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

[Peyroteo94]

Not really. I always said Remco needs to look at the parcours, and decide on that.

I don't think so. He should race the Giro no matter what. TdF can have 100km of TTs but Pogacar will be there. He already was 3rd, why not going to the Giro next year even if the route doesn't have TTs? Many guys here believe he is the third best climber in the world so unless Vingegaard goes to the Giro, it doesn't matter if the Giro has 0 or 100 km of TT.

 

[theyoungest]

"From now on"? He'll be 36 in 3 months. There's every chance he will retire once his contract is up at the end of next year.

He'll be 36, but he's only been a pro cyclist for about 10 years.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm not sure what you mean by Vuelta 2023. The moment Remco cracked that Vuelta was over and won by Visma. Either Vingegaard, Roglic too strong. Sure media hyped up Ayuso to keep things interesting but in reality he never stood a chance of upending either of those 2.

UAE had Ayuso and Almeida. Certainly at the start of the race they weren't that much weaker than any of the Visma riders. But when for instance you have Fisher-Black trying to catch Vingegaard on his own rather than pacing back his team leaders, there's no real tactic involved to try and win the race. And then you get the media focusing on the internal Visma battle rather than on what the hell UAE are doing.

It's no wonder UAE have never won a GT with any other rider than Pogacar.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I don't think so. He should race the Giro no matter what. TdF can have 100km of TTs but Pogacar will be there. He already was 3rd, why not going to the Giro next year even if the route doesn't have TTs? Many guys here believe he is the third best climber in the world so unless Vingegaard goes to the Giro, it doesn't matter if the Giro has 0 or 100 km of TT.

Because he's the bigger star, and its much easier to ride a full spring schedule with TdF.

 

[Berniece]

I don't think so. He should race the Giro no matter what. TdF can have 100km of TTs but Pogacar will be there. He already was 3rd, why not going to the Giro next year even if the route doesn't have TTs? Many guys here believe he is the third best climber in the world so unless Vingegaard goes to the Giro, it doesn't matter if the Giro has 0 or 100 km of TT.

Red Bull isn’t paying him not to ride TDF. He might do both though

 

[Peyroteo94]

Because he's the bigger star, and its much easier to ride a full spring schedule with TdF.

Without a doubt. However it's the third time he will race the same schedule (if he doesn't crash) and if he wants to build some palmares in GTs, he needs to start winning GTs. I don't think he can fight for the win in the Tour.

 

[Gargamel35]

I'm not sure when and how did Remco become a GC rider but looks like this hurts his options a lot.
He's ok-ish GC rider but in the era of Pog, Jonas, Rog, new guys, he's not going to win a lot. On the other hand, he could win many stages in al GC races, 1 week races and 1 day races. Why do they push him into GC battle is beyond me.
Is a battle for 3rd place in GC on Tour really better, then couple stage wins?

 

[AmRacer]

I'm not sure when and how did Remco become a GC rider but looks like this hurts his options a lot.
He's ok-ish GC rider but in the era of Pog, Jonas, Rog, new guys, he's not going to win a lot. On the other hand, he could win many stages in al GC races, 1 week races and 1 day races. Why do they push him into GC battle is beyond me.
Is a battle for 3rd place in GC on Tour really better, then couple stage wins?

He hasn't won any of the 7 big one-week races, yet.

 

[Berniece]

It’s an easy decision to send Remco to any GT that Pogacar or Jonas aren’t racing at this point. Theres no point chasing a wild goose chase, it’s beyond obvious by now.

By now it shouldnt be hard to admit. Its the rational sensible decision. he isnt close to the level he needs in order to challenge that for the time being, unless the goal is to target the podium its a waste of his time to target the Tour now.

He didn’t have the opportunity to prove himself this year though. If I was him I would still try it at least 1 time with perfect prep

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I agree Roglic, despite being an Olympic gold Medalist in the ITT and with many ITT wins, is not the ITT talent that Remco is. And Remco had some big LBL and Worlds victories without Pogacar. I’m not sure I agree with this sweeping statement, though. Let’s see if Remco gets to 5 GTs. I’d also say that Roglic IS a generational talent given that he started racing a few years later in life than Remco joined the WT, and he still reached the pinnacle.

First of all, Pogacar was riding when Evenepoel won the World Champs in 2022. People simply forget because he didn't win or dominate. You know why? Because the Pogacar of 2022 wasn't the Pogacar of 2024-2025. Pog used to be beatable, but i don't know what they did after 2023, but he is in fact no longer human.

Evenepoel won some LBL without Pogacar, lol, ok. First of all, he won them by dominating the entire field, twice, not like Roglic won his only monument by following wheels and getting lucky Alaphilippe was swerving into all his competitors and then dumb enough to raise his hands too soon.

And of course you would need to bring up the number of GT's Roglic won since that is basically your only card. Roglic has the far better GT results, nobody is debating that. But so does Simon Yates or Geraint Thomas. Heck, even Hindley. When Evenepoel wins, he wins big. When Roglic wins, it's likely to be on boniseconds. Roglic is a calculated pro who knows his body. Evenepoel is a force of nature when he is fit and in form.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Remco not won a single monument Pogacar completed/competed in. Do you think Remco is overrated in some senses by some or not? mainly cause of the tier some fans put him in? I think he is.

You are free to think he is overrated. You'd be wrong. People have been on his case yelling he is overrated since he joined the pros. The first time he did a solo, was going to be his last, because now the rest would not "let him" ride away anymore. Evenepoel has the be the most gifted rider (i don't mean gifted as talented, but as actually getting gifts) in the peloton. It's actually funny. Since 2019, i have been claiming he is the best TT'er of this generation. But in 2021 people were all too happy to "prove me wrong" on this forum. Some delusional souls have been claiming for years and and some actually still do, that Ganna is in fact the GOAT. The only time Ganna ever beat Evenepoel in a big showdown, was in 2021, when Evenepoel was coming back from his crash in Lombardia. Before and after 2021, Ganna has not been able to beat Evenepoel at a Worlds, European or Olympic TT. Only in 2021. The only times he beat Evenepoel after 2021, was in the '22 TA and '23 Vuelta, the only time he beat him before 2021 was in Romandie '19. (I will not get into the "why" of those 3 instances).

Evenepoel is very much a worldbeater when he is healthy, injury free... Pogacar was there when he became world champion in '22, Van der Poel was there when he became olympic champion in '24. The only person missing that could have stopped him from winning LBL twice was Pogacar. If that is your only valid point, then everybody but Pogacar is overrated. He was there, and in far from his best shape, at Amstel this year, and he was actually the one who beat Pogacar, not Skjelmose. His LBL and San Sebastian wins are just as convincing and emphatic as Pogacar's wins (PS, out of those 5 wins, 3 of them had Pogacar at the start... you know, for the people who claim Evenepoel fans like to make excuses).

But after 7 years as a pro, he is still not anywhere near to being "the finished article" like Pogacar is. But the raw talent is definitely there. Needs to learn to stay on his bike, needs to stay healthy, needs to manage his weight. Whether that means he will be able to beat Pogacar should not be the bar to determine whether he is overrated.

 

[AlpRaid]

He hasn't won any of the 7 big one-week races, yet.

But Skelmose and Jorgenson have. Not sure how that factors in their GT record however.

Some here are so fixated on what they deem the “big” one week races. It boggles.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Unless you're in with a chance to break the record like Pogacar, stage hunting in GC is overrated.
Remco already has victories in every GT. Why go for something as relative insignificant for a rider like Remco as extra stages.

The only reason i can follow this logic if is remco best GT shape is very different from remco best body shape for other races. But i haven't seen that. Remco was at his best when his body had GT weight. Vuelta 22, WC 22. Tdf 24, Olympics 24.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Will Sven allow Lipo or Giulio to beat Remco at the Tour? We'll see.

 

[AmRacer]

But Skelmose and Jorgenson have. Not sure how that factors in their GT record however.

Some here are so fixated on what they deem the “big” one week races. It boggles.

They are the cycling community.
Remco is the only GT winner without a single one-week win, of the 7 big ones.

 

[Berniece]

Will Sven allow Lipo or Giulio to beat Remco at the Tour? We'll see.

Will Sven allow WVA to be the leader in WC 2021? We'll see.

Stop acting as if Vanthourenhout is part of the Evenepoel entourage. He isn't.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Will Sven allow WVA to be the leader in WC 2021? We'll see.

Stop acting as if Vanthourenhout is part of the Evenepoel entourage. He isn't.

It's like saying Hauptman wouldn't favour Pogi while still being national coach. It's rather clear that Sven will push for Remco as one of his biggest ally. If Remco will have results to back that up then all good, otherwise more of an Movistar tactics i guess. We'll see.

 

[Berniece]

It's like saying Hauptman wouldn't favour Pogi while still being national coach. It's rather clear that Sven will push for Remco as one of his biggest ally. If Remco will have results to back that up then all good, otherwise more of an Movistar tactics i guess. We'll see.

So because he's Belgian he will favour Remco? And Denk doesn't have anything to say anymore? Or Denk would automatically favour Lipowitz, just because both of them are German? These aren't adults in a multi million euro organisation that mostly focus on winning and being the best? They care about silly things like nationality?

 

[greyclouds]

Well, all of this is fine. Btw, regarding time trials—hes obviously the most gifted rider of this generation in that discipline. Its not even up for debate. His technique is literally perfected to a tee. In terms of talent in that field, there’s isnt a debate, it's pure nonsense if so.

Also, I might add that I personally rate Evenepoel highly due to his overall prowess and talent, no question there at all. Pogacar certaintly shouldnt be the bar to say hes overrated or not. I’m only raising the question because I think he’s overrated in some aspects, which simply comes down to the tier some fans put him in to me—nothing more.

I still rate Remco very highly overall thats easy to judge, but placing him alongside certain riders just isn’t justified based on what he’s shown. Saying that doesn’t contradict the fact that he’s still one of the most talented riders of this generation. You feel me?

He’s a generational talent, no doubt about that, even if he’s palmares is running shorter than his talent. He’s also not the new Merck and not clearly better than the other generational talents riding today - for arguments sake I rank Vingegaard, Roglic, MvdP as the other generational talents of the last 5 years. Pogacar is at all-time best rank.

 

[Gargamel35]

So because he's Belgian he will favour Remco? And Denk doesn't have anything to say anymore? Or Denk would automatically favour Lipowitz, just because both of them are German? These aren't adults in a multi million euro organisation that mostly focus on winning and being the best? They care about silly things like nationality?

You wouldn't believe what "little silly things" millionaires/bosses are capable of doing. Just because.

 

[KenFiamingo]

I'm not sure when and how did Remco become a GC rider but looks like this hurts his options a lot.
He's ok-ish GC rider but in the era of Pog, Jonas, Rog, new guys, he's not going to win a lot. On the other hand, he could win many stages in al GC races, 1 week races and 1 day races. Why do they push him into GC battle is beyond me.
Is a battle for 3rd place in GC on Tour really better, then couple stage wins?

Remco must be the only rider in history who's advised to find another job after winning a GT and ending on the Tour podium.

 

[KenFiamingo]

He’s a generational talent, no doubt about that, even if he’s palmares is running shorter than his talent. He’s also not the new Merck and not clearly better than the other generational talents riding today - for arguments sake I rank Vingegaard, Roglic, MvdP as the other generational talents of the last 5 years. Pogacar is at all-time best rank.

To be noted that those other talents excel in one single domain of road cycling, while Remco, like Pogacar, is competitive to the highest level in multiple domains (TT, hilly classics and stage races/GT's).

It took over 50 years to find a new Merckx. It's clear now who that rightfully is. Statistically it would have been nearly impossible to suddenly have 2 Merckx-like talents at the same time. Moreover, if that would have been the case, they would each be half a Merckx, cannibalizing each other and no one would even think to compare both of them to Merckx.

 

[AmRacer]

To be noted that those other talents excel in one single domain of road cycling, while Remco, like Pogacar, is competitive to the highest level in multiple domains (TT, hilly classics and stage races/GT's).

It took over 50 years to find a new Merckx. It's clear now who that rightfully is. Statistically it would have been nearly impossible to suddenly have 2 Merckx-like talents at the same time. Moreover, if that would have been the case, they would each be half a Merckx, cannibalizing each other and no one would even think to compare both of them to Merckx.

Add cobbles to Pogi and there's only one Merckx-like talent. Pogi wins stage races, GT's,...

 

[CyclistAbi]

So because he's Belgian he will favour Remco? And Denk doesn't have anything to say anymore? Or Denk would automatically favour Lipowitz, just because both of them are German? These aren't adults in a multi million euro organisation that mostly focus on winning and being the best? They care about silly things like nationality?

Yes i feel that it's reasonable to expect for Sven to favour Remco at the Tour 2026 if Remco signs for RBH and Sven is DS. Said that it's up to Remco to deliver and if he can then that is that if for whatever reasons involved he won't then i guess we are in a bit of a pickle, as to what next. We'll see.

P.S. As for Rogla i feel that he will manage just fine, one door closed another one opened.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Berniece

I don't feel Remco would sign for RBH believing that.