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

[Berniece]

I'm so excited about the upcoming Mallorca Challenge, it will be our first chance to see how Remco does with his new team!

He's only riding the TTT, not that exciting really. Hope he rides aggressively during Volta Comunitat Valenciana

 

[Tricycle Rider]

He's only riding the TTT, not that exciting really. Hope he rides aggressively during Volta Comunitat Valenciana

I thought he was riding all of the Mallorca races (PCS is listing him in every race, at any rate), I'm confused.

 

[Berniece]

I thought he was riding all of the Mallorca races (PCS is listing him in every race, at any rate), I'm confused.

Because no one knows who is riding which Mallorca races at the moment, even though it starts this Wednesday. RBH has 17 riders listed for Mallorca in total.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Because no one knows who is riding which Mallorca races at the moment, even though it starts this Wednesday. RBH has 17 riders listed for Mallorca in total.

Ach soooooooo, in that case you're right, nothing to get too excited about. Though, it will be interesting to see what shape he's in after winter break at least.

 

[HashRouge]

First days at Red Bull

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe on Instagram: "Getting ready 🛫🏁 @remco.ev settling into the daily routine with the squad. Soon, it’s time to line up at the starting line 💪"

20K likes, 74 comments - redbullborahansgrohe on January 25, 2026: "Getting ready 🛫🏁 @remco.ev settling into the daily routine with the squad. Soon, it’s time to line up at the starting line 💪".

www.instagram.com

He looks super lean here, I'm really excited to see how he goes this year!

 

[KoopaCycling]

seems like old footage from last year. could be wrong, but the shirt still has the golden band, that seems gone now.

 

[Karl Merckx]

yeah that's footage from october

 

[CyclistAbi]

In terms of stage racing, especially GTs, maybe a bit too much muscle mass in upper body?

 

[Berniece]

In terms of stage racing, especially GTs, maybe a bit too much muscle mass in upper body?

I haven't seen an image of him for the past few weeks. But his normal spring/LBL body type isn't suited for GT racing, that's correct.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I haven't seen an image of him for the past few weeks. But his normal spring/LBL body type isn't suited for GT racing, that's correct.

Still, that is a lot of atrophy needed to shred that off.

 

[Berniece]

Still, that is a lot of atrophy needed to shred that off.

There are 2.5 months between LBL and TDF. More than enough time to go from spring build to GT build. Although my personal preference would be with them (RBH) already finding a solution in between for spring. A bit less weight would help with races like LBL.

 

[Oldman]

Still, that is a lot of atrophy needed to shred that off.

Lots of long miles with only sections at speed will help. Hate to say it but it's the boring zone 2-3 that makes it happen.

 

[Berniece]

More detailed photos of Evenepoel's ITT bike. Beautiful bike

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUAzscTDCJA

And a video of the paintjob

https://www.instagram.com/lumarcolors_/reel/DUBMXsuCgWv/

 

[Berflamand]

HLN reports that Remco will also ride the races on friday and saturday in Mallorca in addition to the TTT!

 

[Berniece]

HLN reports that Remco will also ride the races on friday and saturday in Mallorca in addition to the TTT!

Amazing news. Looking forward to finally see him race again. It's probably a bit like MVDP, tired of training, and just wants to race and show his form.

 

[Berflamand]

Amazing news. Looking forward to finally see him race again. It's probably a bit like MVDP, tired of training, and just wants to race and show his form.

The article is updated with a direct quote:

‘That wasn't the plan, but the weather forecast looks good and I'm here now anyway, so I might as well race rather than just do a 25-minute time trial,’ Evenepoel said at a press conference in Mallorca. ‘I'm the type of rider who gets better by racing, so that's what I'm going to do.’

 

[Berniece]

The article is updated with a direct quote:

‘That wasn't the plan, but the weather forecast looks good and I'm here now anyway, so I might as well race rather than just do a 25-minute time trial,’ Evenepoel said at a press conference in Mallorca. ‘I'm the type of rider who gets better by racing, so that's what I'm going to do.’

3 wins in a row, great way to start the season

 

[fenns]

wasn't he scheduled to race today?

 

[Berniece]

wasn't he scheduled to race today?

Nope, was only schedule to race tomorrow (TTT), and now they've added Friday and Saturday too

 

[fenns]

Nope, was only schedule to race tomorrow (TTT), and now they've added Friday and Saturday too

ah. I see PCS removed him yesterday.

 

[Berniece]

ah. I see PCS removed him yesterday.

That's because we didn't know the proper selection for today's race until later yesterday evening.

Preselections
(For the approximately 2 people reading this who don't know how these races work: each team submits a list of riders in advance and then pick up to seven of those for each individual race. A decent chunk of the big names is only here for the TTT).

 

[KoopaCycling]

Lets just hope he has a crashfree year first and foremost starting from tomorrow.

 

[kingjr]

Lets just hope he has a crashfree year first and foremost starting from tomorrow.

The roads in Mallorca are very slippery.

 

[Berniece]

Evening interview with Sporza. Ready for the season, trained a bit differently, they’re going for the win tomorrow (obviously). Looked humble for once.

Remco Evenepoel is na vlotte integratie klaar voor eerste koers: "Alles is gegaan zoals het moest" | sporza

Mallorca is het decor waar Remco Evenepoel deze week zijn eerste competitiestapjes zet voor Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Hij trapt morgen af in de Trofeo Ses Salines, voor de gelegenheid omgedoopt tot een ploegentijdrit. "We starten hier met een sterke ploeg en met ambitie", vertelt Evenepoel.

sporza.be

 

[Berniece]

1 down, 2 to go