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

[AlpRaid]

Apparently Evenepoel also started to lose faith. His training camp in Livigno was already guided by RBH

if so, then they did not do too badly.

otherwise RBH has had some glaring underperformances in last year. really glaring specifically from 2-3 incoming riders who fell off the map this year: Lazkano, Pithie, Van Gils.

And then there is Vlasov, Martinez, and Roglic who have also dropped for perhaps other reasons.

 

[Berniece]

Can they find a bus big enough to fit all the people wants to throw under?

That’s my interpretation, Evenepoel never said this. It’s also not known in the open that RBH managed the training camp in Livigno.

 

[Berniece]

if so, then they did not do too badly.

otherwise RBH has had some glaring underperformances in last year. really glaring specifically from 2-3 incoming riders who fell off the map this year: Lazkano, Pithie, Van Gils.

And then there is Vlasov, Martinez, and Roglic who have also dropped for perhaps other reasons.

Lazkano I don’t get either, but since we haven’t seen him anymore something must be seriously wrong.

Pithie said he pushed his best numbers during altitude camps before MSR

Van Gils has been sick a lot and will get operated to prevent that for next season

 

[houtdffan]

Apparently Evenepoel also started to lose faith. His training camp in Livigno was already guided by RBH

so, his end of year success was driven by Red Bull?

Yeesh! Not a good look for QS

 

[Breh]

so, his end of year success was driven by Red Bull?

Yeesh! Not a good look for QS

Why? He had a better post-TdF last year.

 

[red_flanders]

Why? He had a better post-TdF last year.

Better results, but I tend to think he was stronger this year.

 

[AlpRaid]

Why? He had a better post-TdF last year.

Huh!? What!?

His autumn this year was truly amazing and way better than last year. That’s what he was in Livogno for.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

You can't compare both years. Last year he had a great TDF and followed that up with double Olympic gold. After that he didn't have enough time to rest and recover, and his Worlds to Lombardia spell was clearly much worse than it was this year. This year the entire summer went to poopoo because of his crash pre-season, so he quit the TDF and build up towards worlds to Lombardia, trying to undo the damage that was done during spring and took more time towards his final goals.

 

[houtdffan]

“Remco Evenepoel is studying how Pogacar attacks” – Experts reveal how the Olympic champion plans to fight back in 2026

While many in the peloton appear resigned to Tadej Pogacar’s dominance, Remco Evenepoel is, according to Het Nieuwsblad analysts Jan-Pieter De Vlieger and Guy Van den Langenbergh, quietly dissecting t...

cyclinguptodate.com

Remco not giving up, trying to understand what Pog does and how to counter it

Think the thing Remco needs to do is go before Pog. He should have learned that from Stage 8 of the 2023 Vuelta when he took the initiative and kept Vingo from attacking, nearly dropping Vingo in the process

Sent his devastating pace and turn it into him vs Pog 1 on 1. Maybe deaden Pog's devastating acceleration somewhat, which may allow him to counter

 

[rghysens]

Wouldn’t mind him doing a classics heavy spring season, Giro and single day races after vacation

If he goes to the Giro, he probably won´t do a classic heavy spring season. Like in 2023 or Pogačar in 2024.

 

[houtdffan]

If he goes to the Giro, he probably won´t do a classic heavy spring season. Like in 2023 or Pogačar in 2024.

he could do a full ardennes like diluca did in 2005

 

[Berniece]

If he goes to the Giro, he probably won´t do a classic heavy spring season. Like in 2023 or Pogačar in 2024.

That’s true, hard to combine all of that. GT’s are probably the most important to him so depending on the route he’ll make a decision.

But I would also not be surprised if they decide to focus on stage racing and Ardennes classics unfortunately

 

[Berflamand]

I'll be very disappointed if he doesn't race RVV and especially MSR next year. It's high time he tries on these races as he has only ever ridden two different Monuments in his career thus far while being one of the best one day racers out there.

 

[Berniece]

I'll be very disappointed if he doesn't race RVV and especially MSR next year. It's high time he tries on these races as he has only ever ridden two different Monuments in his career thus far while being one of the best one day racers out there.

RVV I would understand even though I really want to see him ride it. MSR on the other hand he should definitely ride it. We can wait for the presentation of Giro/TDF to more discuss possible schedules.

 

[Berflamand]

RVV I would understand even though I really want to see him ride it. MSR on the other hand he should definitely ride it. We can wait for the presentation of Giro/TDF to more discuss possible schedules.

I could kinda understand it as well but I'd still be disappointed if he misses RVV. I really want to see what he can do in that race.

Positioning might ofcourse be a problem and he's not a world beater on cobbles but he thrives in attritional races like this and there's so many places (outside of the cobbles) where he can attack when the others are on their limit (well maybe except for Pogi and MvdP if they both race it).

 

[AlpRaid]

All rumors seem to point to a TDF with only one ITT in the last week and it would be an MTT.

So Gouvenou’s answer to Pog-domination is to provide a route that ensures it even more. Best Remco could ever do is third on such a route and maybe not even that…

He should pass. Or use it as an experiment for doing two GTs with Giro as the target.

 

[Red Rick]

Are people really gonna act as if the route even matters for Pogacar?

All a super TT heavy TdF route would do would be to kill the final "what if" about Evenepoel beating Pogacar.

 

[CyclistAbi]

At Giro there will likely be a motivated Jonas lurking.

 

[CyclistAbi]

So if Remco does the Giro and Rogla does Vuelta, as primary GT goal, then i guess both could undertake the Tour rather relaxed.

P.S. Or i guess both all in for the Tour.

 

[Netserk]

Are people really gonna act as if the route even matters for Pogacar?

All a super TT heavy TdF route would do would be to kill the final "what if" about Evenepoel beating Pogacar.

While the result of Kigali and Lombardia were the same and both inevitable, the race was much better with the route of the former.

 

[AlpRaid]

Are people really gonna act as if the route even matters for Pogacar?

All a super TT heavy TdF route would do would be to kill the final "what if" about Evenepoel beating Pogacar.

Just to be clear I was not for a second suggesting a more balanced route would hinder Pog as the winner. It was more about what Remco can get out of it. I don’t see much to be gained for him to target the TDF, not win a stage, finish third at very best, and possibly 12+ minutes behind in a Pog procession. How does that help Remco’s career?

It just doesn’t.

Never questioning who would win, believe me.

 

[AlpRaid]

At Giro there will likely be a motivated Jonas lurking.

Sure, sure, and he would be the favorite for sure.

But he is not Pog and if there is enough flat ITT Remco would at least be more competitive.

 

[BubbaChuck]

i trully hope remco doesnot think this way or seixas is gonna be problem ver soon.in red bull,its time to step up game.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Sure, sure, and he would be the favorite for sure.

But he is not Pog and if there is enough flat ITT Remco would at least be more competitive.

So better to go to Giro believing you can't really win it or instead to have a strong classics campaign and maybe to achieve a week long WT stage race win and after all that to undertake the Tour? For Rogla i am not sure either, Vuelta comes after the Tour, that is a plus.

The dilemmas.

 

[Red Rick]

While the result of Kigali and Lombardia were the same and both inevitable, the race was much better with the route of the former.

The difference in a Grand Tour just isn't gonna be tangible.

All you get when you giftwrap Evenepoel his dream route is you giftwrap him 3rd place in the best case scenario.