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

[Netserk]

yeah, it kind of did. Vingo had lost time after PDB before the final MTF. It was 2:00. That is the definition of coming down to the final MTF

The battle for 2nd in the Vuelta this year came down to the final MTF?

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

“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, (1) trying to understand what Pog does and how to counter it

(2) 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

(1) It's pretty clear - he pushes more watts/kg and rides aggressively.
(2) I don't think this will work, but I agree he should try it and see. Riding behind him and watching him ride away when he attacks clearly isn't a winning strategy.

more flat ITT in 2024 and Remco may very well have finished ahead of Vingo

He likely races Stage 20 differently if he only needed to defend and take 90 seconds out of a flat ITT vs trying and failing to attack on that stage

Let's not think that 2024 wasn't close between Vingo and Remco. It literally went down to the final MTF to decide second

I don't think anyone had any real suspense throughout that Tour who would get second. Vingegaard dropped Remco early and often.

I don’t think Roglic will ride the Tour

I don't think he will either unless Remco demands not to, which I doubt. I think Remco will get first pick. Lipowitz will probably go to the Tour.

I would be surprised if Remco is not doing Tour.

But what could be possible is...

Remco - Giro
Lipo and Rogla - Tour
Rogla - Vuelta

I guess that depends on if Remco really wants to do the Giro or not... and what the sponsor thinks.

Otherwise this should be likely:

Rogla - Giro
Remco and Lipo - Tour
Rogla - Vuelta

What would be hilarious is if they send all three to Tour. I would enjoy watching the show.

I think this is the way. I'd expand it though as:
Giro: Roglic, Hindley
Tour: Remco, Lipowitz
Vuelta: Roglic, Hindley, Pelizzari

 

[HashRouge]

yeah, it kind of did. Vingo had lost time after PDB before the final MTF. It was 2:00. That is the definition of coming down to the final MTF

Only if you believed that Remco could make up two minutes on Isola 2000, which I'm not sure many people did. I really rate Remco, but he's never shown that he's capable of taking significant time out of Vingegaard on a mountain stage.

 

[Berniece]

Who would then if Remco would do Giro, Rogla Vuelta. Lipo? RBH would IMHO get murdered by the media.

I don't think he will either unless Remco demands not to, which I doubt. I think Remco will get first pick. Lipowitz will probably go to the Tour.

I think Roglic still wants to be a leader, which he completely deserves, but I don't think RBH wants to give him the TDF, and I also don't think Roglic wants this himself. He just wants to ride the races he wants, as a (co)leader, and not have to fight internally over tactics and strategies. If it really is going to be one of his last seasons, he should go for Catalunya, TdS, Vuelta.

 

[Jan the Man]

For Remco I personally would like to see something like-

Strade
Tirreno
MSR
Basque
AGR
Fleche
LBL

Suisse
Tour

Britain/Luxembourg
WITT
WRR
Emilia
Tre Valle
Lombardia

Maybe replace one of the WT stage races in Spring with more of a prep race like Algarve/Andalucia.

If he rides the Giro I think the Spring will be more Stage race oriented with the exception of LBL and possibly one of the other Ardennes.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I think Roglic still wants to be a leader, which he completely deserves, but I don't think RBH wants to give him the TDF, and I also don't think Roglic wants this himself. He just wants to ride the races he wants, as a (co)leader, and not have to fight internally over tactics and strategies. If it really is going to be one of his last seasons, he should go for Catalunya, TdS, Vuelta.

So Remco then to ride the Tour? With Lipo? What about the Giro?

 

[Berniece]

So Remco then to ride the Tour? With Lipo? What about the Giro?

I don't know the routes yet. I rather see Evenepoel win a GT, so I rather have him ride Giro or Vuelta than going for a TDF podium. But he and RBH will feel they need to fight Pogacar at the TDF. Which his honourable.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Berniece

I see, lets wait for the routes then.

 

[AmRacer]

@Berniece

I see, lets wait for the routes then.

Jonas will do the Giro, the last one he is missing.

 

[Cookster15]

I don't know the routes yet. I rather see Evenepoel win a GT, so I rather have him ride Giro or Vuelta than going for a TDF podium. But he and RBH will feel they need to fight Pogacar at the TDF. Which his honourable.

The value of a solid TDF podium pushing Pogacar should not be underestimated.

Remco did a great performance in the 2024 Tour - was even stronger than Vingegaard on one or two MTFs - including Bonette / Isola 2000 and the stage to Superdévoluy. I think he is capable of pushing Pogacar at the TdF if he can rediscover that level. Based on his age, Remco's physiological ceiling should also be a little higher now than in 2024.

But yes, need to see the routes so we can stop guessing.

 

[Berniece]

The value of a solid TDF podium pushing Pogacar should not be underestimated.

Sure, but let's say Pogacar will always be better than him in GT's. I don't think this will be the case, but I'm a dreamer. What's the nicest to have on your palmares. 4 TDF podiums. Or 2 TDF podiums and another GT win?

 

[Cookster15]

What's the nicest to have on your palmares. 4 TDF podiums. Or 2 TDF podiums and another GT win?

This is subjective. But if I was a Remco fan I'd like to see equal TDF podiums as "minor" GT wins - until Pogacar declines or retires. And how Remco rides those podiums matters too. I am sure Remco and RBH would loved to have had his 2024 level this year?

He has time on his side. If he can win the Giro his palmares starts to fill out. Even Alberto Contador chased Giro and Vuelta wins when his participation in the Tour was denied him for reasons which can' t be discussed here.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

The value of a solid TDF podium pushing Pogacar should not be underestimated.

Remco did a great performance in the 2024 Tour - was even stronger than Vingegaard on one or two MTFs - including Bonette / Isola 2000 and the stage to Superdévoluy. I think he is capable of pushing Pogacar at the TdF if he can rediscover that level. Based on his age, Remco's physiological ceiling should also be a little higher now than in 2024.

But yes, need to see the routes so we can stop guessing.

You think he can challenge Pogacar if he rediscovers the level he had when he lost by more than 9 minutes? @Berniece you’re not the only dreamer!

I don’t think he should assume he can never beat Pogacar or avoid him forever, but I think getting another GT win would be good for his confidence and palmares, more so than, say, third at the Tour next year. But he’s also a big personality and name so I get sending him to the biggest event in cycling.

 

[Cookster15]

You think he can challenge Pogacar if he rediscovers the level he had when he lost by more than 9 minutes? @Berniece you’re not the only dreamer!

I don’t think he should assume he can never beat Pogacar or avoid him forever, but I think getting another GT win would be good for his confidence and palmares, more so than, say, third at the Tour next year. But he’s also a big personality and name so I get sending him to the biggest event in cycling.

I didn't say that. Pushing is not challenging let alone beating Pogacar. In 2024 he was close on some stages like I listed. His ceiling should be higher now?

He can do the Giro and Vuelta when Pogacar isn't riding.

 

[peterfin]

I wouldn't mind if Remco does the giro and skips the tour, especially if the tour lacks a flat TT and is designed for the mountain GOAT. I also wouldn't mind if the giro is a battle against Vingegaard. It would be a huge challenge but something that is at least realistic if he can improve his training this winter.

If Gouvenou designs a mountain-heavy tour with a mountain TT only I actually hope that the tour ends up in a Pogi-show without Jonas and Remco. It would be so much "fun". Of course, I do not expect Vingegaard to skip the tour.

 

[Berniece]

You think he can challenge Pogacar if he rediscovers the level he had when he lost by more than 9 minutes? @Berniece you’re not the only dreamer!

I think his level can be much higher. Not crashing and training under Dan Lorang will get him a long way

 

[red_flanders]

I wouldn't mind if Remco does the giro and skips the tour, especially if the tour lacks a flat TT and is designed for the mountain GOAT. I also wouldn't mind if the giro is a battle against Vingegaard. It would be a huge challenge but something that is at least realistic if he can improve his training this winter.

If Gouvenou designs a mountain-heavy tour with a mountain TT only I actually hope that the tour ends up in a Pogi-show without Jonas and Remco. It would be so much "fun". Of course, I do not expect Vingegaard to skip the tour.

No argument with any of your points, but I just don't think there's any way he skips the Tour with the new team. Just not why they hired him.