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

[peterfin]

“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!)

I assume this is your source?

He expects Roglic or Lipowitz stay another year. Good. I think they will be able to manage the GTs together. I am curious to see Remco's schedule. I can' t wait for 2026.

"It's too early to say what it might mean for Roglic and others" - Red Bull - BORA manager opens up on Evenepoel transfer

Remco Evenepoel's transfer to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe was one of the first to be announced in this transfer season but it is likely the biggest move of the winter. For many months, whilst working...

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[Karl Merckx]

“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!)

"going for the classics" and Giro isn't really compatible.

 

[Charlyghoul]

He should have skipped the tour next year and gone for either the giro or vuelta.
Surely he’ll end up riding it now though. Maybe it’ll be ok if he has a good winter.

 

[AlpRaid]

"going for the classics" and Giro isn't really compatible.

Makes it complicated sure. But in 2023 he won LBL and was in amaaaaaaazing form at giro before COVID hit.

Also Pog (I know, it’s 24-25 version) did pretty well in 2024.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Makes it complicated sure. But in 2023 he won LBL and was in amaaaaaaazing form at giro before COVID hit.

He was flying in the stage 1 ITT but he got sick before the mountains came, so no real data value in that Giro in my opinion.

 

[Charlyghoul]

It’s a strange one, no one will expect him to win the tour , but he has a decent chance in a giro depending who’s there.
You’d think the giro would be the highest chance of success/ make the most sense.
If he goes all in for the classics and the tour he might not be winning anything major.
I’d like to see him skip the tour and do both giro and vuelta

 

[houtdffan]

"going for the classics" and Giro isn't really compatible.

sure it is. do UAE PN, San Remo, altitude, ardennes giro. Not too different from his 2023 schedule

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It's all RB's strategy to build a team of superdoms around Lippopotamus: first Rogla, now Remco. Hopefully they are not that naive to think they will lead the team anymore.

 

[Karl Merckx]

sure it is. do UAE PN, San Remo, altitude, ardennes giro. Not too different from his 2023 schedule

that's not really what "going for the classics" mean imo but whatever.

 

[Berniece]

that's not really what "going for the classics" mean imo but whatever.

What you are hinting at might actually work in combination with Lipo/Rogla. Instead of having Evenepoel ride WT stage races like UAE, PN, Tirreno, Catalunya, or Basque. Leave those to Lipo/Rogla as leaders, maybe let Evenepoel do one of PN/Tirreno as a co-leader, and the rest Evenepoel can do actual classics. MSR, E3, GW, Ronde, Ardennes classics.

I doubt Evenepoel and RBH will do this, but would love to see him try. They probably think riding cobbled classics is too much of a risk.

 

[Berflamand]

I would also like to see him in at least some of the cobbled classics for the first time.

Perhaps a schedule like this?

Figueira Classic
Algarve
(Strade Bianche?)
Paris-Nice/Tirreno-Adriatico
Milano-Sanremo
E3 or Gent-Wevelgem
RVV
Ardennes (Amstel - FW - Liège)
Dauphiné
Tour
San Sebastian
Canadian GP's
Worlds
Lombardia

But that's maybe a bit heavy on the classics side.

 

[Berniece]

I would also like to see him in at least some of the cobbled classics for the first time.

Perhaps a schedule like this?

Figueira Classic
Algarve
(Strade Bianche?)
Paris-Nice/Tirreno-Adriatico
Milano-Sanremo
E3 or Gent-Wevelgem
RVV
Ardennes (Amstel - FW - Liège)
Dauphiné
Tour
San Sebastian
Canadian GP's
Worlds
Lombardia

But that's maybe a bit heavy on the classics side.

I think that's great, basically just Pogacar's schedule but switching out UAE with Algarve. I wouldn't let him ride Strade Bianche.

 

[Berflamand]

I think that's great, basically just Pogacar's schedule but switching out UAE with Algarve. I wouldn't let him ride Strade Bianche.

It's very similar yes.

Pogi didn't do PN/Tirreno but he did do Paris-Roubaix (+ Strade Bianche) which is probably the hardest one-day race to recover from.

If you scratch Strade Bianche I think it's a reasonable schedule.

 

[Berniece]

It's very similar yes.

Pogi didn't do PN/Tirreno but he did do Paris-Roubaix (+ Strade Bianche) which is probably the hardest one-day race to recover from.

If you scratch Strade Bianche I think it's a reasonable schedule.

Indeed, and it gets him out of his comfort zone, while also not putting all his eggs in the same basket all the time.

 

[Andre]

It's all RB's strategy to build a team of superdoms around Lippopotamus: first Rogla, now Remco. Hopefully they are not that naive to think they will lead the team anymore.

...lead the team where?

 

[Wyndbrook]

sure it is. do UAE PN, San Remo, altitude, ardennes giro. Not too different from his 2023 schedule

Cycling to multi national corporate sponsors is the Tour De France.
Remco has been signed to ride in France in July and ride high on the GC.
Comments from Denk or others to the contrary are just not credible.

 

[Charlyghoul]

Cycling to multi national corporate sponsors is the Tour De France.
Remco has been signed to ride in France in July and ride high on the GC.
Comments from Denk or others to the contrary are just not credible.

I think this is why it’s a mistake for him to go there. He should have tried for a giro next year but it can’t happen now.
I suppose even if he finishes third and everyone makes a big song and dance of him then that’s better for the sponsors than winning the giro. Which is a shame

 

[houtdffan]

I think this is why it’s a mistake for him to go there. He should have tried for a giro next year but it can’t happen now.
I suppose even if he finishes third and everyone makes a big song and dance of him then that’s better for the sponsors than winning the giro. Which is a shame

I'd think red bull, who are not the sponsors, but the owners, would rather have 2 GT wins vs 1. Send him to the giro and Vuelta and tell Gouvenou Remco's not coming back until we have a real TT in the TDF

 

[Charlyghoul]

E

I'd think red bull, who are not the sponsors, but the owners, would rather have 2 GT wins vs 1. Send him to the giro and Vuelta and tell Gouvenou Remco's not coming back until we have a real TT in the TDF

maybe you’re right, but he’s almost certain to go to next years tour ?

 

[houtdffan]

E

maybe you’re right, but he’s almost certain to go to next years tour ?

send Rog and Lipo to the TDF

 

[Extinction]

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/fY8RLFqViik?si=O2ERgyHBRXH1bJVJ

 

[CyclistAbi]

Remco is paid too much to not do the Tour in the 2026 season.

 

[Prim]

Any updates or info? Nothing new on social media, Strava etc. as far as I can find.

 

[Berniece]

Any updates or info? Nothing new on social media, Strava etc. as far as I can find.

Nope, just training at altitude in Livigno until Tour of Britain

 

[Berflamand]

Any updates or info? Nothing new on social media, Strava etc. as far as I can find.

There's nothing on Strava from him personally but as Berniece said he's training in Livigno and has done some rides with Cattaneo, Meurisse and/or Masnada among others.

For example: https://www.strava.com/activities/15433195732