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

[vappaxbipmv]

The flaw in your logic is the rest of the GC field that Remco beat. Remco was better than Almeida and Landa. Carlos Rodriguez and Adam Yates are handy climbers too. As for Jonas, sure his level dropped late in the 3rd week except Jonas did his best ever watts on PdB on stage 15 and Remco still beat Pantanis record by a minute.

But not sure why you assume Remco can't improve on his 2024 level? I am not even a big Remco fan but fair is fair 2024 TdF was a very good performance.

And Jonas is three years older. So likely he will be the first to decline. I still favor Vingegaard for the 2026 Giro but for how long after that? We will see.

You mentioned 3 helpers and Rodriguez who was worse than in 2023. Also, the difference wasn't as big as the final GC suggests because when Pogacar attacked, only Jonas and Remco followed, the rest didn't even try most of the time and looked at each other who will pull and I refuse to believe that there were 5-10 riders on the same level on a certain day. Also, I don't see how PdB is in any correlation with 3rd week, it wasn't in 3rd week. And stop mentioning that Pantani record because it was one of the worst records he had. Even a thermonuclear Pogacar can't beat a good record by almost 4 minutes, not even close. And btw, Remco only beat Landa by 1 minute in 10k, give or take, not exactly a fantastic climbing performance

I never said I assume that Remco can't improve his climbing level from 2024. But based on what we have seen so far, he didn't do that. I'm basing my theory on past and facts and many Remco fans on hypotheticals and future

 

[Berniece]

I never said I assume that Remco can't improve his climbing level from 2024. But based on what we have seen so far, he didn't do that. I'm basing my theory on past and facts and many Remco fans on hypotheticals and future

Who says his climbing at Lombardia and UEC RR wasn't already better? Weighing 2kg's above his GT weight too.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Who says his climbing at Lombardia and UEC RR wasn't already better? Weighing 2kg's above his GT weight too.

According to LR, he did 0,2 w/kg more this year in Lombardia compared to PdB on a 20 minute shorter climb, plus this is a 1 day race and that was stage 15 of the Tour. So no, I don't consider any climbing performance this year better than his PdB one

 

[Berniece]

According to LR, he did 0,2 w/kg more this year in Lombardia compared to PdB on a 20 minute shorter climb, plus this is a 1 day race and that was stage 15 of the Tour. So no, I don't consider any climbing performance this year better than his PdB one

That's fair, probably influenced by his weight. 2kg's make a big difference, assuming he is able to push the same amount of watts uphill

 

[AmRacer]

That's fair, probably influenced by his weight. 2kg's make a big difference, assuming he is able to push the same amount of watts uphill

Remco's weight is the most discussed topic in this thread.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

That's fair, probably influenced by his weight. 2kg's make a big difference, assuming he is able to push the same amount of watts uphill

In their calculations the weight is irrelevant because they use standard weight. However it is possible that he could climb a bit faster if he was at optimal weight

 

[KenFiamingo]

Remco's weight is the most discussed topic in this thread.

Well, he called that upon himself:

• GT weight: 61kg
• ECC 2025: 63,5kg
• Off-season: +4/5 kg==> +-67/68kg then?

For an athlete that's quite a stretch IMO. Especially when climbing is a bit of an achilles heel.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Well, he called that upon himself:

• GT weight: 61kg
• ECC 2025: 63,5kg
• Off-season: +4/5 kg==> +-67/68kg then?

For an athlete that's quite a stretch IMO. Especially when climbing is a bit of an achilles heel.

That's almost Ullrich level of extra weight gained in the offseason

 

[Berniece]

That's almost Ullrich level of extra weight gained in the offseason

We don't know if he measures this compared to his GT weight or his Classics weight, and I remember reading somewhere he very easily loses those kilo's.

 

[houtdffan]

That's almost Ullrich level of extra weight gained in the offseason

strudel boy 2.0!

 

[AmRacer]

Isn't it better to be at your optimal weight when training?

 

[vappaxbipmv]

strudel boy 2.0!

Microwaved Nutella for the win

 

[SHAD0W93]

Isn't it better to be at your optimal weight when training?

I would think so since then your body doesn’t have to lose the excess and adapt again. Though in theory his endurance and stamina should be better if he’s putting out 100% weighing more and 100% weighing less. But I can’t begrudge a man from enjoying the finer things in life.

 

[KenFiamingo]

We don't know if he measures this compared to his GT weight or his Classics weight, and I remember reading somewhere he very easily loses those kilo's.

Idd, i assumed his normal competition weight as the reference. GT weight seems like a temporary exception.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I am rather sure that RBH will first determine and after keep Remco at an optimal weight, whatever that weight is.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Microwaved Nutella for the win

Jan the man was right about ridiculous amount of carbs per hour way before this era. Remco is his padavan.

 

[YavorD]

That's almost Ullrich level of extra weight gained in the offseason

Seems like he eats half of the pizza's that he is supposed to deliver then.

 

[CyclistAbi]

306 watts for 5 hours at 63Kg​

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/306-watts-for-5-hours-at-63kg-remco-evenepoel-on-what-it-takes-to-be-competitive-against-tadej-pogacar

There you have it guys, this are rather exact numbers. For example at 305 watts it's all over.

 

[Berniece]

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/306-watts-for-5-hours-at-63kg-remco-evenepoel-on-what-it-takes-to-be-competitive-against-tadej-pogacar

There you have it guys, this are rather exact numbers. For example at 305 watts it's all over.

The number is already ridiculous, but even more so compared to how it was in 2017. Only 8 years ago, it was enough to push 200 watts on avg to get on the podium.

 

[Red Rick]

The number is already ridiculous, but even more so compared to how it was in 2017. Only 8 years ago, it was enough to push 200 watts on avg to get on the podium.

In Sanremo maybe.

 

[Berniece]

In Sanremo maybe.

Not according to Moscon who came third in 2017. Maybe he exaggerated.

He probably did, because 200 watts isn't that impressive for 5 hours. I would think most riders in the peloton are able to do that, even in 2017.

 

[Red Rick]

Not according to Moscon who came third in 2017. Maybe he exaggerated.

He probably did, because 200 watts isn't that impressive for 5 hours. I would think most riders in the peloton are able to do that, even in 2017.

I can go to the pub and find a random drunk guy who can do 200W for 5 hours with 3 months of training. It's never a genuine comment.

 

[Oldman]

@Cookster15

"Obviously Pogacar was at an unreachable level but Remco was close to Vingo on some big mountain stages"

My problem with this is that Remco didn't raise his level to Jonas level, Jonas dropped to Remco level. So when both are at their top level, the difference is still big

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/306-watts-for-5-hours-at-63kg-remco-evenepoel-on-what-it-takes-to-be-competitive-against-tadej-pogacar

There you have it guys, this are rather exact numbers. For example at 305 watts it's all over.

I totally agree with Remco's take on young riders being fairly maxxed out due to well "managed" entries into the pro levels. He should also look into the mirror while he projects the appropriate training changes to, perhaps be more competitive in GTs and major climbs.
Again numbers......Tadej pretty much mailed in that TT for training and gauging the environmental challenges for the RR and had the RR completely won. If need be; he likely could've increased the gap but only he knows that.
As for GT improvements: it's not just the watts on any given day. It's the ability to ride smart and recover every day. He is still a work in progress.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The number is already ridiculous, but even more so compared to how it was in 2017. Only 8 years ago, it was enough to push 200 watts on avg to get on the podium.

200 watts means about 3 w/kg for average size cyclists, which is a very low number even for Z2 (easily achievable for decent amateurs). It really depends on races: if they are raced at snail-pace for most of its duration and one benefits from drafting (like some slow MSR editions) then maybe. 300 watts for 5 hours is indeed closer to truth for modern, intense races (for top cyclists of average size). Pogacar can push 320-340 watts for 5 hours in training if the pace is steady (5-5.2 w/kg is still his Z2), his EC numbers must have been a bit lower than that (but in races variation in pace is bigger so average power is lowered by this).

 

[CyclistAbi]

I can go to the pub and find a random drunk guy who can do 200W for 5 hours with 3 months of training. It's never a genuine comment.

Not sure about that as an average drunk guy in the pub can't handle 9 litres of beer or better to intake 18 beers in 5h. So you would likely still need to do your due diligence and select a drinking champion. Otherwise your competitor would simply run out of gas before completing the given task.