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

[houtdffan]

For me it's not the steep climbs themselves but more the fact that IF Vingegaard or other Del Toro's prove to be the better climber on the week, they have 2 actual chances to make up the (expected) lost time of the TT instead of 1 to 1,5 chance since it was always difficult to get a gap on Jebel Jais but that will definitely be possible on this new climb.

Can people stop overhyping Del Toro

Winning races without Pog and Remco was one thing last year. He then got absolutely MAULED by both once the big boys decided to race. Remco dropped Del Toro for fun late last year

 

[Berniece]

Can people stop overhyping Del Toro

Winning races without Pog and Remco was one thing last year. He then got absolutely MAULED by both once the big boys decided to race. Remco dropped Del Toro for fun late last year

Indeed, Del Toro is able to win and beat riders in the pro circuit. Thanks to a great sprint. If the race is hard enough, he doesn't win.

 

[Berflamand]

Can people stop overhyping Del Toro

Winning races without Pog and Remco was one thing last year. He then got absolutely MAULED by both once the big boys decided to race. Remco dropped Del Toro for fun late last year

While that is true, it happened in hard 200km+ races while at the UAE Tour it will be short unipuerto climbs/stages.

Del Toro did get 2nd at the Giro and still came 5th (Lombardia) and 7th (WC) in the races last fall where Remco dropped him. Those aren't exactly bad results for a (at that time) 21 year old.

It's also only february and I thought I read somewhere that Del Toro will have done an altitude camp already before the UAE Tour.

I'm definitely not saying that Del Toro is the better rider but it will also not surprise me that much if it turns out that he climbs a bit better on some short unipuerto stages in february driven by a UAE Team that wants to win their home race.

I do very much hope it doesn't happen though.

EDIT: Also, I mentioned Vingegaard and other Del Toro's, meaning that I see Vingegaard as most proven climber but I didn't want to discard other potential contenders from which Del Toro probably is the biggest favorite.

I don't think that's 'overhyping' him.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Wow, UAE introducing a monster climb. Vingo could be too much for Evenepoel in this case, we will see.

 

[Extinction]

Everything depends on how much Red Bull can transform Remco and how much having a proper winter base can enhance his form. Anything less than a Remco 4.0 version this year, will not have been a good investment by his new team. I'm curious, therefore, to see how it plays out.

 

[Oldman]

Indeed, Del Toro is able to win and beat riders in the pro circuit. Thanks to a great sprint. If the race is hard enough, he doesn't win.

He's what, 22 years old and raced the big league for a year +? Expectations and exclusions seem subjective to such specific conditions. He's good but your point is correct. Young guys can't do what 8 year pros can do after 5 hrs of racing and should not be able to do.

 

[Oldman]

Everything depends on how much Red Bull can transform Remco and how much having a proper winter base can enhance his form. Anything less than a Remco 4.0 version this year, will not have been a good investment by his new team. I'm curious, therefore, to see how it plays out.

Realistically his transformation to a GC top three consistently or a classics winner will take more than the few months he's been with them. His best year for those efforts, if he's inclined; will be in 2027. That much change doesn't happen in 6 -8 months. It does rely on his acceptance that he may not win his favorite disciplines as easily to get there.

 

[KoopaCycling]

I have to disagree. Even if Remco stagnates, he is already one of the best. Add commercial value and media pull and he is a good signing. Pogacar, Vingegaard, del toro and prob. Seixas not going anywhere. Unless they unearth a talented youngster that can shoot straight for the stars. Remco is the best they can get atm.

 

[Berniece]

He's what, 22 years old and raced the big league for a year +? Expectations and exclusions seem subjective to such specific conditions. He's good but your point is correct. Young guys can't do what 8 year pros can do after 5 hrs of racing and should not be able to do.

Evenepoel and Pogacar didn't have issues with that at that age though.

 

[Berniece]

Everything depends on how much Red Bull can transform Remco and how much having a proper winter base can enhance his form. Anything less than a Remco 4.0 version this year, will not have been a good investment by his new team. I'm curious, therefore, to see how it plays out.

I would already expect an improvement this year too. Better training methods, food, materials, and most importantly consistent training should get him to a new level.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Everyone always talking about next level. But most riders stagnate after a while. Ayuso has not improved in ages, despite being in UAE. Almeida and Pogacar did. I say Del Toro will naturally improve a little cause of age till age 26-27 (barring injuries). But he won't make leaps and bounds if he already was on the same treatment as Pogacar last year.

 

[Berniece]

Everyone always talking about next level. But most riders stagnate after a while. Ayuso has not improved in ages, despite being in UAE. Almeida and Pogacar did. I say Del Toro will naturally improve a little cause of age till age 26-27 (barring injuries). But he won't make leaps and bounds if he already was on the same treatment as Pogacar last year.

In case of Evenepoel it makes sense since he's been off the bike the most compared to the others, so more room to grow. Not to mention I would expect UAE to have better surroundings than SOQ, so that is also a step up with RBH now.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

I would already expect an improvement this year too. Better training methods, food, materials, and most importantly consistent training should get him to a new level.

How do we know they actually have a better training method? The only riders that improved since Red Bull came into the team are Lipowitz and Pellizzari. So I very much question that

 

[Berniece]

How do we know they actually have a better training method? The only riders that improved since Red Bull came into the team are Lipowitz and Pellizzari. So I very much question that

Evenepoel already looked better at WC/UEC which was influenced by RBH training methods when he was at altitude camp beforehand.

But you are right, it might not be the case. We'll know soon. For me the biggest showing will be Catalunya and LBL

 

[Berflamand]

Less than one week to go before finally seeing him in action again. I'm starting to become impatient and I'm really looking forward to see what he can do this year after a seemingly (as far as we know) perfect and uninterrupted winter prep.

 

[Berniece]

Less than one week to go before finally seeing him in action again. I'm starting to become impatient and I'm really looking forward to see what he can do this year after a seemingly (as far as we know) perfect and uninterrupted winter prep.

Just checked the startlist, a lot of riders from the dev team, they probably won't join the TTT. Is it a TTT with 9 riders, like it would be in TDF? In that case, all pro's will ride it, if it's less riders I would guess TTT exists out of:

Definitely (6)
Evenepoel
Lipowitz
Cattaneo
Moscon
Denz
Vlasov

Maybe (3)
Van Gils
Boichis
Hajek

 

[Berflamand]

Just checked the startlist, a lot of riders from the dev team, they probably won't join the TTT. Is it a TTT with 9 riders, like it would be in TDF? In that case, all pro's will ride it, if it's less riders I would guess TTT exists out of:

Definitely (6)
Evenepoel
Lipowitz
Cattaneo
Moscon
Denz
Vlasov

Maybe (3)
Van Gils
Boichis
Hajek

I would guess it's a TTT with a maximum of 7 riders.

If those 6 that you mention as 'definitely' (+ maybe Van Gils) are effectively in the team for the TTT it would be a surprise to me if they don't win, looking at the other potential starters for the other teams.

 

[Berniece]

I would guess it's a TTT with a maximum of 7 riders.

If those 6 that you mention as 'definitely' (+ maybe Van Gils) are effectively in the team for the TTT it would be a surprise to me if they don't win, looking at the other potential starters for the other teams.

I agree, a bit overkill if you see their team compared to the others

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Evenepoel already looked better at WC/UEC which was influenced by RBH training methods when he was at altitude camp beforehand.

But you are right, it might not be the case. We'll know soon. For me the biggest showing will be Catalunya and LBL

But we still cannot know if that's because he improved due to a new training method or because he was further removed from injuries. If he can connect 2 consecutive seasons without major injuries then we can tell if he improved in the 2nd one

 

[Red Rick]

Nothing really suggested he was at some new, higher level to me. Mostly he didn't gain as much weight after the Tour IMO and was just fresher in the fall season.

 

[Oldman]

Evenepoel and Pogacar didn't have issues with that at that age though.

Evenepoel was hyped and coddled from the womb. Pogacar is the best that has occurred. Comparing any young rider to those two with the same expectations is hopeful and very optimistic.

 

[Berniece]

Evenepoel was hyped and coddled from the womb. Pogacar is the best that has occurred. Comparing any young rider to those two with the same expectations is hopeful and very optimistic.

What do you mean hyped and coddled from the womb? That’s because he rode those results at a young age. Del Toro didn’t even win San Sebastián last year let alone when he was 19.

 

[KoopaCycling]

What do you mean hyped and coddled from the womb? That’s because he rode those results at a young age. Del Toro didn’t even win San Sebastián last year let alone when he was 19.

I think Del Toro has become one of the best in cycling last year, but for all his victories, i only care about Emillia and Burgos. The rest are meh. 2nd place in the Giro is great, but it ain't a win. He'll need to win bigger fish before he's not simply one of the best in current cycling, but actually made it. If you all understand what i mean.

Virenque for all his weirdness was a major talent, but he never won much of importance. Now i do not see that happening to Del Toro. I'm just saying he ain't made just yet.

 

[Berniece]

I think Del Toro has become one of the best in cycling last year, but for all his victories, i only care about Emillia and Burgos. The rest are meh. 2nd place in the Giro is great, but it ain't a win. He'll need to win bigger fish before he's not simply one of the best in current cycling, but actually made it. If you all understand what i mean.

I understand what you mean, but I still need to see him perform well against the best. Haven’t seen that yet. I would also be pretty pissed that I’m not riding a GT as a leader this year.