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

[Links2003]

As Remco will now apparently be the best-paid cyclist behind Pogacar, this is of course a lot of pressure again. It won't be enough to finish 3rd in the Tour like Lipowitz or win a few time trials.

It can also quickly lead to tensions in the team. If he delivers victories right from the start, it will probably work well. But if that doesn't work, it can quickly destroy the team structure. The others in the team who also feel strong should work for the new member of the team and put their own ambitions on the back burner. He might even bring "half" the coaching staff with him. That can quickly divide the team. So I think it would have been better for Remco to bring along a trusted person or a team colleague so that he could integrate better into the team right from the start. That helps both sides and helps even if the sporting successes don't come straight away.

 

[peterfin]

Honestly? I think people overstate Pogacar's 2024/ 2025 improvement. He had an incredibly dominant spring in 2023, winning Amstel, Flèche, Flanders and Paris-Nice. I think his crash at Liege and collapse in the third week of the Tour shape how we view his season as they make him look less dominant than he did in 2024. But if you take a step back, he was brilliant in the spring and finished things off well with a third at the world champs and another win at Lombardia. Basically, I think he was already outstanding in 2023, it's just that in 2024 we got to see him have one of those perfect seasons where everything goes right.

The performance data shows that people are right. It's not an overstatement at all. He made an incredible jump in improvement vs his level from 2020 to 2023.

Tadej Pogačar - Performance level, year-by-year analysis, watts estimations

The ultimate database of cycling performance

watts2win.eu

 

[Berniece]

As Remco will now apparently be the best-paid cyclist behind Pogacar, this is of course a lot of pressure again. It won't be enough to finish 3rd in the Tour like Lipowitz or win a few time trials.

It can also quickly lead to tensions in the team. If he delivers victories right from the start, it will probably work well. But if that doesn't work, it can quickly destroy the team structure. The others in the team who also feel strong should work for the new member of the team and put their own ambitions on the back burner. He might even bring "half" the coaching staff with him. That can quickly divide the team. So I think it would have been better for Remco to bring along a trusted person or a team colleague so that he could integrate better into the team right from the start. That helps both sides and helps even if the sporting successes don't come straight away.

There is 1 coach that might join, and that’s not even sure

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

The performance data shows that people are right. It's not an overstatement at all. He made an incredible jump in improvement vs his level from 2020 to 2023.

Tadej Pogačar - Performance level, year-by-year analysis, watts estimations

The ultimate database of cycling performance

watts2win.eu

Similar but less exaggerated jump for most GC guys

 

[Links2003]

There is 1 coach that might join, and that’s not even sure

Ok. Thank you for the info. In many articles I read about 4 up to 5 people. One would not be a problem.

 

[Berniece]

Ok. Thank you for the info. In many articles I read about 4 up to 5 people. One would not be a problem.

Coach just one, and then his mechanic and massage guy. Because his mechanic is his nephew and the massage guy is his confidant that he has known since he was a baby.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

There is 1 coach that might join, and that’s not even sure

Who??

 

[Berniece]

Who??

The brilliant Lodewyck, known for his tactical genius. People think RBH paid that much for Evenepoel but it’s really for him.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The brilliant Lodewyck, known for his tactical genius. People think RBH paid that much for Evenepoel but it’s really for him.

Oh, but he is not a trainer/coach in the form i was thinking. He's a DS.

 

[Charlyghoul]

I think Remco should have joined a different team, I’m not sure which, but one without two gc stars already, I’m not sure it’s the right move for him

 

[Berniece]

Oh, but he is not a trainer/coach in the form i was thinking. He's a DS.

Oh my bad, thought you were joking. I went further on the terminology used by other user.

 

[Links2003]

Coach just one, and then his mechanic and massage guy. Because his mechanic is his nephew and the massage guy is his confidant that he has known since he was a baby.

I've interpreted the term "coaching staff" a bit more broadly. But then, that’s exactly the issue. His coach is staying with him, of course. Then there’s a mechanic and a masseur who also have family ties. Apparently, a sports director (DS) is coming with him too, and possibly a teammate from Quickstep. Additionally, a DS has already joined the team, supposedly hired independently, but he has close ties to Remco. And he supposedly made negative comments about Roglic as a TV expert during the Tour.

On top of that, Remco has by far the highest salary, and the bike manufacturer is also a personal sponsor. And then you enter a new team like that. Quick integration becomes very difficult, because the people he brings along aren’t just responsible for him during races, etc. Yet everyone knows they have a close relationship with Remco.

Other riders will have to take a back seat once Remco arrives—those who may have previously thought they could pursue their own chances.

Had Remco come alone, or maybe with just one trusted person, it would have felt more like joining on equal footing. As it stands, it’s a very difficult situation.

Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but even during the Tour, the team seemed liberated once Remco was out. Teammates who had been practically invisible before were suddenly up front in the mountains. There was even a stage win.

With Roglic, a big star already joined the RBH team. But he came with a small entourage. That was a whole different story. Back then, there was still much more room for others—especially since Lipowitz wasn’t part of the picture yet.

 

[Berniece]

I've interpreted the term "coaching staff" a bit more broadly. But then, that’s exactly the issue. His coach is staying with him, of course. Then there’s a mechanic and a masseur who also have family ties. Apparently, a sports director (DS) is coming with him too, and possibly a teammate from Quickstep. Additionally, a DS has already joined the team, supposedly hired independently, but he has close ties to Remco. And he supposedly made negative comments about Roglic as a TV expert during the Tour.

On top of that, Remco has by far the highest salary, and the bike manufacturer is also a personal sponsor. And then you enter a new team like that. Quick integration becomes very difficult, because the people he brings along aren’t just responsible for him during races, etc. Yet everyone knows they have a close relationship with Remco.

Other riders will have to take a back seat once Remco arrives—those who may have previously thought they could pursue their own chances.

Had Remco come alone, or maybe with just one trusted person, it would have felt more like joining on equal footing. As it stands, it’s a very difficult situation.

Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but even during the Tour, the team seemed liberated once Remco was out. Teammates who had been practically invisible before were suddenly up front in the mountains. There was even a stage win.

With Roglic, a big star already joined the RBH team. But he came with a small entourage. That was a whole different story. Back then, there was still much more room for others—especially since Lipowitz wasn’t part of the picture yet.

The riders of RBH that have commented have been positive. Which makes sense because negative comments you keep indoors. I think there’s only going to be an issue if Evenepoel doesn’t perform, but most riders in the team are aware of his strength and what he has achieved at a young age. So they understand it’s warranted if he delivers.

I don’t see an issue with bringing a mechanic and masseuse. A DS is different though, and it’s a shame Lodewyck is joining although that hasn’t been confirmed yet. Cattaneo joining RBH was going to happen even without Evenepoel.

 

[hayneplane]

The brilliant Lodewyck, known for his tactical genius. People think RBH paid that much for Evenepoel but it’s really for him.

That is one of the most puzzling aspects of the entire transfer.

Useless management, both through the season and in-race strategy, has been holding Remco back from fulfilling his highest potential yet it seems one of the most senior figures from Soudal Quickstep will actually be following him to Red Bull Bora. Very stupid decision.

 

[hayneplane]

The riders of RBH that have commented have been positive. Which makes sense because negative comments you keep indoors. I think there’s only going to be an issue if Evenepoel doesn’t perform, but most riders in the team are aware of his strength and what he has achieved at a young age. So they understand it’s warranted if he delivers.

I don’t see an issue with bringing a mechanic and masseuse. A DS is different though, and it’s a shame Lodewyck is joining although that hasn’t been confirmed yet. Cattaneo joining RBH was going to happen even without Evenepoel.

Cattaneo is a decent signing for them as he fills a role as a pure domestique for the mountains and rolling terrain where all their others have leadership ambitions.

 

[peterfin]

That is one of the most puzzling aspects of the entire transfer.

Useless management, both through the season and in-race strategy, has been holding Remco back from fulfilling his highest potential yet it seems one of the most senior figures from Soudal Quickstep will actually be following him to Red Bull Bora. Very stupid decision.

It means that Remco doesn't see the issue here. So that's a major problem that hopefully RBH understands quickly and can solve. I would rather like to see Sven Vanthourenhout in that position in major races.

 

[Oldman]

Cattaneo is a decent signing for them as he fills a role as a pure domestique for the mountains and rolling terrain where all their others have leadership ambitions.

+1. The real thing is how form shows up early in '26. Remco will now, hopefully; have some serious analysis as a cyclist instead of the un-crowned Prince of Belgium. Red Bull generally back serious athletes and pays them accordingly to represent the brand. Maybe some of the disgruntled cyclists that can't measure up to expectations will feel inclined to grumble but that sponsor wouldn't have it. Remco has earned this shot and when he's given the lead role he'll do what he's capable of. In this team context if those efforts aren't competitive he'll need to reassess. There are guys that will take the spot willingly.
I didn't hear a peep out of Florian when he was riding with Primoz. Did anyone? Youngsters on other teams like Del Toro should keep their focus on what's coming their way, not the status quo.

 

[Berniece]

That is one of the most puzzling aspects of the entire transfer.

Useless management, both through the season and in-race strategy, has been holding Remco back from fulfilling his highest potential yet it seems one of the most senior figures from Soudal Quickstep will actually be following him to Red Bull Bora. Very stupid decision.

I think (hope) he might still stay at SOQ. According to a Belgian journalist (Jonas Creteur), Vanthourenhout will be the dedicated DS for Evenepoel. If that's the case, I don't know why Lodewyck needs to join too.

 

[KenFiamingo]

+1. The real thing is how form shows up early in '26. Remco will now, hopefully; have some serious analysis as a cyclist instead of the un-crowned Prince of Belgium. Red Bull generally back serious athletes and pays them accordingly to represent the brand. Maybe some of the disgruntled cyclists that can't measure up to expectations will feel inclined to grumble but that sponsor wouldn't have it. Remco has earned this shot and when he's given the lead role he'll do what he's capable of. In this team context if those efforts aren't competitive he'll need to reassess. There are guys that will take the spot willingly.
I didn't hear a peep out of Florian when he was riding with Primoz. Did anyone? Youngsters on other teams like Del Toro should keep their focus on what's coming their way, not the status quo.

He needs to spend the winter in Spain. What good is training in Belgium during that period of the year.
I'm not even an athlete and I would rather work from there. But I can indulge in tapas, while he better not.

 

[red_flanders]

I think (hope) he might still stay at SOQ.

It's been pretty well advertised for 6 months now that he was done at SQS. Just don't see any chance of it.

 

[Andre]

...so do I have this right or am I way off?..Remco is going to have his own in-race decision makers and handlers at Bora, and the rest of the riders will have their own staff?

 

[houtdffan]

...so do I have this right or am I way off?..Remco is going to have his own in-race decision makers and handlers at Bora, and the rest of the riders will have their own staff?

as I said, the Red Bull Remcos

May as well put his face on the jersey the way things are going

 

[Berniece]

...so do I have this right or am I way off?..Remco is going to have his own in-race decision makers and handlers at Bora, and the rest of the riders will have their own staff?

You are way off. Why hire Vanthourenhout already and let him start with the development team if you are only gonna let him help Evenepoel?

 

[peterfin]

You are way off. Why hire Vanthourenhout already and let him start with the development team if you are only gonna let him help Evenepoel?

It shows both decisions (hiring Vanthourenhout and Evenepoel) are independent but they were probably smart enough to see the synergies if both succeed. When Remco starts, Vanthourenhout moves to the pro team so his focus on the development team is short. It's a typical low risk start for someone who will have a broad management/director role and needs to know the ins and outs of the team first. That's also why I think he can't be just an assistant sports director for Remco.

 

[AlpRaid]

“Remco didn't just come to us for the Tour de France, but for many other races as well. He's also going for the Classics, where he's already had a lot of success."

Music to my ears.(giro in 26 please!)