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

[red_flanders]

"Remco won't improve by another 15%, but I really believe that in the one-day races – I'm not talking about stage races – he can become Pogačar's equal." - his new sports director

Hey @proffate just saw this comment and moved it here if that's OK with you. Pretty interesting comments. 15% seems like...a LOT to expect anyone to improve at this level, ever. Not something I'd love to see my sporting director say out loud, the second part. I guess it's the Belgian frankness coming out, but yeesh.

I don't think whether he can beat Pogi is the metric for will he do the Tour this year. Beating him is wildly unlikely. But same goes for everyone else, so...I guess we'll still see a bunch of GC guys out there competing in the biggest race of the year.

 

[AmRacer]

Not a huge difference tho, if any.
Jonas had at the end of the 2022 season 3x 2nd (Dauphine, Itulzia and Tirreno) + 6th (Itulzia) and 8th (Pologne). If we just look at the 4 first that gives an average position of 3,0. Remcos 4 best results in the big one week stages gives 2,75.
But one cant argue in favor of Remco given what Jonas did after 2022.

Onley firsts count

 

[Shortcut]

I think it's just the term 'crazy bad' that some people take offence with.

I can't speak for everyone but personally I agree that his results in the big one-week stage races could/should have been better by now (even if there are some explanations for some results) but there's a whole lot of middle ground before calling someone 'crazy bad' at something.

I hope he puts this discussion to bed next season but honestly I'd actually rather have him win MSR or even a third LBL than a big one-week stage race if I would have to choose.

Yes i did use term "crazy bad", and of course i didn't mean it like insult but crazy bad for Remco. He probably doesn't even care about those races but maybe that is problem. We have seen him how good he can climb when he is all in. So i think schedule like T-A, Romandie,Giro for one year would be good for him. Maybe try LBL too if he doesn't mess with his climbing form.

 

[peterfin]

Yes i did use term "crazy bad", and of course i didn't mean it like insult but crazy bad for Remco. He probably doesn't even care about those races but maybe that is problem. We have seen him how good he can climb when he is all in. So i think schedule like T-A, Romandie,Giro for one year would be good for him. Maybe try LBL too if he doesn't mess with his climbing form.

He should 'try' LBL?

 

[Shortcut]

He should 'try' LBL?

Why do you take everything out of context? "Crazy bad", "try" and so on. Yes "try" at this point, i can't write "win it" since it was 3 years ago last time he won against Pogacar at one day race. I think at this point winning (if miracle happens) one more LBL doesn't change much but winning Giro does.

 

[AmRacer]

Why do you take everything out of context? "Crazy bad", "try" and so on. Yes "try" at this point, i can't write "win it" since it was 3 years ago last time he won against Pogacar at one day race. I think at this point winning (if miracle happens) one more LBL doesn't change much but winning Giro does.

Not gonna happen 2026, Jonas will race the Giro

 

[peterfin]

Why do you take everything out of context? "Crazy bad", "try" and so on. Yes "try" at this point, i can't write "win it" since it was 3 years ago last time he won against Pogacar at one day race. I think at this point winning (if miracle happens) one more LBL doesn't change much but winning Giro does.

You sounded as if he has anything to prove by riding LBL.

If the Giro becomes his main target, he should focus on that. He can try MSR and RVV in the spring if that works for him in the build up. That would be something.

 

[red_flanders]

Not gonna happen 2026, Jonas will race the Giro

Huge challenge but I don't think he's unbeatable.

 

[AmRacer]

Huge challenge but I don't think he's unbeatable.

Nope, Pogi does it most of the time but not always.

 

[Berniece]

I think riding for RBH and training under their staff will do wonders for him. He’ll win a monument, GT and big stage race next season