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

[AmRacer]

Sure, Wout was not his best. Sure, Pogi has beaten Mathieu in a sprint when Mathieu is smoked and exhausted.

You thought Remco was gonna beat Wout in that sprint? I didn't. Remco didn't. I didn't think he'd beat Bilbao at San Sebastian, that guy has a sprint. Remco can surprise.

Nothing you're saying in the post quoted here is wrong. But nothing you're saying addresses my point that saying he "cannot" beat Pogi in a sprint might just be...a wee bit hyperbolic. For sure Pogi has a better sprint. It's not unbeatable.

Of course Remco did believe. Like I said, Pogi can beat Mathieu in a flat sprint some day.

 

[AmRacer]

If Vingegaard can...

Jonas is at Pogi level, or thereabout.

 

[kingjr]

Jonas is at Pogi level, or thereabout.

In a sprint?

 

[kingjr]

I remember Vingegaard beating Remco multiple times this year in a sprint

And?

 

[Peyroteo94]

And?

"If Vingegaard can..." i told you Vingegaard has been showing he is not bad in sprints because he already beaten Remco more than once.

 

[peterfin]

Is he? From what I have been watching, the difference is quite big. But maybe "being close" to you is not the same for me.

As I like to see the glass half full and you half empty regarding Evenepoel and his efforts to challenge Pogacar, I am sure we use different metrics. Being close for me for example means that he didn't lose that much time during the WC RR considering he decided to stop a few times to curse his bike. Other were also much further back during this hard race. It also means for example that he was able to catch him during the Amstel. Pogacar's game of attrition from far out works but Remco is closest to match that effort. It's also not a coincidence as Remco is also used to attack from far out with the endurance to win.

 

[AmRacer]

As I like to see the glass half full and you half empty regarding Evenepoel and his efforts to challenge Pogacar, I am sure we use different metrics. Being close for me for example means that he didn't lose that much time during the WC RR considering he decided to stop a few times to curse his bike. Other were also much further back during this hard race. It also means for example that he was able to catch him during the Amstel. Pogacar's game of attrition from far out works but Remco is closest to match that effort. It's also not a coincidence as Remco is also used to attack from far out with the endurance to win.

He got help coming back after his mechanical. In Amstel, Pogi was feeling PR and Remco wasn't chasing alone. Mathieu is closest in attrition races like PR and RVV.
Jonas is closest rival in GC attrition races.

 

[Berniece]

As I like to see the glass half full and you half empty regarding Evenepoel and his efforts to challenge Pogacar, I am sure we use different metrics. Being close for me for example means that he didn't lose that much time during the WC RR considering he decided to stop a few times to curse his bike. Other were also much further back during this hard race. It also means for example that he was able to catch him during the Amstel. Pogacar's game of attrition from far out works but Remco is closest to match that effort. It's also not a coincidence as Remco is also used to attack from far out with the endurance to win.

They'll say it doesn't count. They'll probably say that in AGR Skjelmose did a lot of work, even though himself said he barely did anything. And at the WC RR the same thing, even though they always lost time when Healy or Skjelmose was pulling.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Can you read last 2 years? when you say Remco is the third best GT rider, you also count the last 6 years? I remember seeing Roglic winning 5 GTs... hum, I smell some hypocrisy here...

... is it you?

 

[Peyroteo94]

As I like to see the glass half full and you half empty regarding Evenepoel and his efforts to challenge Pogacar, I am sure we use different metrics. Being close for me for example means that he didn't lose that much time during the WC RR considering he decided to stop a few times to curse his bike. Other were also much further back during this hard race. It also means for example that he was able to catch him during the Amstel. Pogacar's game of attrition from far out works but Remco is closest to match that effort. It's also not a coincidence as Remco is also used to attack from far out with the endurance to win.

Kigali wasn't a close race. You can see that when Devil starts to moan about the RR thread having just Pogacar fans with 20 km to the finish.

AGR, true.

Emilia, FW, GdL, 2024 WC, LBL were close? Where was Remco able to respond to Pogacar's game of attrition.
I know you will not have an answer to this so let's move on.

 

[Peyroteo94]

... is it you?

Exactly what I thought, no reasonable answer. Cheers.

 

[Cycling111]

Pogacar is probably the fastest GT rider.

He lost one aginast Vingegaard, but he's always won the rest. For a GT rider, he's fast.
Obviously, he's not faster than VDP, who's a big rider. But compared to other GT riders, Pogacar is faster than Vingegaard; the fact that he lost once was exceptional.

Pogacar has beaten Pedersen in two sprints: Glasgow and MSR 2023. That's very difficult and within reach of very few GT cyclists. Liege 2021 againts a fast riders, 2020, if it weren't for Alaphilippe. He won a sprint in the Volta Catalunya against may riders...
But I'd say the most notable ones were those against Pedersen. Few non-sprinter riders can say that.

 

[AmRacer]

They'll say it doesn't count. They'll probably say that in AGR Skjelmose did a lot of work, even though himself said he barely did anything. And at the WC RR the same thing, even though they always lost time when Healy or Skjelmose was pulling.

Remco wasn't pulling when Healy and Skjelmose pulled.

 

[Berniece]

Emilia, FW, GdL, 2024 WC, LBL were close? Where was Remco able to respond to Pogacar's game of attrition.
I know you will not have an answer to this so let's move on.

Emilia, WC, and Gdl 2024, Evenepoel wasn't properly prepared. There were 2 reasons for this. First he went on to race Olympics, and then he got very sick. So his prep time was much smaller compared to this year for example. You can also see this in the WC result of 2024 compared to 2025. He wasn't even able to drop riders that DNF'ed this year.

FW, LBL 2025 he came back from a crash and it was clear he completely collapsed during those races. Again. In normal shape, he would be at least 2nd in LBL.

So those races aren't good reference points for how close Evenepoel is to Pogacar. WC RR 2025 is, when you know where Evenepoel comes from with mechanicals. And hopefully he can show during UEC RR and GdL that he actually is close.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Pogacar is probably the fastest GT rider.

He lost one aginast Vingegaard, but he's always won the rest. For a GT rider, he's fast.
Obviously, he's not faster than VDP, who's a big rider. But compared to other GT riders, Pogacar is faster than Vingegaard; the fact that he lost once was exceptional.

Pogacar has beaten Pedersen in two sprints: Glasgow and MSR 2023. That's very difficult and within reach of very few GT cyclists. Liege 2021 againts a fast riders, 2020, if it weren't for Alaphilippe. He won a sprint in the Volta Catalunya against may riders...
But I'd say the most notable ones were those against Pedersen. Few non-sprinter riders can say that.

We've just seen Remco and Pogacar sprint this year. guess what, it was close.
With remco fooled and starting his sprint too early.

I would say Remco is not automatically beaten by pogacar in a flat sprint. If Remco sprints against Merlier, i give him no chance at all. he has a chance against Pogacar. Now it's advantage Pogacar to be sure. if only cause Remco will likely be starting from the front ... .Pogacar is more likely to win. But it's not the foregone conclusion some of you are making it out to be.

Ofcourse it will be a rare sight indeed to see these 2 sprint against each other on a flat sprint.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

I’m disappointed in myself for reading the last couple pages. Can we get back to something more interesting, like Rogco?

 

[Berniece]

I’m disappointed in myself for reading the last couple pages. Can we get back to something more interesting, like Rogco?

That romance doesn't start until January 2026

 

[KoopaCycling]

Remco season will end in Lombardy. Would not mind seeing him prolong it and add Chrono des nations to his program.
He did not win that one yet. As a TT guy it would be nice to add that to the list.

 

[kingjr]

"If Vingegaard can..." i told you Vingegaard has been showing he is not bad in sprints because he already beaten Remco more than once.

I didn't say he was bad. What's the head to head between Vingegaard and Pogacar?

In any case, I don't believe you want to argue that B has beaten A in a sprint, and C has beaten B, so A can never beat C. I believe we all know the sport doesn't work that way.

 

[peterfin]

Kigali wasn't a close race. You can see that when Devil starts to moan about the RR thread having just Pogacar fans with 20 km to the finish.

AGR, true.

Emilia, FW, GdL, 2024 WC, LBL were close? Where was Remco able to respond to Pogacar's game of attrition.
I know you will not have an answer to this so let's move on.

You prove my point. You use your metrics that suits your story. Anyway, we won't agree so let's move on indeed. We will see what the future brings.

 

[Oldman]

The name of the teammate who has a very close fit to Evenepoel is... Ilan Van Wilder, yes the same Van Wilder who had to abandon with a broken wrist during the earlier part of the race.

Well, it's good Remco's team had a plan; if that was his backup. It couldn't have helped Evenpoel's calmness knowing he was getting low on backup.

 

[AlpRaid]

Interesting phenomenon watching people come to the Remco thread to pound the table for how much better Pog is.

He's literally the most dominant cyclist the vaaaast majority of us have seen in our lifetimes. He looks unbeatable. Not sure what all the defensiveness is about, the delta between him and everyone else is bigger than for any rider we've seen since Merckx. Needing to stamp out any suggestion of a competitive race...it's odd.

Gonna suggest again that maybe the sport would be more fun to watch if someone steps up and beats him at some point, in some race. Vingo in the GT's is looking less and less likely. But still possible. Remco looks as strong right now as he ever has for TT's and one-day races and sounds crazy confident. But until he wins one...who cares. If Remco does win one...who cares. It's one. Not exactly a huge rivalry.

Just enjoy it. The seeming insecurity around him is...kinda weird.

One of the best posts I have ever read.

The Remco thread is arguably more populated with Pog fans absolutely obsessed with not just cheering their rider (have at it, please!) but needing to overcome this “weird insecurity” they have about Pog having even the slightest competition in any race.

But enough on that.

Two thoughts:

1. I cannot see how Remco could beat Pog this weekend. Pog is better than him at both types of climbs. So only some tactical thing, but I have no idea what that could be. Funny to think Remco dropped Pog on a hill in the 2021 Euros, when Remco was still inconsistent and coming back from Lombardia crash. And now…that is unthinkable. Totally different Pog.

2. All I want is a healthy Remco. No more crashes please. I want him to have a chance at being the best he can be. He has been that only rarely and it has been a joy EVEN if he still doesn’t beat Pog.

 

[topt]

If Vingegaard can...

Jonas is a better sprinter than Remco

 

[AlpRaid]

Jonas is a better sprinter than Remco

 

[SHAD0W93]

That was Musco, a different rider than Thinco. But it is a nice little counter than have bar one winning the majority. I’d think Evenepoel has a better chance though between the two in the flat.