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

[Extinction]

Bernad Hinault said the strongest rider doesn't always win. I'm not going to throw myself into the gauntlet over who was the strongest, but it really does not matter if, among the strongest, one is more savy. That is proverbial bike racing. This means that Evenepoel has to be even more astute, than Roglic was to him, against Pogacar.

 

[AmRacer]

Sure, if you want to go with that story. Nothing indicated this, definitely not what happened during stage 5, but if that's what you want to believe, feel free. It's clear to me Roglic fans have difficulty with this anyway. It's not enough that people say he was the smartest and best rider during Catalunya, oh no if someone says he wasn't the strongest that race.

That's the real story, it's facts. Rogla was the strongest.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

@Berniece Is it surprising that Remco fans think he was clearly the strongest and would have won the 2022 Vuelta even if Roglic hadn't come into the race injured or crashed out, and that Roglic fans feel the reverse? Or that Roglic fans think he demonstrated his wiles and strength in that 2023 Catalunya whereas Remco fans want to frame it as a win he should have had on strength? Not really. Roglic fans have suffered enough disappointment to be able to see things clearly through the cloud of emotions.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Sure, if you want to go with that story. Nothing indicated this, definitely not what happened during stage 5, but if that's what you want to believe, feel free. It's clear to me Roglic fans have difficulty with this anyway. It's not enough that people say he was the smartest and best rider during Catalunya, oh no if someone says he wasn't the strongest that race.

Also, Remco's taken Roglic's spot as top dog in GT time trails, he's taken Roglic's team, he's taking his Tour spot, he's taking his facial hair, and now you want the title as strongest rider in 2023 Catalunya?! Come on

 

[Berniece]

@Berniece Is it surprising that Remco fans think he was clearly the strongest and would have won the 2022 Vuelta even if Roglic hadn't come into the race injured or crashed out, and that Roglic fans feel the reverse? Or that Roglic fans think he demonstrated his wiles and strength in that 2023 Catalunya whereas Remco fans want to frame it as a win he should have had on strength? Not really. Roglic fans have suffered enough disappointment to be able to see things clearly through the cloud of emotions.

Well I actually think Roglic was the strongest during the TDF 2020, but out of spite I’ll change my opinion on this!!!

 

[Cycling111]

Very similar to last year

There is few mountain.

 

[Berniece]

There is few mountain.

I don't necessarily have that feeling when I compare the two. Seems very similar to me.

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/paris-nice/2025/route/stage-profiles

https://twitter.com/x/status/2001246775441809461

View: https://x.com/ammattipyoraily/status/2001246775441809461/photo/1

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

I haven't stayed on top of all these threads. What is the consensus on the ceiling for Remco in 2026, if all goes really well? To me, it's something like:

Win a stage race
Podium the Tour and be within 5 minutes of victory
Win a Monument / WC

 

[KoopaCycling]

I haven't stayed on top of all these threads. What is the consensus on the ceiling for Remco in 2026, if all goes really well? To me, it's something like:

Win a stage race
Podium the Tour and be within 5 minutes of victory
Win a Monument / WC

Have not thought about it. Just want a healthy season and him showing up looking slightly better than at soudal. I read his current training is more intense than at the same time with soudal. Hopefully that is a good thing.

 

[Berniece]

I haven't stayed on top of all these threads. What is the consensus on the ceiling for Remco in 2026, if all goes really well? To me, it's something like:

Win a stage race
Podium the Tour and be within 5 minutes of victory
Win a Monument / WC

Yes, but also win multiple stage races. If it really goes well. Valencia is probably a given, since I expect him to come out of the gate running, but I would prefer a bigger stage race on his palmares too.