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

[The fridge in the blue trees]

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

The same members that told us he'd win the 2021 Giro at the start and during the first week of that Giro. So the track record for the predictions of those members might not be the best.

 

[Berniece]

The same members that told us he'd win the 2021 Giro at the start and during the first week of that Giro. So the track record for the predictions of those members might not be the best.

Because people didn't have all the information. There is no one that currently says that Giro 2021 was stolen from Evenepoel. Bernal won it fair and square.

 

[Keldergoat]

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.

My post was more as a defense of Evenepoel's post 2020 achievements than as a criticisism of his 2020 year. The post I was reacting to said that his level's after that year dropped vs 2020, which is bollocks.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm just trying to imagine the Pogacar vs Evenepoel debates that would have happened while I would be sitting there yelling at the clouds that Roglic' TdF prep was *** by that Dauphine crash

 

[KoopaCycling]

Ppl claimed evenepoel would win LBL 25? On this forum or Bakelants whose takes are of the coocoo's nest.
I'm also surprised ppl believed he could win 21 Giro, then again ppl may have underestimated Lombardi crash, saw his pre-crash level and believed he was fully back on track. If so it's somewhat understandable. As we now know it was 2 early. His talent allowed for a good first week, but then it was over. In the end it took him a whole year of 'lower level' races to get back on track. I mean Danmark Rundt, Tour of Belgium, Coppa Bernocchi are nothing to sneeze at, but he achieved better results in his maiden season. He was only 'himself' again in 2022. and those results speak for themselves.
It's a pity he got Covid. It kinda derailed his '23 season. Not entirely but the results took a downward turn for the rest of the season. Since then we also got Basque crash, and Winter crash. I really want to see him stay healthy for the next couple of seasons. despite his achievements, it's clear his growth has suffered, and his career been a bit stunted cause of all the things that happened.

Only Gheoghan Hart, and Bernal have maybe lost more time cause of stuff that I can think of. Despite that his career been excellent. Maybe overshadowed by Pogacar but excellent nonetheless.

 

[Berniece]

Ppl claimed evenepoel would win LBL 25?

Apparently I said that, but I can't remember it. And I can't imagine me saying that after spring season. Maybe after AGR. Nevertheless I'll double down and say again that with proper preparation so no crashes, Evenepoel would've won LBL 25, since Pogacar was slightly more tired due to a long spring season.

 

[Red Rick]

Frankly racing the Giro with no prep was absolute madness. If you just ease in a bit you can take a crack at the Vuelta. That failed Giro set him back in '21.

For '23 I don't really think COVID derailed the entire season, he still got to the WC just fine and the Vuelta was more due to focusing on the WC than COVID in the Giro, and then the fall season was just being burnt out like happens to many riders.

 

[Netserk]

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.

While his ITTs were so good that he only had to defend, it's worth noting that he was dropped uphill in the Giro, in Catalunya, UAE, Suisse, and the Vuelta that year.

So if you simulate that Giro from stage 1 onwards, I don't think Evenepoel would be able to defend his lead most of the times.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Apparently I said that, but I can't remember it. And I can't imagine me saying that after spring season. Maybe after AGR. Nevertheless I'll double down and say again that with proper preparation so no crashes, Evenepoel would've won LBL 25, since Pogacar was slightly more tired due to a long spring season.

No, IIRC you said it after his awful performance in LBL. But I will search.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He won’t, but I will. Would’ve won this easily

Easy to find.

 

[Berniece]

Easy to find.

That was a joke. See how I said "easily", beating Pogacar in LBL isn't easy.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

My post was more as a defense of Evenepoel's post 2020 achievements than as a criticisism of his 2020 year. The post I was reacting to said that his level's after that year dropped vs 2020, which is bollocks.

Well, to be fair, the crash did set him nearly 2 years back. First time he reached that level again was LBL 2022.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

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

Please get in line like everybody else and wait your turn dude.

Now, Red Rick, how many Tours de France did you say you would have wanted to win?

 

[Red Rick]

Please get in line like everybody else and wait your turn dude.

Now, Red Rick, how many Tours de France did you say you would have wanted to win?

In my dreams I win 2015-2019 and then after COVID I become a glorified meme attacker

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

In my dreams I win 2015-2019 and then after COVID I become a glorified meme attacker

I will write down "runny nose" as reason for not being able to compete.

 

[Berflamand]

Even with all the setbacks, from 2022 onwards he has managed to win some pretty big races every year:

- 2022: LBL, Vuelta, Worlds
- 2023: LBL, Worlds ITT
- 2024: Olympics Road Race and ITT, Worlds ITT

So I guess we're still due a big win or two this year to keep the streak going. Worlds and Lombardia still to come (and if I'm being generous maybe also EEC).

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Please get in line like everybody else and wait your turn dude.

Now, Red Rick, how many Tours de France did you say you would have wanted to win?

But I made the initial request! Criminal behaviouor in pro cycling, as always!

 

[jmdirt]

Ppl claimed evenepoel would win LBL 25?

It was shocking how many people where on that.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

But I made the initial request! Criminal behaviouor in pro cycling, as always!

I still have not received my payment.

 

[AlpRaid]

looking better today.

 

[Berniece]

Answered very quickly to the attack of Vingegaard, a bit disappointing that he didn't try anything himself.

Looking forward to tomorrow, finally the first real long climb. He might be ***, or he might be good. Next two days we'll finally know.

 

[Keldergoat]

He might be ***, or he might be good. Next two days we'll finally know.

Quite a hot take on a cycling forum.

All jokes aside, I'll reckon he'll be fine, looking thinner than ever and sharp and very proactive in his racing style.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Remco looked good today. But on this terrain that isn't so surprising. Though in times past short steep climbs were not his thing. He seemed very attentive. And was there where he needed to be. Tomorrow is a big day. Hopefully he surprises us in a positive way.

 

[Berniece]

And Van Wilder was also there, he might also start to come through

 

[AlpRaid]

interested to see what he might do in the MTT. in the interview he seemed to suggest that it being just one climb, he may be able to push W/Kg a bit closer to the two aliens (as opposed to it being the last of many climbs).