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

[Cycling111]

In 2024, he was better prepared than Vingegaard and still wasn't at his level.

Remco has never had such a high base level in GT; think it's all due to bad luck is wishful thinking.

 

[Berniece]

In 2024, he was better prepared than Vingegaard and still wasn't at his level.

Remco has never had such a high base level in GT; think it's all due to bad luck is wishful thinking.

Because everything always just stays the same. People can't improve anymore, and everyone reached their full potential.

 

[peterfin]

In 2024, he was better prepared than Vingegaard and still wasn't at his level.

Remco has never had such a high base level in GT; think it's all due to bad luck is wishful thinking.

He never had his best base level yet for the TdF. That's a fact that doesn't depend on Vingegaard.

 

[Barkintheeye]

There hasn't been many great cyclists then ...

Exactly that. If the ambition is to be among Merckx, Hinault and Coppi you not only need to win the big GTs but also many (all) of the Monuments along with WCs. Only rider today that might pull this off is TP. Remco, not so very much, despite having some amazing qualities.

 

[KoopaCycling]

I will say it would be fun to see a marauder style Remco try and win a GT. Probably not realistic but fun

 

[AmRacer]

Because everything always just stays the same. People can't improve anymore, and everyone reached their full potential.

If everyone improves. it will mean nothing for the end result.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I saw “Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes” on Evenepoel’s schedule and thought ahh great stuff he’s finally challenging himself in an esoteric French cup race against Guillaume Martin and some local Patisserie chefs but apparently that’s just what they’re calling the Dauphine Libere nowadays.

 

[Berniece]

I saw “Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes” on Evenepoel’s schedule and thought ahh great stuff he’s finally challenging himself in an esoteric French cup race against Guillaume Martin and some local Patisserie chefs but apparently that’s just what they’re calling the Dauphine Libere nowadays.

When we copy/paste from other websites that use official terms it'll be that, but most forum members will probably just say Dauphine.

 

[Samamba]

What is that, 46 racedays? I hate modern cycling man.

Respect to guys like Onley or Almeida who just keep hammering it all season long.

 

[AmRacer]

What is that, 46 racedays? I hate modern cycling man.

Respect to guys like Onley or Almeida who just keep hammering it all season long.

Will race something after the Tour

 

[Berniece]

What is that, 46 racedays? I hate modern cycling man.

Respect to guys like Onley or Almeida who just keep hammering it all season long.

44 racedays up until the TDF, and excluding a stage race they plan to do between Valencia and Catalunya, and excluding NC. If he does for example UAE Tour, which seems the most likely, he's at 51 days.

Then he'll do Quebec, Montreal, WC ITT, WC RR, Lombardia, which makes 56 days. I don't know if he will race before Quebec though. Maybe Maryland for some extra racing efforts? That's another 3 days, and that's assuming he does nothing between WC RR and Lombardia.

All in all he'll be close to 60 days. Which is fine for a stage racer that also does a spring classics campaign. Right?

 

[Samamba]

44 racedays up until the TDF, and excluding a stage race they plan to do between Valencia and Catalunya, and excluding NC. If he does for example UAE Tour, which seems the most likely, he's at 51 days.

Then he'll do Quebec, Montreal, WC ITT, WC RR, Lombardia, which makes 56 days. I don't know if he will race before Quebec though. Maybe Maryland for some extra racing efforts? That's another 3 days, and that's assuming he does nothing between WC RR and Lombardia.

All in all he'll be close to 60 days. Which is fine for a stage racer that also does a spring classics campaign. Right?

So what I've seen isn't complete then? Cause I have no idea how you are making it to 44. He does max 3 in Mallorca (like everyone there) btw.

Oh you mean with the TDF.

If he does an extra stage race then sure it's fine I guess, cause that changes a lot. I just thought it was very boring to not do anything properly before Catalunya.

And yeah for the record, I still think 60 is meeh. I want more Almeida's or Onley's.

 

[Berniece]

So what I've seen isn't complete then? Cause I have no idea how you are making it to 44. He does max 3 in Mallorca (like everyone there) btw.

Oh you mean with the TDF.

If he does an extra stage race then sure it's fine I guess, cause that changes a lot. I just thought it was very boring to not do anything properly before Catalunya.

And yeah for the record, I still think 60 is meeh. I want more Almeida's or Onley's.

Yeah, including TDF. I agree that only doing Valencia, Catalunya, AGR and LBL would be a boring spring season. But even if he includes UAE Tour, which is by far one of the most boring WT stage races, it's still quite ***. Hope ASO, RCS or Flanders Classics wants to persuade him by paying a starting fee for his attendance at Paris-Nice/Tirreno/MSR/Flanders. But it'll probably be UAE that pays him to join UAE Tour.

 

[AmRacer]

From PCS

Remco Evenepoel

Remco Evenepoel (born 2000-01-25 in Aalst) is a professional road racing cyclist from Belgium, currently riding for Soudal Quick-Step. His best results are 2 wins in Liège - Bastogne - Liège and 3 wins in Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa.

www.procyclingstats.com

28.01	Trofeo Calvià	1​
29.01	Trofeo Ses Salines	1​
30.01	Trofeo Serra Tramuntana	1​
31.01	Trofeo Andratx - Pollença	1​
01.02	Trofeo Palma	1​
04.02	Volta Comunitat Valenciana	5​
23.03	Volta Ciclista a Catalunya	7​
19.04	Amstel Gold Race	1​
22.04	La Flèche Wallonne	1​
26.04	Liège-Bastogne-Liège	1​
07.06	Tour Auvergne - Rhône-Alpes	8​
04.07	Tour de France	21​
	Sum	49​

 

[Samamba]

Yeah, including TDF. I agree that only doing Valencia, Catalunya, AGR and LBL would be a boring spring season. But even if he includes UAE Tour, which is by far one of the most boring WT stage races, it's still quite ***. Hope ASO, RCS or Flanders Classics wants to persuade him by paying a starting fee for his attendance at Paris-Nice/Tirreno/MSR/Flanders. But it'll probably be UAE that pays him to join UAE Tour.

Why not just do Tirreno or PN like a real cyclist? I think he's rich enough to not cave for UAE money

 

[Red Rick]

Why not just do Tirreno or PN like a real cyclist? I think he's rich enough to not cave for UAE money

Lower chance to lose.

 

[Cycling111]

With this schedule, he's unlikely to win his first major tour. Dauphiné will be the most difficult for him to win due to the rivals. The Volta might be the most accessible.

So what I've seen isn't complete then? Cause I have no idea how you are making it to 44. He does max 3 in Mallorca (like everyone there) btw.

Oh you mean with the TDF.

If he does an extra stage race then sure it's fine I guess, cause that changes a lot. I just thought it was very boring to not do anything properly before Catalunya.

And yeah for the record, I still think 60 is meeh. I want more Almeida's or Onley's.

It should also be said that Almeida avoided all major rivals until the Tour de France. And in the Tour, he wasn't under the pressure of being the leader.

Going to the Tour de Switzerland is not the same as going to the Dauphiné against the best rivals.

Pogacar's schedule, for example, was much more demanding with less days.

 

[Berniece]

Why not just do Tirreno or PN like a real cyclist? I think he's rich enough to not cave for UAE money

I think they expect him to be at altitude then. UAE Tour ends at the end 22nd of February. Which means he could do 3 weeks of altitude and be back in the week of the 16th of March. Which is too late for Paris-Nice(08/03) and Tirreno (09/03) , but in time for Catalunya (23/03).

He could skip UAE Tour and go to altitude after Valencia, so he would be back in time for Paris-Nice, but I'm not sure they are able to extend the impact of an altitude camp so long until Liege. Then your question is, what's the most important? Riding for the win at Paris-Nice/Catalunya or Catalunya/AGR/LBL... I prefer the latter option personally.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Yeah, including TDF. I agree that only doing Valencia, Catalunya, AGR and LBL would be a boring spring season. But even if he includes UAE Tour, which is by far one of the most boring WT stage races, it's still quite ***. Hope ASO, RCS or Flanders Classics wants to persuade him by paying a starting fee for his attendance at Paris-Nice/Tirreno/MSR/Flanders. But it'll probably be UAE that pays him to join UAE Tour.

I think UAE would rather have Del Toro and a win than Remco as well and a potential loss

 

[red_flanders]

Exactly that. If the ambition is to be among Merckx, Hinault and Coppi you not only need to win the big GTs but also many (all) of the Monuments along with WCs. Only rider today that might pull this off is TP. Remco, not so very much, despite having some amazing qualities.

Remco stated back in the day when he first entered the peloton that his main goal was to win all 3 GT's. Maybe that's changed for him, no idea, but that's his starting point of view.

 

[red_flanders]

If everyone improves. it will mean nothing for the end result.

Everyone does not improve to the same degree. See Pog/Vingo.

 

[AmRacer]

I think they expect him to be at altitude then. UAE Tour ends at the end 22nd of February. Which means he could do 3 weeks of altitude and be back in the week of the 16th of March. Which is too late for Paris-Nice(08/03) and Tirreno (09/03) , but in time for Catalunya (23/03).

He could skip UAE Tour and go to altitude after Valencia, so he would be back in time for Paris-Nice, but I'm not sure they are able to extend the impact of an altitude camp so long until Liege. Then your question is, what's the most important? Riding for the win at Paris-Nice/Catalunya or Catalunya/AGR/LBL... I prefer the latter option personally.

UAE Tour isn't listed on his program at PCS.

 

[AmRacer]

Everyone does not improve to the same degree. See Pog/Vingo.

Vingo did a big jump, and some minor jump the following years. Pogi, he did a 🐐leap.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

From PCS

Remco Evenepoel

Remco Evenepoel (born 2000-01-25 in Aalst) is a professional road racing cyclist from Belgium, currently riding for Soudal Quick-Step. His best results are 2 wins in Liège - Bastogne - Liège and 3 wins in Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa.

www.procyclingstats.com

No way he would race all 5 races on Mallorca

 

[Berniece]

UAE Tour isn't listed on his program at PCS.

That’s correct, they don’t know yet which stage race they would do add. UAE Tour is the easiest for his schedule