showing.
After all you don't need a punch for 30+ minute efforts. Though it helps to create an initial gap so people can't draft.

 

[YavorD]

You are always claiming these things about Remco. If he didn't crash, he would win the Giro 2020, if he didn't have Covid he would have won the Giro 2023, Vuelta 2023, he didn't have the best preparation. If he didn't have a crash in December, he would win LBL 2025.
These things were all said by you. Why you keep telling he would have won everything, even if there isn't a single sign he was able to actually win those races (I'm not saying he would not win but I think we can't also say he would have won because we didn't have a single mountain stage to see his level. Or he was facing better competition- Pogacar in LBL 2025).
You keep saying these things to somewhat keep some faith on him but these are just wishful thinkings. And again, you will be totally wrong because you said Remco would be closer to Vingegaard and Pogacar in the Tour and from what we are watching (stage 10 - a medium mountain stage) Remco will probably be 6' behind Pogacar after stage 14.

I actually think it's reasonable to claim he would win that Giro.
Evenepoel would challenge Ganna in the TTs and he (Ganna) put close to 6 minutes ot Tao.
Hart was pretty bad on Etna as well, dropping close to 2 minutes IIRC.
He needed to climb on Konrad's level Stelvio and he would've been safe.

As for any other claims...well

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Yeah I mean TGH is one of the best weakest GT winners of the last decade, so maybe Remco would have won that. But he’s been a pro now for 6 year, one removed due to the terrible accident, and his GC palmares are just not that good. His classics and ITT performances are legendary, but he has just not proven himself as a generational GC guy yet.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Pogi and Jonas could've put minutes into Remco but they stopped pedalling. So depending on the parcours and how P&J races, it's impossible to say if Remco is closer. Unless he cracks

No. 30-35" at his best but it is still a enormous gap specially when Pogacar attacked with just 1.5 km to go.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I actually think it's reasonable to claim he would win that Giro.
Evenepoel would challenge Ganna in the TTs and he (Ganna) put close to 6 minutes ot Tao.
Hart was pretty bad on Etna as well, dropping close to 2 minutes IIRC.
He needed to climb on Konrad's level Stelvio and he would've been safe.

As for any other claims...well

It's not reasonable when we are talking about a rider with zero record in high mountain stages. Maybe I would change my opinion if I saw him following the best riders in the Giro, but not before the race.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Yeah I mean TGH is one of the best weakest GT winners of the last decade, so maybe Remco would have won that. But he’s been a pro now for 6 year, one removed due to the terrible accident, and his GC palmares are just not that good. His classics and ITT performances are legendary, but he has just not proven himself as a generational GC guy yet.

I can be wrong but I think TGH was the favorite to win the Giro 2023 before his crash, specially when he looked even better than Thomas and he was so close to win the whole thing.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I can be wrong but I think TGH was the favorite to win the Giro 2023 before his crash, specially when he looked even better than Thomas and he was so close to win the whole thing.

You'd be wrong.