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

[KoopaCycling]

i'm not against remco trying for the hour record. I just don't see it happening anytime soon.

 

[Berniece]

But has he ever ridden on an indoor track, for a longer period? I assume maybe to test some aero TT position, but always heard him talk about the windtunnel before. Don't know if it's something to train, or are the corners not that hard on the bottom of the track?

I know Campenaerts did months of training for the hour record, and Ganna is used to it.

He has. One of his first videos on his channel was about riding on the track. Vanthourenhout was also there so it had to do something with new Belgian ITT outfit I think.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Red Bull and their PR department could probably make quite a big deal out of an hour attempt.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I get what you mean. But if he prepares really well for it then the benchmark could be unbeatable for a long time. I suppose it's something he might care about.

Sergey Bubka made a business model out of breaking his own records. Duplantis is copying him. Not sure there is money to be made by beating the WHR but there is no reason why he couldn't improve on it 5 years down the line.

 

[Berniece]

Team Belgium is a bit worried about the impact of the altitude. They are worried not everyone will be ready in time with adapting to it.

Campenaerts:
There is a big difference between the feeling I had before I left here and the feeling that I have now. The wattages that I ride here are 10% lower than normal. There was a climb in the course of the Mixed Relay that took five minutes. It immediately felt very difficult. While I was riding a pace that I can ride in the Tour for 45 minutes. In addition, it may not feel extremely warm, but as soon as you cross your limit, you cannot cool down due to the great humidity. Your sweat cannot evaporate.

 

[peterfin]

Team Belgium is a bit worried about the impact of the altitude. They are worried not everyone will be ready in time with adapting to it.

Campenaerts:
There is a big difference between the feeling I had before I left here and the feeling that I have now. The wattages that I ride here are 10% lower than normal. There was a climb in the course of the Mixed Relay that took five minutes. It immediately felt very difficult. While I was riding a pace that I can ride in the Tour for 45 minutes. In addition, it may not feel extremely warm, but as soon as you cross your limit, you cannot cool down due to the great humidity. Your sweat cannot evaporate.

So will everyone else.

 

[HashRouge]

So will everyone else.

At least Remco (and Pogacar) should have the benefit of almost ten days in Kigali by the time of the road race.

 

[Peyroteo94]

At least Remco (and Pogacar) should have the benefit of almost ten days in Kigali by the time of the road race.

Without a doubt. Who wasn't able to be at least one week in Kigali before the RR, will not get a relevant result.
Urska told the air quality is pretty bad too so this race will be very hard.

 

[KoopaCycling]

so after all the noise about air quality and height. Should we consider Del Toro and to a lesser extent Van Wilder the real candidates for gold?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

so after all the noise about air quality and height. Should we consider Del Toro and to a lesser extent Van Wilder the real candidates for gold?

Del Toro has nobody in his team and doesn't need to play into Pogacar's hand. Van Wilder should be given a free role, would even be in Evenepoel's best interest. But I fear that's never gonna happen.

 

[Oldman]

Like Rick said, Evenepoel could break the record in his sleep. Just schedule it somewhere in the timeframe close to a big ITT goal (WCC, OG...).

I wasn't specifically referring that Remco would have any hesitation about his success. In general, it is one of the last things some riders put on their "must attempt" list. If there were big money in it; Remco could pull a Duplantis/Bubka gradual improvement for some motivation. He's a pro and races for money. Unless he sees the end of a career on the horizon he can let other folks burn up their time.

 

[Oldman]

Team Belgium is a bit worried about the impact of the altitude. They are worried not everyone will be ready in time with adapting to it.

Campenaerts:
There is a big difference between the feeling I had before I left here and the feeling that I have now. The wattages that I ride here are 10% lower than normal. There was a climb in the course of the Mixed Relay that took five minutes. It immediately felt very difficult. While I was riding a pace that I can ride in the Tour for 45 minutes. In addition, it may not feel extremely warm, but as soon as you cross your limit, you cannot cool down due to the great humidity. Your sweat cannot evaporate.

The pollution, UV and temperature provides a much heightened impact than the elevation alone.
Prudent riders will be watching their pulse rate more than wattage. Better to avoid any red zone unless it's the final effort which, for many; will come when they are being dropped and attempt to regain contact....then don't.

 

[red_flanders]

Like Rick said, Evenepoel could break the record in his sleep. Just schedule it somewhere in the timeframe close to a big ITT goal (WCC, OG...).

Bruyneel sez today on the Outcomes podcast that “it’s a rumor right now, but it’s gonna happen…Remco has apparently set his mind on the hour record. That’s on his wish list”.

At about 15:05

 

[Berniece]

Some training pictures from Rwanda

 

[Red Rick]

Bruyneel sez today on the Outcomes podcast that “it’s a rumor right now, but it’s gonna happen…Remco has apparently set his mind on the hour record. That’s on his wish list”.

At about 15:05

Tbh "on the wishlist" can be similar to things like riders talking about the Giro every year when asked in August and then not doing it the next year, or wishlist items like Roglic talking about doing all 3 GTs in a year and such.

Now I don't think this is like that, but it depends a bit on how hardcore he wants to prepare for it. IMO he can easily do the homework throughout the season on the setup, but not sacrifice any road season, and then just do it a week after Lombardia and smash it.

I don't think Ganna's record is fast for him at all, and wouldn't be surprised if he beat 59kph.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Roubaix was on Nibali‘s wishlist for years.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Roubaix was on Nibali‘s wishlist for years.

This was back when he though you could just hang on to the car for half the race.

 

[red_flanders]

Tbh "on the wishlist" can be similar to things like riders talking about the Giro every year when asked in August and then not doing it the next year, or wishlist items like Roglic talking about doing all 3 GTs in a year and such.

Now I don't think this is like that...

Just wanted to address this part...Bruyneel's tone was that he felt pretty sure Remco is going to do it. He's been a pretty good predictor of all things Remco in the past.

When and how, I've no idea, but agree the record is well within his capabilities.

 

[steffr222]

I guess Remco wouldn‘t even need that much of specific preparation for the hour record

 

[red_flanders]

Some training pictures from Rwanda

Makes me miss the presence of Wout. Long season, don't blame him a bit, but he'd have been a very nice addition to the tactics of this race.

 

[Berflamand]

Last big training ride today and he took the KOM on Mount Kigali for what it's worth (probably not much).

https://www.strava.com/activities/15932059656

 

[KoopaCycling]

Makes me miss the presence of Wout. Long season, don't blame him a bit, but he'd have been a very nice addition to the tactics of this race.

Nah, wout season was done by Tour's end. a wout in shape sure. This season wout (in the fall) would be no help at all.

 

[Berniece]

Tactically what should Belgium do in the RR? I'm in between 2 strategies.

• Take the lead in the peloton, close gaps, and eventually follow with Van Wilder/Hermans/Uijtdebroecks when high profile rider attacks.
• Make the race as hard as possible from the start. Use Vermeersch, Vervaeke, and Meurisse to drop as many riders from Slovenia as possible. Place Evenepoel in Pogacar's wheel and attack with Van Wilder/Hermans/Uijtdebroecks.

 

[rghysens]

Tactically what should Belgium do in the RR?

Be passive as long as possible until after mount Kigali, and then create chaos.

 

[KoopaCycling]

i would try and make sure zurich does not happen again. By keeping Remco well positioned and not much more.
Ofcourse if zurich repeats, you look like garbage. Cause you did not do much, and the train to close down Pogacar blew up in a heartbeat again.

If possible have 2 decent sattelite riders up front (that can climb and sprint somewhat). Use the WVA visma tactic. Either for defense or offense on top of keeping your main train ready for when stuff explodes.

If Remco has a great day, he'll want to battle Pogacar Mano a mano. wether that's smart is a different matter.
But i wouldn't mind seeing an honest fight. Amstel Gold one of the races of the season for me.

It would be a welcome surprise if Remco can make it that exciting again. Personally i still think nothing will be able to stop Pogacar from grabbing his second WC. But we live on hope, so hope remains.

Perfect scenario would be if Pogacar goes 100 km of the finish. And team belgium lets him swim before actually managing to reel him back 40 kms off the finish line (instead of imploding within 10 km). Then let Remco loose, try and see how far he can go.
Maybe he fails, maybe not.