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

[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.

 

[HashRouge]

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.

While this is true, if we put him alongside Pogacar, he doesn't actually have that much time on his side. The age difference between them is only 16 months - Pogacar really isn't that much older. I often forget, because Pogacar has been riding the Tour de France (and winning it) for so long that it makes me think there is more of an age difference between him and Evenepoel than there actually is. To be honest, they are close enough in age that it is not definite that Pogacar will be the first to decline. But the biggest issue for Evenepoel, I think, are the younger riders coming up, who could well start to challenge him just as Pogacar takes a step back.

Anyway, all that really means is I agree that he should be riding the Giro or Vuelta as well as the Tour, especially if there is a chance to avoid Pogacar and Vingegaard. Next year could be tricky, if Vingegaard rides the Giro and Pogacar finally takes on the Vuelta. But a rider of Evenepoel's calibre certainly shouldn't be waiting around for Pogacar to decline.

 

[Berniece]

While this is true, if we put him alongside Pogacar, he doesn't actually have that much time on his side. The age difference between them is only 16 months - Pogacar really isn't that much older. I often forget, because Pogacar has been riding the Tour de France (and winning it) for so long that it makes me think there is more of an age difference between him and Evenepoel than there actually is. To be honest, they are close enough in age that it is not definite that Pogacar will be the first to decline. But the biggest issue for Evenepoel, I think, are the younger riders coming up, who could well start to challenge him just as Pogacar takes a step back.

Anyway, all that really means is I agree that he should be riding the Giro or Vuelta as well as the Tour, especially if there is a chance to avoid Pogacar and Vingegaard. Next year could be tricky, if Vingegaard rides the Giro and Pogacar finally takes on the Vuelta. But a rider of Evenepoel's calibre certainly shouldn't be waiting around for Pogacar to decline.

There is another big difference though that you can add on top of the age difference. Evenepoel has been off the bike for more than 450 days already in his career due to injuries.

 

[Netserk]

There is another big difference though that you can add on top of the age difference. Evenepoel has been off the bike for more than 450 days already in his career due to injuries.

I don't think such injuries and the recovery from them extend the longevity of riders.

 

[scribers]

Are there any/many examples of head to head remco vs mvp?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

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.

I definitely think pushing means challenging but ok. I think he will choose classics + Tour schedule anyway.

 

[Karl Merckx]

Are there any/many examples of head to head remco vs mvp?

mostly worlds and olympics

 

[Berniece]

I don't think such injuries and the recovery from them extend the longevity of riders.

Not the longevity, but the gap between them now.

 

[AmRacer]

Not the longevity, but the gap between them now.

So, Remco maybe start to declining before Tadej due to his injuries.

 

[Netserk]

Not the longevity, but the gap between them now.

That's a fair point. I hope next season will allow a test of that.

 

[Berniece]

That's a fair point. I hope next season will allow a test of that.

I think the gap will get smaller, doubt Evenepoel will be able to match him. Maybe in 2027, around the same time Pogacar gets tired of winning

 

[Andre]

Remco
Lipo
Roglič
Hindley
Pellizzari
Martinez
Vlasov
Lazkano

....all in for Le Tour