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

[AmRacer]

Everyone else not named Vingegaard and Pogacar targeting GTs has a fraction of the odds of winning big classics that Evenepoel does.

Big classics where neither Pogi or Mathieu racing?

 

[KoopaCycling]

Everyone else not named Vingegaard and Pogacar targeting GTs has a fraction of the odds of winning big classics that Evenepoel does.

Except that his classics season is not in jeopardy by riding GT's.

 

[Red Rick]

Big classics where neither Pogi or Mathieu racing?

Evenepoel absolutely has a shot at Sanremo and maybe RVV.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Evenepoel absolutely has a shot at Sanremo and maybe RVV.

No he doesn't, specially with his weak positioning.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Big classics where neither Pogi or Mathieu racing?

He destroyed everyone, including Van der Poel, on an Olympic route that really suited the latter less than 12 months ago. He did the unthinkable by reeling in Pogacar in Amstel less than 4 months ago with the same heavily compromised preparation that is plaguing him now. Of course he can win against them.

 

[No Excuses]

Evenepoel absolutely has a shot at Sanremo and maybe RVV.

No way, especially not sanremo

 

[Red Rick]

No way, especially not sanremo

You reckon Filippo Ganna is a better climber than Evenepoel?

 

[No Excuses]

You reckon Filippo Ganna is a better climber than Evenepoel?

No, but can't drop MVdP and Pog at the same time. Both beat him in a sprint.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Im with Rick here.
In top form he will make it over Cipressa with Pog and MVDP (and Ganna) and “all” he needs is one well timed attack.

RvV is gonna be very hard of course and he can’t match Pogacar and MVDP on Kwaremont+Patersberg, but if he can get away in an early move (like the move of Mads Pedersen in 2024(or was it 2023?) I wouldn’t rule out a successful 50-80 km solo.

 

[AmRacer]

He destroyed everyone, including Van der Poel, on an Olympic route that really suited the latter less than 12 months ago. He did the unthinkable by reeling in Pogacar in Amstel less than 4 months ago with the same heavily compromised preparation that is plaguing him now. Of course he can win against them.

Mathieu wasn't at his best, and Wout did a good job.

 

[AmRacer]

Im with Rick here.
In top form he will make it over Cipressa with Pog and MVDP (and Ganna) and “all” he needs is one well timed attack.

RvV is gonna be very hard of course and he can’t match Pogacar and MVDP on Kwaremont+Patersberg, but if he can get away in an early move (like the move of Mads Pedersen in 2024(or was it 2023?) I wouldn’t rule out a successful 50-80 km solo.

Cobbles

 

[peterfin]

Back to the TdF. What explains his collapse today? It can't be his lack if winter preparation or heavy TT bike only. He did approximately 6.3 w/kg during that 20 min climb, bad compared to his usual climb performance.Does he suffer more than the others from the heat?

 

[Red Rick]

He destroyed everyone, including Van der Poel, on an Olympic route that really suited the latter less than 12 months ago. He did the unthinkable by reeling in Pogacar in Amstel less than 4 months ago with the same heavily compromised preparation that is plaguing him now. Of course he can win against them.

Plus Brabantse Pijl already showed how much benefit he has from just riding in a paceline with guys of Van Aerts size.

 

[kingjr]

Back to the TdF. What explains his collapse today? It can't be his lack if winter preparation or heavy TT bike only. He did approximately 6.3 w/kg during that 20 min climb, bad compared to his usual climb performance.Does he suffer more than the others from the heat?

Why not? (not just the lack of prep, but also potentially the physical damage. Just look at van Aert this year)

 

[Red Rick]

Back to the TdF. What explains his collapse today? It can't be his lack if winter preparation or heavy TT bike only. He did approximately 6.3 w/kg during that 20 min climb, bad compared to his usual climb performance.Does he suffer more than the others from the heat?

No training base from the winter, so you can do the high intensity work, get better for a while, but you're not gonna recover as well so instead of getting better during the TdF you're just gonna go downhill from where you start.

 

[FroomeWagon]

Anyone have an opinion if today's results could have been due to having to go too deep yesterday in order to try and limit losses?

I know he is still in 3rd right now and mentioned yesterday that the goal was "the podium," but after yesterday and today, that doesn't look promising.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Cobbles

If he’s on his own (or in a very small group) I don’t think cobbles is that much of a problem. The Flandern cobbles are not Roubaix cobbles and he managed the cobbles in Brabantsje Pijl ok enough.

 

[AmRacer]

If he’s on his own (or in a very small group) I don’t think cobbles is that much of a problem. The Flandern cobbles are not Roubaix cobbles and he managed the cobbles in Brabantsje Pijl ok enough.

A small group with Mads, Mathieu and Pogi

 

[stekelegel]

Back to the TdF. What explains his collapse today? It can't be his lack if winter preparation or heavy TT bike only. He did approximately 6.3 w/kg during that 20 min climb, bad compared to his usual climb performance.Does he suffer more than the others from the heat?

He definitely isn’t at his best, bad preparation or even losing some of his powers after several serious injuries. And going very deep yesterday combined with lesser form, makes for lesser recuperation then your competition. He didn’t just have a bad day yesterday, the condition isn’t there.

 

[fenns]

So reading this it's been decided Remco is no longer a GT threat and we need to view him in terms of potential for one-day classics?

 

[kingjr]

So reading this it's been decided Remco is no longer a GT threat and we need to view him in terms of potential for one-day classics?

No. Where did you get that from? That doesn't follow at all from the last couple of posts.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

It's entirely a matter of opportunity cost.

Evenepoel is obviously a great GT rider as his results prove, but his biggest talents lie elsewhere. He's the world finest TTer on most courses, one of the very best Classics rider (possibly only below VdP and Pog, depending on the race) and very capable in one week stage races. He can win more Giros and Vueltas, but the Tour is always going to be a moonshot, especially with subpar prep.

I understand that there are many factors pulling him to the Tour, from sponsor obligations to his own ego, but unlike most other podium contenders he can win so much during the season to make a podium in this race almost negligible, after he got the first one last year. Stage hunting at the Tour and focusing on other big objectives would be better for his palmares, at least in most seasons.

Still, the Tour is the Tour, and who knows, he might get lucky. Wouldn't be the first third best rider to win a fortunate GT after a few abandons and mishaps.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

A small group with Mads, Mathieu and Pogi

No, he would need the small group attacking ahead of Matthieu and Pogi. The group with riders like Kung, Abrahamsen etc that tries to get ahead of the aliens.

 

[AmRacer]

No, he would need the small group attacking ahead of Matthieu and Pogi. The group with riders like Kung, Abrahamsen etc that tries to get ahead of the aliens.

Don't think Mads, Mathieu and Pogi let him go.

 

[Red Rick]

So reading this it's been decided Remco is no longer a GT threat and we need to view him in terms of potential for one-day classics?

Evenepoel didn't lose the 2022 Vuelta or the 2024 TdF podium today. He's simply one of the guys that can be the best of the rest behind Vingegaard and Pogacar.