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

[Red Rick]

De Gendt did the 4th fastest time on the Stelvio that year. Which was pretty slow as a 25 man group went only 15s slower in 2017.

Altogether the picture is pretty clear that De Gendt is the sort of rider who trived in highly attritional races when the purer climbers are just gassed, and in that situation, saving energy does not directly lead to doing a much faster climb later.

I have not gone back to check the pacing of the actual climb and if the GC group started it way too slow, but alas.

In hindsight, we should have anointed him the future 7 times TdF champion, for he put 46 minutes into Geraint "Future TdF winner" Thomas that day

 

[wheresmybrakes]

So, what will Remco De Gendt's next race be? Sticking to ITT's and avoiding the big boys?

 

[KoopaCycling]

So, what will Remco De Gendt's next race be? Sticking to ITT's and avoiding the big boys?

He hasn't been avoiding them though. So not sure what you're implying.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

He hasn't been avoiding them though. So not sure what you're implying.

Just thinking if he wants to get some more wins under his belt, he may need to? Probably have to wait until next year for that, unless the WITT comes along.

 

[Berniece]

Just thinking if he wants to get some more wins under his belt, he may need to? Probably have to wait until next year for that, unless the WITT comes along.

He’s probably going to ride a smaller stage races before WC. We don’t know which one yet

 

[Karl Merckx]

Just thinking if he wants to get some more wins under his belt, he may need to? Probably have to wait until next year for that, unless the WITT comes along.

The only big boy above him is Pog. He's not gonna avoid WC or Lombardia because Pog is there.

 

[houtdffan]

He’s probably going to ride a smaller stage races before WC. We don’t know which one yet

should do the benelux tour so he can get a WT win

 

[AmRacer]

So, he's still resting? No base and no nothing to build from?
So, he should start training within next two weeks if he should have some kind of form. He must be in better shape then every other race if he should be competitive, except for normal ITT's of course.

 

[Ulle97]

Is Remco going to do the WC ITT before the end of the season?
He will hardly

Of course, why wouldn’t he?

I'm fairly confident that he'll do the WC ITT.

However, I ask about Lombardia as there appears to be an issue about his identity as a racer right now and there is uncertainty as to where he goes from here.

He dropped out of the Tour with fatigue and lack of preparation. However, I believe there was also a mental collapse too. The feeling of Vingegaard passing him on the MTT was a psychological blow that he never experienced before.

Any rumoured comeback for Remco seems to omit any stage races. So thats out of the question. Does he want to target one day races instead? He has already skipped San Sebastian which is the race that suits him best of all. So I think it's reasonable to query if he'll do Lombardia. You also have to factor in that Pogacar will be there, so essentially everyone is racing for 2nd place.

 

[Berniece]

I'm fairly confident that he'll do the WC ITT.

However, I ask about Lombardia as there appears to be an issue about his identity as a racer right now and there is uncertainty as to where he goes from here.

He dropped out of the Tour with fatigue and lack of preparation. However, I believe there was also a mental collapse too. The feeling of Vingegaard passing him on the MTT was a psychological blow that he never experienced before.

Any rumoured comeback for Remco seems to omit any stage races. So thats out of the question. Does he want to target one day races instead? He has already skipped San Sebastian which is the race that suits him best of all. So I think it's reasonable to query if he'll do Lombardia. You also have to factor in that Pogacar will be there, so essentially everyone is racing for 2nd place.

I think he is planning on doing stage racing this year though. He used to say Britain, although I would go to Deutschland

 

[KoopaCycling]

There isn't an issue about his identity as a rider save for those the media and outsiders create.
He dropped out of the Tour with fatigue and a body in need of rest. Yet somehow it's strange he does not ride San Sebastian two weeks later... .

He'll ride WC, EC and Lombardia most like, simply out of pride and desire. Can't say what other races he'll decide to do, and what shape he'll be in for them.

 

[Ulle97]

There isn't an issue about his identity as a rider save for those the media and outsiders create.
He dropped out of the Tour with fatigue and a body in need of rest. Yet somehow it's strange he does not ride San Sebastian two weeks later... .

He'll ride WC, EC and Lombardia most like, simply out of pride and desire. Can't say what other races he'll decide to do, and what shape he'll be in for them.

I think there is an issue with his identity as a rider. In particular, his Grand Tour credentials. I don't think he'll ever win a Tour de France so long as Pogacar and Vingegaard are around. Also, he ain't going to win one with the way current Tour routes are leaning towards the mountains with limited time trialing.

Does the man continue to bury himself trying to achieve this Tour de France dream and carry the weight of nations expectation to deliver a Tour?

Maybe, just maybe he could win a Giro or Vuelta again if the route was favourable. He wouldn't win the Vuelta this year for example. Too mountainous. Little time-trialing. And Jonas is there.

 

[Berniece]

I think there is an issue with his identity as a rider. In particular, his Grand Tour credentials. I don't think he'll ever win a Tour de France so long as Pogacar and Vingegaard are around. Also, he ain't going to win one with the way current Tour routes are leaning towards the mountains with limited time trialing.

Does the man continue to bury himself trying to achieve this Tour de France dream and carry the weight of nations expectation to deliver a Tour?

Maybe, just maybe he could win a Giro or Vuelta again if the route was favourable. He wouldn't win the Vuelta this year for example. Too mountainous. Little time-trialing. And Jonas is there.

Without those two he can win any GT he wants

 

[Ulle97]

Without those two he can win any GT he wants

Sorry now @Berniece ..... he would not win this year's Vuelta even if Jonas was absent from it. Look at the route and come back to me.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Just thinking if he wants to get some more wins under his belt, he may need to? Probably have to wait until next year for that, unless the WITT comes along.

Evenepoel has 8 career victories with Pogacar on the startlist. Pogacar has 24 career victories with Evenepoel on the startlist. While that is only 1/3rd of Pog's wins... it's still 1/3rd.

 

[Berniece]

Sorry now @Berniece ..... he would not win this year's Vuelta even if Jonas was absent from it. Look at the route and come back to me.

With a proper build up? Obviously not this year due to his crash in the winter, but he showed in Vuelta 2022 and in TDF 2024 that’s he’s the 3rd best climber out there

 

[Red Rick]

BingaBengaBongoBungaBanga Benelux Tour wouldn't actually be a bad idea.

 

[Karl Merckx]

Sorry now @Berniece ..... he would not win this year's Vuelta even if Jonas was absent from it. Look at the route and come back to me.

At his best his the third best climber in the world so the route is not a problem. (the problem is that he's not going to be at his best)

 

[KoopaCycling]

A guy that won a vuelta, finished third in the tour has a lack of GT credentials cause Pogacar and Vingegaard have been better. This narrative again. How about next GT no one starts. We just have Jonas and Tadej at the startlist for 21 stages. Every other GC hopeful should not bother to show up. Lipo, Roglic, Ayuso, Almeida, Onley and all the others. Pack your bags and go home. The race has already been ridden before it began dont you know...

 

[Peyroteo94]

Evenepoel has 8 career victories with Pogacar on the startlist. Pogacar has 24 career victories with Evenepoel on the startlist. While that is only 1/3rd of Pog's wins... it's still 1/3rd.

4 were TTs. There is no doubt he is better there.
Last RR win against Pogacar was 27 months ago where Pogacar broke his hand. Maybe this is important to say.
If not for this crash, we need to go back to WC 2022 (almost 3 years) for the last time Remco won against Pogacar in a road race.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

If I see any more De Gendt slander, I'm throwing hands.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

4 were TTs. There is no doubt he is better there.
Last RR win against Pogacar was 27 months ago where Pogacar broke his hand. Maybe this is important to say.
If not for this crash, we need to go back to WC 2022 (almost 3 years) for the last time Remco won against Pogacar in a road race.

Typical Pog fans, always with the excuses. Pog has won more TT's against Evenepoel in the past 2 years than Ganna. Pog has also won races when Evenepoel crashed out, i did not omit those either. Either can crash, either can get sick. Career wins is 8 vs 24. Simple and bare stats, no doctoring, no exceptions. Even included GCs in Pog's favor.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Typical Pog fans, always with the excuses. Pog has won more TT's against Evenepoel in the past 2 years than Ganna. Pog has also won races when Evenepoel crashed out, i did not omit those either. Either can crash, either can get sick. Career wins is 8 vs 24. Simple and bare stats, no doctoring, no exceptions. Even included GCs in Pog's favor.

Typical Remco fans avoiding the context and making excuses all the time.

So, what will Remco De Gendt's next race be? Sticking to ITT's and avoiding the big boys?

This user as you can see was saying Remco might avoid the big boys (in road races) and just races ITTs.
So my post was made according this. Remco doesn't win a RR against Pogacar since LBL 2023. Pure facts.

 

[KoopaCycling]

We also haven't seen much action between the Two in full flight.
Don't get me wrong, I would def. favour Pogacar atm. I think GT wise there is no debate.
But one day races, i think remco can get real close.

I would love to see it.

Lombardia 24 Remco was good, but not great. He was dragging himself through the fall, and only got fired up since it was Lombardia. Spring 25 Remco batteries emptied after Amstel, and Amstel remains one of the best races of the season. With neither Remco and Pogacar at 100% there. The only other great races were Roubaix, San Remo that i can recall in a moments notice.

So really here's hoping, we get a better 2026 season. Too many races without excitement this season so far. Maybe the fall will give us something. But I doubt it.

WC, many big guns not going, only hope is for Remco to come good, so Pogacar does not one punch it from 50 kms out. Vingegaard will show up as well, but like Ayuso he seems to go missing in 1 day races.

EC. Might be an interesting race. I think lots of good riders will show up in a parcours suited to many.

Lombardia , again only hope is Remco. Otherwise Pogacar wins this one from 70 kms out or so.

 

[AmRacer]

We also haven't seen much action between the Two in full flight.
Don't get me wrong, I would def. favour Pogacar atm. I think GT wise there is no debate.
But one day races, i think remco can get real close.

I would love to see it.

Lombardia 24 Remco was good, but not great. He was dragging himself through the fall, and only got fired up since it was Lombardia. Spring 25 Remco batteries emptied after Amstel, and Amstel remains one of the best races of the season. With neither Remco and Pogacar at 100% there. The only other great races were Roubaix, San Remo that i can recall in a moments notice.

So really here's hoping, we get a better 2026 season. Too many races without excitement this season so far. Maybe the fall will give us something. But I doubt it.

WC, many big guns not going, only hope is for Remco to come good, so Pogacar does not one punch it from 50 kms out. Vingegaard will show up as well, but like Ayuso he seems to go missing in 1 day races.

EC. Might be an interesting race. I think lots of good riders will show up in a parcours suited to many.

Lombardia , again only hope is Remco. Otherwise Pogacar wins this one from 70 kms out or so.

The question is in what shape Remco can show up? He kind of failed 'to be his best' until now. He hasn't started his training yet? It's definitely enough for flat TT's. If he failed to reach his best so far, he wouldn't stand a chance reaching it this season.