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

[Berniece]

Remco’s level is podium at best, this is the thing.
His fans seem to put him on a pedestal where he should be pushing Pogacar and Vingo if he were in some kind of perfect mythical condition which does not exist for him.

Not really the case, Evenepoel himself said that he just wanted to reduce the gap. I think that’s definitely possible with a proper preparation.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Remco seems to be underperforming, every time he doesn't win. And there's an explanation/excuse for it. 😆

Not true. I'm reasonable about expectations. For instance i never saw him win Amstel, LBL this year.
It's mostly people coming in claiming look he underperformed. And us telling, no we never expected him to win these races. You all just want to pretend we expected more from him during certain races and then call it excuses when we remind you, no we weren't expecting a win here cause of this and that. Scroll back, and you will see i was very clear about the things i would have liked Remco to win this year.

I think I said Remco should aim for:
- Brabantse Pijl
- Romandie
- Belgian Nationals TT
- UEC

He won Brabantse Pijl, Romandie was a bit of wishful thinking on my part. but he pushed himself too hard in Amstel, Waalse Pijl, LBL. regardless he was not going to beat Almeida there. He won Nationals TT. And i think he could still win UEC if he does not mess up by draining his batteries beforehand.

 

[Charlyghoul]

Not really the case, Evenepoel himself said that he just wanted to reduce the gap. I think that’s definitely possible with a proper preparation.

I think it’s more likely he’ll struggle to get closer, if Pog And Ving stay the same. He has some good competition coming through now, the last year or two has mainly been old Roglic.

 

[AmRacer]

Not true. I'm reasonable about expectations. For instance i never saw him win Amstel, LBL this year.
It's mostly people coming in claiming look he underperformed. And us telling, no we never expected him to win these races. You all just want to pretend we expected more from him during certain races and then call it excuses when we remind you, no we weren't expecting a win here cause of this and that. Scroll back, and you will see i was very clear about the things i would have liked Remco to win this year.

I think I said Remco should aim for:
- Brabantse Pijl
- Romandie
- Belgian Nationals TT
- UEC

He won Brabantse Pijl, Romandie was a bit of wishful thinking on my part. but he pushed himself too hard in Amstel, Waalse Pijl, LBL. regardless he was not going to beat Almeida there. He won Nationals TT. And i think he could still win UEC if he does not mess up by draining his batteries beforehand.

That's only you.

 

[AmRacer]

Not really the case, Evenepoel himself said that he just wanted to reduce the gap. I think that’s definitely possible with a proper preparation.

It depends on the route and the battle between Jonas and Tadej. They may not race hard due to lots of reasons.

 

[Berniece]

I think it’s more likely he’ll struggle to get closer, if Pog And Ving stay the same. He has some good competition coming through now, the last year or two has mainly been old Roglic.

Pog and Ving stay the same, and he actually has a normal build up, and the gap doesn't get reduced? Bit weird logic.

 

[Charlyghoul]

Pog and Ving stay the same, and he actually has a normal build up, and the gap doesn't get reduced? Bit weird logic.

He had a normal build up last year, I don’t see how he improves on that
Only chance is if Pog drops performance slightly, then it’s more tactical between him and Vingegaard, and Remco can hang on a bit longer. Doesn’t seem that likely, Pogacar is arguably only just entering his prime

 

[Red Rick]

I wonder if someone told him you can close the gap while winning the Giro instead of fighting for the Tour podium.

 

[Cycling111]

Valentin P.P. was very strong yesterday, and Van Wilder was important to the stage victory. Merlier looked stronger than Milan.

The team, considering they don't have any great climbers, seems very well prepared and has four stage wins.

It seems more like a problem with Remco's preparation, or something else, than a problem for Soudal in the Tour.

 

[Berniece]

He had a normal build up last year, I don’t see how he improves on that
Only chance is if Pog drops performance slightly, then it’s more tactical between him and Vingegaard, and Remco can hang on a bit longer. Doesn’t seem that likely, Pogacar is arguably only just entering his prime

Ah yes, crashing in april and breaking your collarbone has no influence on your build up for a race in July

 

[Charlyghoul]

Ah yes, crashing in april and breaking your collarbone has no influence on your build up for a race in July

Indeed, tell that to Jonas, but just add all the broken ribs and collapsed lung…

 

[Peyroteo94]

I know every rider should have fans but in this thread, some guys really live on a magical bubble. It's almost annoying to have somewhat a decent and reasonable conversation. Even after this disaster campaign in the Tour, I hear excuses all the time for his lack of shape. Before the Tour, all I heard was:
"Last year he was worse in the Dauphiné"
"Before the Dauphine, he is in the same shape of Tour 2024"
"Remco is flying in Sierra Nevada"
"I'm pretty sure he will close the gap to Pogacar and Vingegaard" - saying by some of his fans
"He will win the Tour one day"
"His preparation was way better than last year"

It's so annoying to read the same BS over and over again, year after year.
- His crash could be an excuse if the injury on his shoulder was really hampering his performance, it's not according Remco. Not me, Remco.

- Lack of base level? It doesn't matter if he was back on his bike in February. Doing your base preparation in December or February doesn't matter for the Tour (how many riders peak 2 months earlier for the Giro and they all start in December). If you are talking about Ardennes? Maybe, I still don't believe it (his performance in his first race was vintage Remco and recovery isn't important in classics. If it was, MVP wouldn't win half of his races) but you have a point in saying this.
He was training in a similar way to December in February, he said multiple times he didn't want to comeback earlier in order to not happen what happened in 2021. He came back after 2 and half months after his crash. He was in Sierra Nevada, getting quality miles for 3 weeks, you don't need altitude training camp if you are thinking in targetting LBL. You get better but it's obvious he was thinking about the Tour too (just read all posts here and people were saying the same as me).
Now, incoherence hits back, changed their opinion just because he can't perform in the Tour. Even after the Dauphine, I said he was racing both National races to gain some confidence before the beating he would get in the Tour and I was almost eaten alive here.

I will say again, he needs to change teams. This is his biggest problem (or not. I'm yet to see this).
For me, his biggest problem is other thing.
He grew smashing his rivals, being the next Merckx, winning everything. So he doesn't know how to lose and this is where his problem comes.
There is a guy, not just better but so much better and does to him what he used to do to others and his mind can't tolerate this and he crumbles.
Saw this scenario in this Tour,in LBL. He is not ready to suffer knowing he is losing big time.

This is my opinion, feel free to disagree.

 

[KoopaCycling]

To be fair, aside from some red flags like the comment they opted to rush him into shape instead of building his base, his team made it seem the prep was going okay. I even remember commenting when this came out, that doing so seemed like a mistake .

And he looked slimmer than in previous years. And so it looked like he was going to be capable of fighting for the podium.
Not him making any progression but him possible showing the same level as last year. In hindsight we know that is not the case. It's only after the Tour the team gave a more honest assessment about his training, and his condition.

I quite like that SD Worx commented ahead of time that Kopecky GT ambition are put in the freezer this year.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I know every rider should have fans but in this thread, some guys really live on a magical bubble. It's almost annoying to have somewhat a decent and reasonable conversation.

Its extremely ridiculous to put this only on Remcos fans in this thread, when the last couple of pages have been spammed with ridiculous and unreasonable arguments and strawmen from a poster that definitively isn’t one of Remcos fans.

There are plenty of Remco fans that are very reasonable in this thread, some of them are also very critical towards both him and his team. Do you not see that?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

So, how long are the mods going to allow the blatant trolling?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Do you not see that?

Yes but it does not fit the agenda.

 

[stekelegel]

I know every rider should have fans but in this thread, some guys really live on a magical bubble. It's almost annoying to have somewhat a decent and reasonable conversation. Even after this disaster campaign in the Tour, I hear excuses all the time for his lack of shape. Before the Tour, all I heard was:
"Last year he was worse in the Dauphiné"
"Before the Dauphine, he is in the same shape of Tour 2024"
"Remco is flying in Sierra Nevada"
"I'm pretty sure he will close the gap to Pogacar and Vingegaard" - saying by some of his fans
"He will win the Tour one day"
"His preparation was way better than last year"

It's so annoying to read the same BS over and over again, year after year.
- His crash could be an excuse if the injury on his shoulder was really hampering his performance, it's not according Remco. Not me, Remco.

- Lack of base level? It doesn't matter if he was back on his bike in February. Doing your base preparation in December or February doesn't matter for the Tour (how many riders peak 2 months earlier for the Giro and they all start in December). If you are talking about Ardennes? Maybe, I still don't believe it (his performance in his first race was vintage Remco and recovery isn't important in classics. If it was, MVP wouldn't win half of his races) but you have a point in saying this.
He was training in a similar way to December in February, he said multiple times he didn't want to comeback earlier in order to not happen what happened in 2021. He came back after 2 and half months after his crash. He was in Sierra Nevada, getting quality miles for 3 weeks, you don't need altitude training camp if you are thinking in targetting LBL. You get better but it's obvious he was thinking about the Tour too (just read all posts here and people were saying the same as me).
Now, incoherence hits back, changed their opinion just because he can't perform in the Tour. Even after the Dauphine, I said he was racing both National races to gain some confidence before the beating he would get in the Tour and I was almost eaten alive here.

I will say again, he needs to change teams. This is his biggest problem (or not. I'm yet to see this).
For me, his biggest problem is other thing.
He grew smashing his rivals, being the next Merckx, winning everything. So he doesn't know how to lose and this is where his problem comes.
There is a guy, not just better but so much better and does to him what he used to do to others and his mind can't tolerate this and he crumbles.
Saw this scenario in this Tour,in LBL. He is not ready to suffer knowing he is losing big time.

This is my opinion, feel free to disagree.

You can't deny that he was one of the most talented riders to emerge the last years; backed up by some great results. Logical that some of his fans had the biggest of expectations.
The simple fact is that Remco is not a natural GT rider and never will be, despite the obvious talent.
Vingeard and Pogacar had crashes to with interrupted prep. They still finished 1-2.
The talent remains but imho he will never be a GT rider like those two. En plus the injuries have probably allready taken it's toll, his team isnt up to standard and mentally he seems fragile.
For the moment I hope to see him get back to what he was before the last crash, get some results and take it from there.

 

[Berniece]

- Lack of base level? It doesn't matter if he was back on his bike in February. Doing your base preparation in December or February doesn't matter for the Tour (how many riders peak 2 months earlier for the Giro and they all start in December). If you are talking about Ardennes? Maybe, I still don't believe it (his performance in his first race was vintage Remco and recovery isn't important in classics. If it was, MVP wouldn't win half of his races) but you have a point in saying this.

He didn't do base level training. That's the whole issue.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

The simple fact is that Remco is not a natural GT rider and never will be, despite the obvious talent.
Vingeard and Pogacar had crashes to with interrupted prep. They still finished 1-2.
The talent remains but imho he will never be a GT rider like those two.

is there any pro rider out there that you believe is a “natural GT rider” and that is likely to become a GT rider like Vingegaard and Pogacar?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Read again. Didn't I say some guys?

Its extremely ridiculous to put this only on Remcos fans in this thread, when the last couple of pages have been spammed with ridiculous and unreasonable arguments and strawmen from a poster that definitively isn’t one of Remcos fans.

There are plenty of Remco fans that are very reasonable in this thread, some of them are also very critical towards both him and his team. Do you not see that?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Yes but it does not fit the agenda.

Or maybe it doesn't fit your narrative

 

[Peyroteo94]

He didn't do base level training. That's the whole issue.

It's not the problem IMO . He never showed a good climbing level this year meanwhile he rode some of his best classics and TTs this year.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Read again. Didn't I say some guys?

Then it’s completely meaningless complaining if you only talk about “some guys”, because then it would be zero problem to hold a serious discussion, if that is your intentions, with the majority that is sensible.

 

[houtdffan]

This schedule is unrealistic. Where will he do the altitude training camp before the Giro?

same as he did in 2023

 

[Berniece]

It's not the problem IMO . He never showed a good climbing level this year meanwhile he rode some of his best classics and TTs this year.

Did he? Classics he rode a great BP, against a shitty WVA, and a great AGR. He was *** at FW and LBL. Then he was *** at Romandie, Dauphine and TDF when he needed to climb. Sure he did great ITT's, but that's a different kind of effort and when you sit perfectly on a bike it's a bit easier.

I expected much more of him, because at no time did he gave me the impression that maybe something was wrong. Sure Dauphine was ***, but they said it was allergies. NC RR he couldn't close the gap to Wellens, but he worked the most all day. There were reasons to think it would be fine. Until he actually completely collapsed during the TDF, and was dropped by 80 riders.