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

[James M]

I don’t think he should forget about it. What’s the point of racing if you don’t go for the biggest goals? He can ride a season like Del Toro, but that would get boring really soon.

He has a target to work towards. Maybe he’ll never achieve it, but races are more fun if the likes of MVDP, and Evenepoel challenge Pogacar even if in the end Pogacar wins.

I agree I probably worded myself poorly there or you misunderstood me. I didn’t mean he should forget it like that. What I meant is that he has every reason to be proud and optimistic. On his own, he’s performed brilliantly here, with every reason to feel confident moving forward. Losing to Pog at the moment is nothing to be ashamed of let’s be real and doesnt make him bad, its and incredible unfair bar to be judged vs. The way I see it, over these past two weeks, he’s been operating at a super high level. He’s been excellent on his own.

That said, of course he should aim for more. That hunger should never go away thats not what I meant. The day it does, he might as well retire, and lets hope that doesn’t happen anytime soon.

 

[AlpRaid]

That's the beauty of the ignore button bah. I don't see AmRacer posts anymore. And it's a thing of beauty.

Same.

 

[KoopaCycling]

In remco's interview no mention was made of extending his season till chrono des nations. Let's hope someone in his entourage decides to tempt remco with extending his season for 1 more week. The chances are slim though.

His takeway from WC & EC is that he needs to continue to improve his 3-5 minute efforts.

 

[AmRacer]

To be on others ignore list, can be rather funny. When I don't get an reply from some, then I can assume I'm on the ignore list.
But since there's no reply to my post, the discussion ends and others who don't have me on the ignore list can of course read my post. Some of them replying or like my post, but the one I replied to won't know a thing.

 

[Cycling111]

To be on others ignore list, can be rather funny. When I don't get an reply from some, then I can assume I'm on the ignore list.
But since there's no reply to my post, the discussion ends and others who don't have me on the ignore list can of course read my post. Some of them replying or like my post, but the one I replied to won't know a thing.

The bad thing about ignoring someone is if they create a thread. You can't find that thread 😂.

I've had to unmute some of them because of this.

 

[AmRacer]

The bad thing about ignoring someone is if they create a thread. You can't find that thread 😂.

I've had to unmute some of them because of this.

It's difficult to find something that 'doesn't exists', or even know to search for it.

 

[Cycling111]

It's difficult to find something that 'doesn't exists', or even know to search for it.

When you search for the thread about a race or a rider and don't find it, it's because you've muted the author.
If you search without logging in the forum, you'll see that thread 😅.

 

[AmRacer]

When you search for the thread about a race or a rider and don't find it, it's because you've muted the author.
If you search without logging in the forum, you'll see that thread 😅.

If you have posted in that thread, maybe you could find your post.

 

[Berniece]

The bad thing about ignoring someone is if they create a thread. You can't find that thread 😂.

I've had to unmute some of them because of this.

One of the more fun extra perks of creating race threads for important races.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Yesterday was also another prove when it comes to lack of winning mentality of a lot of riders in the peloton.
You can't blame Seixas at his age, and that italian guy whom hasn't won much yet, to ride for silver instead of gold.
But put Remco at 19 in that group with established stars. he rides.

I'm not saying they should have completely thrown away their chances by riding themselves empty for Remco. I mean take smart pulls. Not fake pulls. Within your limit but actually do take some pulls.

 

[Berflamand]

2x Gold and 2x Silver at the Worlds and European Championships is very impressive and honestly a lot better than I expected after his DNF at the Tour. It's the most one could realistically hope for against an untouchable Pogacar.

Another podium at Lombardia looks well within reach but unfortunately the win looks even more out of reach against this Pogi (+ a full strength UAE team).

All in all, a great final part of this season and now we can only hope for an injury-free winter to possibly reach new heights next season with his new team.

 

[AmRacer]

2x Gold and 2x Silver at the Worlds and European Championships is very impressive and honestly a lot better than I expected after his DNF at the Tour. It's the most one could realistically hope for against an untouchable Pogacar.

Another podium at Lombardia looks well within reach but unfortunately the win looks even more out of reach against this Pogi (+ a full strength UAE team).

All in all, a great final part of this season and now we can only hope for an injury-free winter to possibly reach new heights next season with his new team.

You could argue Remco got better results than Pogi because of ITT's.

 

[Berniece]

Another podium at Lombardia looks well within reach but unfortunately the win looks even more out of reach against this Pogi (+ a full strength UAE team).

That's what makes it even more boring, that UAE team is so strong. They'll just keep everything together, and let Pogacar do his thing. I hope championships are going more towards including other riders so that there is a more exciting dynamic when the likes of MVDP, WVA, Pedersen have a chance.

 

[Berflamand]

You could argue Remco got better results than Pogi because of ITT's.

You could argue that but I'm not doing it. Are you?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

That's what makes it even more boring, that UAE team is so strong. They'll just keep everything together, and let Pogacar do his thing. I hope championships are going more towards including other riders so that there is a more exciting dynamic when the likes of MVDP, WVA, Pedersen have a chance.

Yesterday it was Pogi vs 5 Belgians and nothing changed, he's too good. But I agree that in Lombardy, with UAE being so strong, any surprise is basically excluded (unless Pogi crashes out).

 

[AmRacer]

You could argue that but I'm not doing it. Are you?

Yeah, 1-2-1-2 is better than 4-1-DNS-1. Of course RR is more prestigious than ITT, but anyway...

 

[topt]

another great showing, but once again increidble stupid tactic from Belgium to make it hard and blow up the peloton early. It might be the best way to secure 2nd, but to win Remco need to be able to attack in a flat part from a bigger group.

how exactly would that work against Pog ?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

how exactly would that work against Pog ?

It’s easier to surprise a rider (Pog) with an attack from a 30 man group than from a 2-5 man group.
Then if you attack on the flat and there are atleast a significant amount of kilometers (like atleast 5?) of flat road before the next climb it should be a good chance of Pogacar not going to the front and tow a big group, he would then probably wait until the hill before he attacks and starts the chase. Remco by a surprise attack can get 20-30s before the next climb he might have a shot.

Pogacar is so good that it might not work anyway, but atleast it would give a realistic possibility to win. If you make the race hard and the riders are man against man there are almost no chance to win.

 

[AmRacer]

It’s easier to surprise a rider (Pog) with an attack from a 30 man group than from a 2-5 man group.
Then if you attack on the flat and there are atleast a significant amount of kilometers (like atleast 5?) of flat road before the next climb it should be a good chance of Pogacar not going to the front and tow a big group, he would then probably wait until the hill before he attacks and starts the chase. Remco by a surprise attack can get 20-30s before the next climb he might have a shot.

Pogacar is so good that it might not work anyway, but atleast it would give a realistic possibility to win. If you make the race hard and the riders are man against man there are almost no chance to win.

Pogi knows now he cannot let Remco go, so it won't work.

 

[Salvarani]

how exactly would that work against Pog ?

If not Remco attacking on the flat or some false flat, others could have also attacked until someone gets away and Pog sits up.

But Pog obviously knows this and hence why he did a prolonged attack to isolate Remco and then drop him shortly after. As Pog is as strong as he is, offense is the best defense for him.

Like Belgium tried to control the last climb, with four guys, until Pog went to the front.


I think what you can criticize Belgium for was how they rode the penultimate lap of the long climb and why Remco was attacking or at least going really hard on the smaller but steeper climb. That wasnt wise or what the aim was to do that. I would like to know or understand more about that tactic, because it didnt seem very planned.

I think it was Sivakov who attacked and Remco followed up on it to ride hard for that part of the race, they caught the break and then it came together somewhat going into the lap for the third time with the longer climb.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Pogi knows now he cannot let Remco go, so it won't work.

One would think MVDP knew he couldnt let Remco go on the flat in the Olympics last year, but it’s hard to always stay on the wheel of a specific rider in a bigger group. If Remco drops to last part of peloton, would Pogi go back with him? If yes, then that is a great opportunity to attack with a rider like Benoot or something. If no, then that is a great opportunity to try a surprise attack with building speed from behind.

Would it work? No idea. But I think we’ve all seen over and over again that “making it hard” is not the way to beat Pogi, so why not try something else?

 

[Berniece]

Yesterday it was Pogi vs 5 Belgians and nothing changed, he's too good. But I agree that in Lombardy, with UAE being so strong, any surprise is basically excluded (unless Pogi crashes out).

That's because they made 1 mistake. They thought Evenepoel was as good as Pogacar. If you assume that's not the case, you ride differently.

When UAE is strong, they can just keep the race closed and make it as hard as they want. And in case of championships we are "lucky", Slovenia is ***. So it's nice that Pogacar has to do it himself, like yesterday. If you bring other contenders in the mix, on a course that isn't just a w/kg fest like WC/UEC, then you get a more exciting race.

It's not Pogacar's fault. I'm just saying that the race itself could be more exciting if it isn't suited to him perfectly.

 

[AmRacer]

One would think MVDP knew he couldnt let Remco go on the flat in the Olympics last year, but it’s hard to always stay on the wheel of a specific rider in a bigger group. If Remco drops to last part of peloton, would Pogi go back with him? If yes, then that is a great opportunity to attack with a rider like Benoot or something. If no, then that is a great opportunity to try a surprise attack with building speed from behind.

Would it work? No idea. But I think we’ve all seen over and over again that “making it hard” is not the way to beat Pogi, so why not try something else?

Mathieu was done when Wout got him back.

TdF Paris stage, they assaulted Pogi with multiple attacks and he was done.

 

[Cycling111]

Yesterday it was Pogi vs 5 Belgians and nothing changed, he's too good. But I agree that in Lombardy, with UAE being so strong, any surprise is basically excluded (unless Pogi crashes out).

This is worth highlighting because some people think that winning the Tour is just a matter of have domestiques.
Obviously, being alone precipitates his attacks.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It’s easier to surprise a rider (Pog) with an attack from a 30 man group than from a 2-5 man group.
Then if you attack on the flat and there are atleast a significant amount of kilometers (like atleast 5?) of flat road before the next climb it should be a good chance of Pogacar not going to the front and tow a big group, he would then probably wait until the hill before he attacks and starts the chase. Remco by a surprise attack can get 20-30s before the next climb he might have a shot.

Pogacar is so good that it might not work anyway, but atleast it would give a realistic possibility to win. If you make the race hard and the riders are man against man there are almost no chance to win.

He can surprise Pogacar and even gain 5", Pogacar would close that gap. Just like he did in the 2024 Tour.