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

[CyclistAbi]

So, for the 2026 season, would you prefer if Rogla and Remco do Ardennes classics and the Tour together or would you prefer it more if the schedules would be separate?

 

[Berniece]

So, for the 2026 season, would you prefer if Rogla and Remco do Ardennes classics and the Tour together or would you prefer it more if the schedules would be separate?

Depends on the role of Roglic. TDF is debatable and can be decided on the road, but in the Ardennes classics I wouldn't expect Roglic to be a co-leader or even have a free role. He hasn't ridden Ardennes since 2021... Which is also why he won't ride it next year, there are other riders in the team for that.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Berniece

I see, for Ardennes classics hence you would prefer if they don't both go, as for the Tour i assume you would prefer if both went.

 

[CyclistAbi]

In terms of stage racing, week long, separate or combined schedule?

 

[Berniece]

@Berniece

I see, for Ardennes classics hence you would prefer if they don't both go, as for the Tour i assume you would prefer if both went.

No that's not what I meant.
Ardennes Classics: Evenepoel
TDF: Both

 

[Berniece]

In terms of stage racing, week long, separate or combined schedule?

You also have to take Lipowitz and Pellizari into account. So they'll always have 2 leaders in stage races. Which is a good thing. Combination of who rides with who doesn't matter to me, as long as everyone rides for each other when the other one is doing better.

 

[CyclistAbi]

No that's not what I meant.
Ardennes Classics: Evenepoel
TDF: Both

I mean didn't we both write the exact same thing?

You also have to take Lipowitz and Pellizari into account. So they'll always have 2 leaders in stage races. Which is a good thing. Combination of who rides with who doesn't matter to me, as long as everyone rides for each other when the other one is doing better.

Still, would you prefer if Rogla and Remco have a combined or separate (or i guess mixed and a bit of both) week long stage racing schedule in 2026 season.

 

[Berniece]

Still, would you prefer if Rogla and Remco have a combined or separate (or i guess mixed and a bit of both) week long stage racing schedule in 2026 season.

Probably separate because they are too similar as riders. Strategically it would be better to match them with Lipo/Pellizari to have a wider range of options. Personally I would like to see them ride together and work for each other though.

 

[Extinction]

You also have to take Lipowitz and Pellizari into account. So they'll always have 2 leaders in stage races. Which is a good thing. Combination of who rides with who doesn't matter to me, as long as everyone rides for each other when the other one is doing better.

It's true, Pellizzari is coming into his own. We all saw how he was composed today when dropped and then came back with surpuss. A force.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Berniece

I see so basically:

• Ardennes classics you would prefer Remco only.
• Week long stage racing you would prefer separate schedules.
• Tour here you would prefer if both go.

OK. Currently i would have them at:

• Ardennes classics both doing LBL/FW.
• Week long stage racing i would prefer if they do one together.
• Tour here i agree and i would send both.

We'll see.

 

[houtdffan]

@Berniece

I see so basically:

• Ardennes classics you would prefer Remco only.
• Week long stage racing you would prefer separate schedules.
• Tour here you would prefer if both go.

OK. Currently i would have them at:

• Ardennes classics both doing LBL/FW.
• Week long stage racing i would prefer if they do one together.
• Tour here i agree and i would send both.

We'll see.

Red Bull has already said they are waiting for the routes before deciding which GTs Remco will do.

The TDF is not guaranteed, especially if Gouvenou jumps the shark

 

[CyclistAbi]

@houtdffan

I mean this was hypothetical question on preferences for the first half of the season. Now as for debate on how realistic it is, for either of them to avoid the Tour. It's i guess possible, anything indeed is i guess possible.

 

[Berniece]

@houtdffan

I mean this was hypothetical question on preferences for the first half of the season. Now as for debate on how realistic it is, for either of them to avoid the Tour. It's i guess possible, anything indeed is i guess possible.

Maybe they both ride Giro and Vuelta

 

[Hugh Januss]

It's true, Pellizzari is coming into his own. We all saw how he was composed today when dropped and then came back with surpuss. A force.

Not at Lipo's level though.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Depends on the role of Roglic. TDF is debatable and can be decided on the road, but in the Ardennes classics I wouldn't expect Roglic to be a co-leader or even have a free role. He hasn't ridden Ardennes since 2021... Which is also why he won't ride it next year, there are other riders in the team for that.

Normally I would say Roglic should go for FW. It's a crime that he tried this race only once but his stomp & chances are gone, it seems.

 

[Berniece]

Normally I would say Roglic should go for FW. It's a crime that he tried this race only once but his stomp & chances are gone, it seems.

His strengths have been changed, a shame we haven’t seen that this year due to injuries.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Maybe they both ride Giro and Vuelta

Anything is possible but imagine they really announced that, reality in the end is geared towards the Tour. We'll see.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Remco wins the stage, but gregoire still in the overall lead. doubt tomorrow will be hard enough to make that deficit up.
Tour of britain not that important both as a benchmark and as general standing, but would still be nice if he could have gotten gc here.

There is a short steep climb near the end tomorrow, but i doubt it's long and hard enough to create gaps with Gregoire.
He can only try i guess.

Ultimately remco's mechanical or simply not having the legs yesterday to sprint for the bonies might prove the difference.

 

[Didinho]

Solid victory today. Good punch in the end.

 

[AmRacer]

Remco wasn't able to drop anyone.

 

[AlpRaid]

Remco wins the stage, but gregoire still in the overall lead. doubt tomorrow will be hard enough to make that deficit up.
Tour of britain not that important both as a benchmark and as general standing, but would still be nice if he could have gotten gc here.

There is a short steep climb near the end tomorrow, but i doubt it's long and hard enough to create gaps with Gregoire.
He can only try i guess.

Ultimately remco's mechanical or simply not having the legs yesterday to sprint for the bonies might prove the difference.

From his interview it does not seem like he cares too much. Rain expected and he says he won’t take any risks.

Serious headwind in last 3k today. Why Sivakov and Onley were “blown back”.

 

[KoopaCycling]

From his interview it does not seem like he cares too much. Rain expected and he says he won’t take any risks.

Serious headwind in last 3k today. Why Sivakov and Onley were “blown back”.

True but it's a short stage, and last climb is only 7 km to go from finish. why not try for a short effort tomorrow at the end of the stage. unless that last descent is that dangerous and you don't want to take any risks for a not so important gc.

Also today showed why moving to red Bull is important. Not against the likes of Pogacar and Vingegaard. But against everyone else. Everyone was looking at remco to burn himself up in the headwind and take advantage. Today Van Wilder was there, but usually he's alone on soudal, and he's forced to burn his matches and forced to look on whilst others take advantage of him. On a red bull train he can sit on and time his own jump without needing to pace the group himself.

 

[AmRacer]

The LBL winning Remco would drop this Remco.

 

[tobydawq]

Better to take The Tumble than take a tumble for a change.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Better to take The Tumble than take a tumble for a change.

True, that brake check was unnecessary though. Hopefully he won't repeat that.