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

[red_flanders]

Kinda like the white with gold touches more than the full gold bike.

Full gold was cool for a bit, but would be obnoxious for 4 years...

 

[Berniece]

Kinda like the white with gold touches more than the full gold bike.

Is there a better image besides the video? Hard to see

 

[Andre]

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

not a poor descender anymore, he's above average nowadays.

 

[houtdffan]

not a poor descender anymore, he's above average nowadays.

For as bad as Remco was on the Galiber, he still caught Vingo before the descent ended

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

For as bad as Remco was on the Galiber, he still caught Vingo before the descent ended

I don’t know why you’re stuck on this strange position. He was terrible on the technical part of the descent, which is what people mean when they refer to descending skills. He caught up as part of a small group on the part section that was more shot being aero, in a group, and pushing watts.

 

[houtdffan]

I don’t know why you’re stuck on this strange position. He was terrible on the technical part of the descent, which is what people mean when they refer to descending skills. He caught up as part of a small group on the part section that was more shot being aero, in a group, and pushing watts.

he still was better overall. Descending is not just the technical parts

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

he still was better overall. Descending is not just the technical parts

Isn’t the MSR descent pretty twisty, more akin to the first section over the top of the Galibier? I’m not saying he can’t stay with them, but history indicates if anyone pushes the pace there he will get dropped. If no one gets away and the fast guys are in it, it definitely could regroup tho, in which case he could come back and catch them napping.

 

[Oldman]

For as bad as Remco was on the Galiber, he still caught Vingo before the descent ended

By himself?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

For as bad as Remco was on the Galiber, he still caught Vingo before the descent ended

Galibier's upper section is one of the most difficult descets in WT and there were nasty wet places (due to melting snow) on top of that. Poggio descent isn't even close in this regard. Remco can win Milan-San Remco in the last 1-2 km with a solo move.

 

[Berniece]

I think Poggio descent is fine. They could gap him but not enough to stay away. I’m still not convinced about his cornering though. That one time he attacked at this years TDF showed that.

 

[KoopaCycling]

As long as Remco can read the lines he's solid. It's when he needs to make quick adjustments he is less than perfect.
His descending and riding in rain has been decent for awhile now.

If remco practices that descent he'll be fine. You'd need Mohoric level descending to put a small gap on remco.

 

[Cycling111]

Galibier's upper section is one of the most difficult descets in WT and there were nasty wet places (due to melting snow) on top of that. Poggio descent isn't even close in this regard. Remco can win Milan-San Remco in the last 1-2 km with a solo move.

The descent from Poggio is one of the most difficult, all cyclists say so.

 

[Cycling111]

For as bad as Remco was on the Galiber, he still caught Vingo before the descent ended

Once he saw he couldn't catch Pogacar, Vineggaard waited for the group. Remco's descent that day was disastrous; someone else doing worse is no consolation. But as I said, Vineggaard waited.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

As long as Remco can read the lines he's solid. It's when he needs to make quick adjustments he is less than perfect.
His descending and riding in rain has been decent for awhile now.

If remco practices that descent he'll be fine. You'd need Mohoric level descending to put a small gap on remco.

Not really, Pogacar is a better descender than Remco, that's not really a question, and despite knowing everything about that descent, he was still easily caught by Pidcock, Pedersen on his wheel, and later Mohoric in 2024

 

[Berniece]

The descent from Poggio is one of the most difficult, all cyclists say so.

There are maybe 6 corners where you could take time, most of them u-turns so you go slow anyway

 

[Cycling111]

Not really, Pogacar is a better descender than Remco, that's not really a question, and despite knowing everything about that descent, he was still easily caught by Pidcock, Pedersen on his wheel, and later Mohoric in 2024

Pogacar has improved considerably his descents since that edition.

But it's important to remember that Pogacar, and any GT rider, will always be more conservative before the Tour.

Pogacar will always take more risks on the Galibier (his descent that day was far superior to Remco's) than in San Remo. Pogacar's main objective, and what the team is asking of him, is to win his fifth Tour. Mohoric winning San Remo could end his season. Van der Poel many years finished his season in Roubaix. A GT rider always has the rest of the season in mind.

 

[houtdffan]

Isn’t the MSR descent pretty twisty, more akin to the first section over the top of the Galibier? I’m not saying he can’t stay with them, but history indicates if anyone pushes the pace there he will get dropped. If no one gets away and the fast guys are in it, it definitely could regroup tho, in which case he could come back and catch them napping.

Poggio is far more technical than Galiber. That is for sure

 

[peterfin]

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

Because the explosivity is not an issue on the Poggio, even Ganna has sufficient explosivity, and neither the technical but trainable descent is a big issue as even for the best descenders it's difficult to make a gap. Moreover, if he can surprise the lead group during the last few flat km's and gets a gap going full TT mode, try to catch him without emptying the tank and losing the race.

 

[AmRacer]

Because the explosivity is not an issue on the Poggio, even Ganna has sufficient explosivity, and neither the technical but trainable descent is a big issue as even for the best descenders it's difficult to make a gap. Moreover, if he can surprise the lead group during the last few flat km's and gets a gap going full TT mode, try to catch him without emptying the tank and losing the race.

In that scenario, the race is still lost.

 

[Oldman]

The descent from Poggio is one of the most difficult, all cyclists say so.

Watching race footage it is descended like a position sprint oftentimes. Those that can't win the position battle can get gapped before the last 2km run in and burn their sprint out.
It can get down to who not only knows the descent but to who is confident taking a risk against their companions. If Remco actually started that descent in the lead he would likely back up some of those aggressors. How that would play out in the finish begins to favor the fastest sprinter....not Remco. A more scattered pack with Remco close to the front is a better case for his finish.
That race has so many wild cards now it should be excellent for us fans.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Overall Remco bike handling and descending has improved to an acceptable level.
Same for his explosiveness. Sure he ain't Nibali in the descent, No Pogacar in the acceleration and no Nys when it comes to bike handling but he has come a long way. Some people seem unable to notice this.

I don't expect him to hold Pidcock wheel on a technical long gravel descent. But do i expect Remco to be able to hold Pogacar wheel on the short Poggio descent? yes. I imagine Remco will have trained that descent and Pogacar is no Pidcock. Pogacar is a better bike handler than most but he ain't in the Nibali, Nys, Van Aert, MVDP, Pidcock bracket. Close a gap on pogacar during the descent? No.

What will matter will be his positioning. If he positions himself well, he'll be a dark horse for both San remo and Flanders if he enters those races. If he positions badly he'll be nowhere. Unless he's having a divine day.

 

[Berniece]

I imagine Remco will have trained that descent

Not sure about that. He’ll do the descent a couple of times pre-MSR, but I doubt he would really train it

 

[KoopaCycling]

Not sure about that. He’ll do the descent a couple of times pre-MSR, but I doubt he would really train it

I mean there's the Cipressa, Poggio & it's descent. The rest is mostly endurance.
If i'm racing San Remo to win, i'd mostly put my focus on those 3 things during the lead-up. should be enough time to do the descent enough times to have it memorised in the days leading up. Unless you have a busy schedule ahead of time.

 

[pastronef]

isn't it time to change the thread title? leave Merckx out of the discussion

 

[Red Rick]

isn't it time to change the thread title? leave Merckx out of the discussion

No.