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

[YavorD]

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.

.
Giro 2023 has nothing in common with 2020.
If we were told that Evenepoel, Hart, Hindley, Kelderman and Almeida will be top 5 in that Giro, most of us would vote for Evenepoel to win.

As I said Tao would be like 6 minutes behind him in the TTs.
Evenepoel didn't even need to climb that well to win the Giro in 2020.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

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.

He never even made it to the mountains. I don’t think he was at all the favorite at the time he crashed out. Roglic crashed hard and had stitches in his hip during that same crash.

 

[Berniece]

You are always claiming these things about Remco.

Yes, because it’s quite obvious to me.

 

[red_flanders]

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.

Not to argue your larger points, but...

...WRT to the 2023 Giro and Covid, he was to my view clearly the strongest there. You can't say the guy who was leading the race the way he was "didn't show a single sign" he was able to win that race. Huge shame about him getting COVID, would have been nice to see the battle shake out.

Teo Geoghan Hart? I mean...come on.

 

[Cookster15]

I think TGH was the favorite to win the Giro 2023 before his crash

The big two favorites before that Giro were Remco and Roglic with Thomas 3rd. TGH was an outsider according to odds published before that Giro began. I don't recall this changing before his crash on stage 10. In the stage 9 TT TGH showed he was in good form just 2 seconds slower than Remco.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Not to argue your larger points, but...

...WRT to the 2023 Giro and Covid, he was to my view clearly the strongest there. You can't say the guy who was leading the race the way he was "didn't show a single sign" he was able to win that race. Huge shame about him getting COVID, would have been nice to see the battle shake out.

Teo Geoghan Hart? I mean...come on.

No, he was clearly the strongest in both TTs (I think he would gain way more time in the second TT if not for his illness), but this is Remco. Where is someone even closed to him when the first week has weak GC road stages and 2 TTs with decent length? Of course he would be way ahead. There is no story in this, he is the best in the world in TTs! Remco can destroy TTs and still be mediocre in the mountains. How many times did I watch this movie?

 

[Peyroteo94]

The big two favorites before that Giro were Remco and Roglic with Thomas 3rd. TGH was an outsider according to odds published before that Giro began. I don't recall this changing before his crash on stage 10. In the stage 9 TT TGH showed he was in good form just 2 seconds slower than Remco.

He was very strong in the hilly stage before the TT (where Remco dropped).

 

[Peyroteo94]

Yes, because it’s quite obvious to me.

You must be the only one who see these things to be honest. I think you are the only one who think Remco would "obviously" beat Pogacar in LBL 2025 for example. This is so far from reality that I don't even know what to say. But let's hope for an injury free Remco in the next season.

 

[Unchained]

You must be the only one who see these things to be honest. I think you are the only one who think Remco would "obviously" beat Pogacar in LBL 2025 for example. This is so far from reality that I don't even know what to say. But let's hope for an injury free Remco in the next season.

I wonder how this plays into cycling history.. Miguel Indurain, won until he didn't.. Bernard Hinault, won until he didn't, Greg Lemond..same so Vingegaard, Pogacar taking turns winning and losing.. It's not a stretch to think that Remco might get a turn or 2..just the way the sport goes.. You are the best until you're not!! Short sighted to count him out.. Indefinitely..

 

[houtdffan]

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.

You know full well he would have won the 2023 giro

He took time out of Rog on that key second weekend, WHEN HE HAD COVID! Rog still lost time to a very sick Remco!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It's all just for fun, since we will never know and everyone has it right in their own mind. Would Evenepoel have won the 2020 Giro if he hadn't crashed? Judging by who actually made the podium, i would say yes. He had a good winter, he was in good form all year, had no issues with his weight or illness, he was comfortably beating Ganna in TT's and was one of the best climbers in races before his crash. Very high probability he'd have won.

Giro 2023 had he not been struck by covid? He was "competitively overweight" imho. Everyone except Flanders could see it, and they admitted he was more than 2kg heavier compared to the Vuelta he won. So i am slightly more hesitant to claim he would have won that Giro, but i would say more likely so than not. Ultimately, i'm going to say confidently yes. Why? Look at how close guys like De Plus, Arensman, Van Wilder, Dunbar, Leknessund, Kämna... stayed in GC, imho the level in that Giro was also not too high, that i'd given him well over 50% of winning that Giro. Those guys lost time to Roglic over 3 weeks, that they would lose in half a stage in the TDF.

 

[houtdffan]

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.

Remco has won 3 high mountain stages in GTs as well as some other great performances

 

[Peyroteo94]

Remco has won 3 high mountain stages in GTs as well as some other great performances

I was talking about the Giro 2020.

 

[jmdirt]

You must be the only one who see these things to be honest. I think you are the only one who think Remco would "obviously" beat Pogacar in LBL 2025 for example. This is so far from reality that I don't even know what to say. But let's hope for an injury free Remco in the next season.

There were a lot of posts from way more than one person proclaiming RE winning LBL 2025. His comeback win at BP got a bunch of people REALLY excited. Nevermind that his body was going to revolt after no racing and then BP, AG, and LFW...no way he was going to perform well and LBL. Yet the proclamations "his form will only get better!".

I might add that at the same time many of those same members were posting about TP being too tired to win LBL.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I was talking about the Giro 2020.

Not really relevant as he proved he is physically capable of winning GT mountain stages from the GC group (so not from a break). Given his form in 2020, it is really not far fetched to assume he would have been capable of it back then as well, especially against that opposition. It would be different had he never proven himself on that level, but he has.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

You know full well he would have won the 2023 giro

He took time out of Rog on that key second weekend, WHEN HE HAD COVID! Rog still lost time to a very sick Remco!

Not really sure what you’re taking about. Roglic dropped him easily on the first hilly stage, stage 8, and out 14 seconds on him. He did put some time on him in the ITT, but he’s a TT specialist.

It's all just for fun, since we will never know and everyone has it right in their own mind. Would Evenepoel have won the 2020 Giro if he hadn't crashed? Judging by who actually made the podium, i would say yes. He had a good winter, he was in good form all year, had no issues with his weight or illness, he was comfortably beating Ganna in TT's and was one of the best climbers in races before his crash. Very high probability he'd have won.

Giro 2023 had he not been struck by covid? He was "competitively overweight" imho. Everyone except Flanders could see it, and they admitted he was more than 2kg heavier compared to the Vuelta he won. So i am slightly more hesitant to claim he would have won that Giro, but i would say more likely so than not. Ultimately, i'm going to say confidently yes. Why? Look at how close guys like De Plus, Arensman, Van Wilder, Dunbar, Leknessund, Kämna... stayed in GC, imho the level in that Giro was also not too high, that i'd given him well over 50% of winning that Giro. Those guys lost time to Roglic over 3 weeks, that they would lose in half a stage in the TDF.

If you’re going to do the counterfactual about Remco and Covid, then you have to factor in Roglic and the crash with stitches in his hip. And then you’re just in theoretical land. But IMO the only way TGH wins is if Remco has Covid and Roglic crashes hard. Both in full form, no way. Not sure how this bizarre belief took hold.

 

[houtdffan]

Not really sure what you’re taking about. Roglic dropped him easily on the first hilly stage, stage 8, and out 14 seconds on him. He did put some time on him in the ITT, but he’s a TT specialist.

If you’re going to do the counterfactual about Remco and Covid, then you have to factor in Roglic and the crash with stitches in his hip. And then you’re just in theoretical land. But IMO the only way TGH wins is if Remco has Covid and Roglic crashes hard. Both in full form, no way. Not sure how this bizarre belief took hold.

Roglic lost 5 seconds that weekend. Remco even outsprinted Rog on the MTF on Stage 7, when Remco had a fever and had to unzip despite the freezing cold

Rog should have taken several minutes due to Remco's illness

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Not really sure what you’re taking about. Roglic dropped him easily on the first hilly stage, stage 8, and out 14 seconds on him. He did put some time on him in the ITT, but he’s a TT specialist.

If you’re going to do the counterfactual about Remco and Covid, then you have to factor in Roglic and the crash with stitches in his hip. And then you’re just in theoretical land. But IMO the only way TGH wins is if Remco has Covid and Roglic crashes hard. Both in full form, no way. Not sure how this bizarre belief took hold.

Roglic in full health without his surgery between Vuelta and Giro, Remco without covid but still too heavy, neither crashing, I might be inclined to say Roglic takes it. Both at peak form, ideal weight, and I'm going back to Remco.

 

[FroomeWagon]

The big two favorites before that Giro were Remco and Roglic with Thomas 3rd. TGH was an outsider according to odds published before that Giro began. I don't recall this changing before his crash on stage 10. In the stage 9 TT TGH showed he was in good form just 2 seconds slower than Remco.

According to chatGPT here is the pre-race favorites list for 2023 Giro.

📊 Pre-Race Odds Summary​

Rider	Odds (Fractional)	Sampling Sites
Remco Evenepoel	8/11	even-money favorite
Primož Roglič	2/1	strong challenger
Geraint Thomas	10/1	seasoned podium contender
Tao Geoghegan Hart	11/1	former winner, poised
João Almeida	14/1	rising climbing talent

 

[AmRacer]

Recap
Remco would've won a couple of Giros
@Froome the Tour 8 times
Tadej the Tour times, so far
Jonas the Tour 4 times, so far

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Recap
Remco would've won a couple of Giros
@Froome the Tour 8 times
Tadej the Tour times, so far
Jonas the Tour 4 times, so far

If we now count imaginary GT wins, can I have one too?

 

[CyclistAbi]

Recap
Remco would've won a couple of Giros
@Froome the Tour 8 times
Tadej the Tour times, so far
Jonas the Tour 4 times, so far

Rogla would already catch Merckx.

 

[Berniece]

You must be the only one who see these things to be honest.

I’m not the only one. Multiple members have told you why he would’ve won those Giro’s.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I’m not the only one. Multiple members have told you why he would’ve won those Giro’s.

Remco would've won the Giro 's been a popular saying here since 2020. I would add 2019 and 2024 editions as well.

 

[Berniece]

Remco would've won the Giro 's been a popular saying here since 2020. I would add 2019 and 2024 editions as well.

Not to mention after winning Giro 2020 he would’ve won TDF-Vuelta double in 2021 too