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

[Berniece]

If Lipo kills at the Giro it's gonna get interesting.

Doubt that Lipowitz can kill at the Giro and also at the TDF. To kill at the Giro he needs to be at 100%. Pogacar wasn't even 100% at Giro so he could be 100% at the TDF. And Vingegaard was 100% at the TDF while not 100% at Vuelta.

I don't think you can be at your best in 2 GT's unless it's Giro + Vuelta. Therefor if Lipowitz kills at Giro, I expect decompression, and not much at TDF.

 

[Red Rick]

I cannot think of a worse approach to a season

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I dont see a planet where Lipo and Rog do 2 GT while Remco only gets 1, if Remco is the unquestioned leader of the team

Remco is an all rounder like Pog. Classics plus the Tour is the best schedule for him.

 

[red_flanders]

Doubt that Lipowitz can kill at the Giro and also at the TDF. To kill at the Giro he needs to be at 100%. Pogacar wasn't even 100% at Giro so he could be 100% at the TDF. And Vingegaard was 100% at the TDF while not 100% at Vuelta.

I don't think you can be at your best in 2 GT's unless it's Giro + Vuelta. Therefor if Lipowitz kills at Giro, I expect decompression, and not much at TDF.

Oh, I agree, I'm speaking more of the public/media conversation than what actually makes sense from a team POV.

 

[Jan the Man]

Doubt that Lipowitz can kill at the Giro and also at the TDF. To kill at the Giro he needs to be at 100%. Pogacar wasn't even 100% at Giro so he could be 100% at the TDF. And Vingegaard was 100% at the TDF while not 100% at Vuelta.

I don't think you can be at your best in 2 GT's unless it's Giro + Vuelta. Therefor if Lipowitz kills at Giro, I expect decompression, and not much at TDF.

Agreed - i think Lipo can do very well at the Giro but contemplating doing well back-to-back is in my view very unlikely.

On the basis Remco wants a go at the monuments this makes sense.

I think MSR can really suit him, but obvs MVP is overwhelming favourite.

More sceptical of Remco’s prospects in Ronde because of the positioning factor but nice to see him want new challenges.

 

[Cycling111]

Remco isn't explosive and he's a poor descender. I don't see how San Remo would benefit him.

 

[YavorD]

I dont see a planet where Lipo and Rog do 2 GT while Remco only gets 1, if Remco is the unquestioned leader of the team

It actually makes a perfect sense, given that Evenepoel is their best bet in classics as well.

 

[Berniece]

Remco isn't explosive and he's a poor descender. I don't see how San Remo would benefit him.

He wins sprints…

 

[YavorD]

He wins sprints…

While this is true, is he really expected to match Pogacar or VDP's accelerations?
I do agree in a more traditionally ridden San Remo has a decent chance, perhaps better than Pogacar, but the way they rode in 2025 and will probably ride 2026, I think it's much harder for him.

 

[KoopaCycling]

I actually think the way they rode in 2025 gives him a shot. He can't beat a sprinters field, but he can win from a smaller group. especially when Van der poel and pogacar are maybe locked in on each other.

 

[Berniece]

While this is true, is he really expected to match Pogacar or VDP's accelerations?
I do agree in a more traditionally ridden San Remo has a decent chance, perhaps better than Pogacar, but the way they rode in 2025 and will probably ride 2026, I think it's much harder for him.

On Cipressa Ganna was basically able to follow. He was only dropped for a very short while, maybe gap of 10-20m, and he closed that. I expect Evenepoel to not be dropped at all on the Cipressa IF he's close to Pogacar. Because Ganna was on the wheel of Pogacar when he launched. If Evenepoel is 20 places further behind, that's a different story. Poggio will be a similar story, it's just not hard enough. If Evenepoel is on the wheel, doubt you drop him on those gradients.

 

[Oldman]

On Cipressa Ganna was basically able to follow. He was only dropped for a very short while, maybe gap of 10-20m, and he closed that. I expect Evenepoel to not be dropped at all on the Cipressa IF he's close to Pogacar. Because Ganna was on the wheel of Pogacar when he launched. If Evenepoel is 20 places further behind, that's a different story. Poggio will be a similar story, it's just not hard enough. If Evenepoel is on the wheel, doubt you drop him on those gradients.

But most of recent contenders, if that's the group we'd project to be in the finale; have been capable of beating Remco in a sprint. Remco should do the race but the few moments that seem to matter require serious pack attentiveness. That's a skill that hasn't always been there, even in one on one finishes.

 

[Berniece]

But most of recent contenders, if that's the group we'd project to be in the finale; have been capable of beating Remco in a sprint. Remco should do the race but the few moments that seem to matter require serious pack attentiveness. That's a skill that hasn't always been there, even in one on one finishes.

He can only win if he attacks at the right time and Pogacar/MVDP look at each other. Otherwise he will lose the sprint

 

[YavorD]

On Cipressa Ganna was basically able to follow. He was only dropped for a very short while, maybe gap of 10-20m, and he closed that. I expect Evenepoel to not be dropped at all on the Cipressa IF he's close to Pogacar. Because Ganna was on the wheel of Pogacar when he launched. If Evenepoel is 20 places further behind, that's a different story. Poggio will be a similar story, it's just not hard enough. If Evenepoel is on the wheel, doubt you drop him on those gradients.

You might be right, but then you'll have Evenepoel fighting with Ganna and VDP for Pogacar's wheel. I'm not betting a lot of money on him beating them for his wheel. And even a couple of wheels behind might be a lot.

 

[KoopaCycling]

You might be right, but then you'll have Evenepoel fighting with Ganna and VDP for Pogacar's wheel. I'm not betting a lot of money on him beating them for his wheel. And even a couple of wheels behind might be a lot.

Or he can anticipate and start the move. Go at 90 percent, leave something in the tank for when Pogacar and MVDP go.

Pogacar tends to put his team on a line and wait till the last dude pops. If Remco is feeling good, is positioned well enough, he could go the moment he feels Pogacar is about to go (when he feels Pogacar last teammate is about to pop).

The goal being to get in a small group, away from the peloton with the rest of the favourites. It has the added benefit of Pogacar and MVDP maybe looking at each other to see who folllow Remco first. Small chance of them hesitating too long, as Pogacar will probably immediately snap to Remco wheel. but there is a chance of that happening as well.

Once in a small group, Remco then has the opportunity to try and find a way. Find the perfect timing to go.

 

[AmRacer]

Or he can anticipate and start the move. Go at 90 percent, leave something in the tank for when Pogacar and MVDP go.

Pogacar tends to put his team on a line and wait till the last dude pops. If Remco is feeling good, is positioned well enough, he could go the moment he feels Pogacar is about to go (when he feels Pogacar last teammate is about to pop).

The goal being to get in a small group, away from the peloton with the rest of the favourites. It has the added benefit of Pogacar and MVDP maybe looking at each other to see who folllow Remco first. Small chance of them hesitating too long, as Pogacar will probably immediately snap to Remco wheel. but there is a chance of that happening as well.

Once in a small group, Remco then has the opportunity to try and find a way. Find the perfect timing to go.

Pogi has tried for years, maybe adding Remco to the final will be to his advantage and finally made it first to the line.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Or he can anticipate and start the move. Go at 90 percent, leave something in the tank for when Pogacar and MVDP go.

Pogacar tends to put his team on a line and wait till the last dude pops. If Remco is feeling good, is positioned well enough, he could go the moment he feels Pogacar is about to go (when he feels Pogacar last teammate is about to pop).

The goal being to get in a small group, away from the peloton with the rest of the favourites. It has the added benefit of Pogacar and MVDP maybe looking at each other to see who folllow Remco first. Small chance of them hesitating too long, as Pogacar will probably immediately snap to Remco wheel. but there is a chance of that happening as well.

Once in a small group, Remco then has the opportunity to try and find a way. Find the perfect timing to go.

In your scenario I find it a lot more likely for Pogacar to just use Remco as a final domestique then and attack from there

 

[KoopaCycling]

In your scenario I find it a lot more likely for Pogacar to just use Remco as a final domestique then and attack from there

The climbs aren't that long, nor that steep. If Remco holds something in the tank he should be able to follow.
He can even have a gap of a couple of seconds. As long as MVDP is there, Pogacar ain't going anywhere.

 

[Berniece]

In your scenario I find it a lot more likely for Pogacar to just use Remco as a final domestique then and attack from there

MVDP will always jump on the wheel of Pogacar.

If they ride away with the 3 of them. I can see it happening that Pogacar hesitates because he wants MVDP to close it so there's a better chance in the sprint. MVDP hesitates because he already won twice and doesn't want to give Pogacar the opportunity to win because he closes the gaps to Evenepoel and is tired for a sprint.