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

[Cycling111]

Is Pogacar racing?

They're simply responding to the data you provided. Ciccone finished second in Liège last year, won in San Sebastian, and would have won in Burgos without the accident. The Ciccone of 2025 is his best version in years in many races.

We don't know how hard Pogacar pushed, so it's difficult to make a comparison with the data you gave because Vingegaard will have to push harder on the climb. In 2025 Pogacar climbed Jebel Hafeet a minute and seconds slower than his best time. It was windy, and he didn't give it his all.

I think Evenepoel can win all his stage races before Ardennes classics.

Valencia has a 17km ITT, so he should be able to maintain that lead purely by his team being strong enough.

UAE Tour the route hasn't been announced yet, but it'll probably also have an ITT where Evenepoel takes 20-30 seconds. Not sure Vingegaard can take that time back on Jebel Hafeet if Pogacar was only able to take 33s on Ciccone.

In Catalunya, Evenepoel will come back from altitude. I don't think Vingegaard will go to altitude until after Catalunya. So I would expect them to be at a similar level.

No idea. Last year it was announced on the 21st of January, so I guess we'll see it announced next week. It's indeed because Tarling took 18s on Pogacar that I can see Evenepoel take +20s on Vingegaard. 30s would probably be too much.

 

[Berniece]

Because the context of that gap was that Pogacar was already in the lead so did not need to push for the maximum possible margin.

If Jonas has a 20-30 deficit from the ITT he will absolutely have to push all out to drop and then gap Remco. Remco is a better climber than Ciccone more times than not and early season Jonas may not be anywhere near prime form so I don’t expect a big gap.

With how UAE rode, and that Pogacar already attacked at 7-8km's before the finish it would seem to me he pushed hard.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

So why does that matter? Not sure why you expect Vingegaard to be as good as Pogacar and also Evenepoel as bad as Ciccone.

It matters because it is possible to take a bigger amount of time on Hafeet, which is my point

 

[Berniece]

It matters because it is possible to take a bigger amount of time on Hafeet, which is my point

That can always be said about everything. If that's the argument of Evenepoel not winning UAE Tour.

 

[hayneplane]

With how UAE rode, and that Pogacar already attacked at 7-8km's before the finish it would seem to me he pushed hard.

Hard yes but I don’t think anyone could credibly argue he emptied the tank.

 

[Berniece]

Hard yes but I don’t think anyone could credibly argue he emptied the tank.

I don't think I've ever seen him empty the tank

 

[AmRacer]

I don't think I've ever seen him empty the tank

I'm gone, I'm dead

 

[Red Rick]

algarve has the same slot

But then you have Euro trash weather, and no 25 minute climbs, and actually desnivel in flat stages. Disguasting.

UAE can work as a resting week inbetween training *taps temple*

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I think Evenepoel can win all his stage races before Ardennes classics.

Valencia has a 17km ITT, so he should be able to maintain that lead purely by his team being strong enough.

UAE Tour the route hasn't been announced yet, but it'll probably also have an ITT where Evenepoel takes 20-30 seconds. Not sure Vingegaard can take that time back on Jebel Hafeet if Pogacar was only able to take 33s on Ciccone.

In Catalunya, Evenepoel will come back from altitude. I don't think Vingegaard will go to altitude until after Catalunya. So I would expect them to be at a similar level.

UAE race with an ITT and its unipuerto finish can benefit Evenepoel indeed and Vingegaard likely won't be able to gap him significantly. Catalunya? I don't think Remco will win unless there's a solid, flat ITT: the race is too mountainous and Vingo should gap him (maybe more than once).

 

[vappaxbipmv]

UAE race with an ITT and its unipuerto finish can benefit Evenepoel indeed and Vingegaard likely won't be able to gap him significantly. Catalunya? I don't think Remco will win unless there's a solid, flat ITT: the race is too mountainous and Vingo should gap him (maybe more than once).

Based on what we've seen so far from them, Jonas should gap him in every mountain stage that he tries to gap him

 

[Berniece]

UAE race with an ITT and its unipuerto finish can benefit Evenepoel indeed and Vingegaard likely won't be able to gap him significantly. Catalunya? I don't think Remco will win unless there's a solid, flat ITT: the race is too mountainous and Vingo should gap him (maybe more than once).

I would expect Evenepoel to be at a higher personal level than Vingegaard. One comes from altitude the other doesn’t. Last year, I wasn’t impressed by Vingegaard up until his crash. And there were chances for him to shine. The year before on the other hand was different. Not sure which version we are getting.

 

[houtdffan]

Based on what we've seen so far from them, Jonas should gap him in every mountain stage that he tries to gap him

Except this has not happened in any race the two have done together (2025 TDF excluded). Not once has Vingo gapped Remco on every mountain stage (nor vice versa)

 

[AmRacer]

Except this has not happened in any race the two have done together (2025 TDF excluded). Not once has Vingo gapped Remco on every mountain stage (nor vice versa)

in every mountain stage that he tries to gap him

 

[Netserk]

Except this has not happened in any race the two have done together (2025 TDF excluded). Not once has Vingo gapped Remco on every mountain stage (nor vice versa)

dauphine

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Except this has not happened in any race the two have done together (2025 TDF excluded). Not once has Vingo gapped Remco on every mountain stage (nor vice versa)

He usually gaps Remco as a byproduct

 

[Tim Cahill]

Think Vingegaard has had a DIY-focused winter again and Evenepoel looks off the tasty puddings, which is why he looks so glum in his photos. With a flat TT I have the latter as favourite.

 

[AmRacer]

Remco Evenepoel's new bike 2026

www.redbullborahansgrohe.com

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Remco Evenepoel's new bike 2026

www.redbullborahansgrohe.com

Looks are secondary to performance. Let's see how the bike does in races

 

[Cycling111]

Except this has not happened in any race the two have done together (2025 TDF excluded). Not once has Vingo gapped Remco on every mountain stage (nor vice versa)

Tirreno-Adriatico 2022. Dauphiné 2025.

 

[jotafap]

I mean, I don’t see the need to look for occasions when Ving dropped Remco. The Dane is a far better climber, and at their current level, he can drop Remco on climbs almost whenever he wants. They’re in two completely different leagues.

However, i wouldn't be that surprised if Remco steps up on 1 week races and is able to match/beat Ving somehow, also because Ving is never at his highest level there. GT's are a different story for now.

 

[Berniece]

Looks are secondary to performance. Let's see how the bike does in races

Sure, but it’s beautiful bike. Much better than his Liberace bikes before

 

[Oldman]

I would expect Evenepoel to be at a higher personal level than Vingegaard. One comes from altitude the other doesn’t. Last year, I wasn’t impressed by Vingegaard up until his crash. And there were chances for him to shine. The year before on the other hand was different. Not sure which version we are getting.

There's no reason at this point we don't get the best version of both riders at any event they enter.
The mob can second-guess their preparation after they don't dominate, right?

 

[Berniece]

There's no reason at this point we don't get the best version of both riders at any event they enter.
The mob can second-guess their preparation after they don't dominate, right?

I don’t think any of them will be at their best at UAE Tour, compared to the level they’ll be at the TDF

 

[tobydawq]

Besides the TTT, the first real race of Evenepoel is Valencia. They released the route yesterday. They should go for as much time as possible during ITT, and then decide if it's worth going for intermediate sprints and bonus seconds. I would be surprised if they drop him hard on Cumbres del Sol even though there are sections of 22%.

Usually, the same rider wins the ITT and the Cumbres del Sol stage. Sometimes in incredible fashion.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDlsMPduHsM

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Usually, the same rider wins the ITT and the Cumbres del Sol stage. Sometimes in incredible fashion.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDlsMPduHsM

2015 vuelta is a super underrated grand tour. Good times