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

[Pantani_lives]

Evenepoel remains unbeaten in 2026. I wonder if he can keep this up for the rest of the season.

 

[AlpRaid]

I think some posters don't always realize how injuries, crashes and illness have delayed Remco's career.

For example, he was to do the giro in 2020.
We might have seen him at the TDF even in 2021 at that point -- or perhaps the Vuelta would have been in 2021 and the TDF in 2022.

Instead, he rushed back to the Giro in 2021 and did the Vuelta in 2022. His return to the Giro in 2023 was then thwarted by Covid, that then forced him to the Vuelta without proper prep. Then the TDF in 2024 -- successful, despite even a rushed prep due to crash. Then 2025 crash.

I want to be clear, this is not about whether he would have been more successful and won any of those races, but it just goes to show how all of the crashes, injuries and illness have delayed a guy who turned pro at 18-19 from entering and/or completing a bunch of races earlier in his career.

I personally would have loved to see him him target the Giro this year, and then see how he could do in the TDF even after that. However, I understand why they made the choices they made. Let's see how he can do with an injury-free build towards a TDF that doesn't even play to his strengths - I think that's kind of honorable. He is choosing to put all the chips down in a race he is likely to be dominated by the other two, instead of chasing an arguably better chance at the Giro or whatever.

 

[KoopaCycling]

I think some posters don't always realize how injuries, crashes and illness have delayed Remco's career.

For example, he was to do the giro in 2020.
We might have seen him at the TDF even in 2021 at that point -- or perhaps the Vuelta would have been in 2021 and the TDF in 2022.

Instead, he rushed back to the Giro in 2021 and did the Vuelta in 2022. His return to the Giro in 2023 was then thwarted by Covid, that then forced him to the Vuelta without proper prep. Then the TDF in 2024 -- successful, despite even a rushed prep due to crash. Then 2025 crash.

I want to be clear, this is not about whether he would have been more successful and won any of those races, but it just goes to show how all of the crashes, injuries and illness have delayed a guy who turned pro at 18-19 from entering and/or completing a bunch of races earlier in his career.

I personally would have loved to see him him target the Giro this year, and then see how he could do in the TDF even after that. However, I understand why they made the choices they made. Let's see how he can do with an injury-free build towards a TDF that doesn't even play to his strengths - I think that's kind of honorable. He is choosing to put all the chips down in a race he is likely to be dominated by the other two, instead of chasing an arguably better chance at the Giro or whatever.

I agree with most of what was posted here, with the caveat that Red Bull was always going to make the Tour his biggest target in his first year with them. Remco would have needed to throw the biggest of tantrums if he wanted to make any other GT his primary target this year.

 

[AmRacer]

I think some posters don't always realize how injuries, crashes and illness have delayed Remco's career.

For example, he was to do the giro in 2020.
We might have seen him at the TDF even in 2021 at that point -- or perhaps the Vuelta would have been in 2021 and the TDF in 2022.

Instead, he rushed back to the Giro in 2021 and did the Vuelta in 2022. His return to the Giro in 2023 was then thwarted by Covid, that then forced him to the Vuelta without proper prep. Then the TDF in 2024 -- successful, despite even a rushed prep due to crash. Then 2025 crash.

I want to be clear, this is not about whether he would have been more successful and won any of those races, but it just goes to show how all of the crashes, injuries and illness have delayed a guy who turned pro at 18-19 from entering and/or completing a bunch of races earlier in his career.

I personally would have loved to see him him target the Giro this year, and then see how he could do in the TDF even after that. However, I understand why they made the choices they made. Let's see how he can do with an injury-free build towards a TDF that doesn't even play to his strengths - I think that's kind of honorable. He is choosing to put all the chips down in a race he is likely to be dominated by the other two, instead of chasing an arguably better chance at the Giro or whatever.

He was rushed back to the Giro 2021, should've target the Tour with more time to build up.
Should've done the Tour 2023 as world champ, instead of trying the Giro and defending his Vuelta.
Should've done a few MSR and RVV too.

 

[ColonelKidneyBeans]

He was rushed back to the Giro 2021, should've target the Tour with more time to build up.
Should've done the Tour 2023 as world champ, instead of trying the Giro and defending his Vuelta.
Should've done a few MSR and RVV too.

I think doing the 2021 tour would have been a mistake, throwing a very crash prone rider at the most hectic race of the calendar as his first GT would not have ended well. The Giro was obviously a bad choice though, he wasn't ready at all.

 

[Oldman]

I think some posters don't always realize how injuries, crashes and illness have delayed Remco's career.

For example, he was to do the giro in 2020.
We might have seen him at the TDF even in 2021 at that point -- or perhaps the Vuelta would have been in 2021 and the TDF in 2022.

Instead, he rushed back to the Giro in 2021 and did the Vuelta in 2022. His return to the Giro in 2023 was then thwarted by Covid, that then forced him to the Vuelta without proper prep. Then the TDF in 2024 -- successful, despite even a rushed prep due to crash. Then 2025 crash.

I want to be clear, this is not about whether he would have been more successful and won any of those races, but it just goes to show how all of the crashes, injuries and illness have delayed a guy who turned pro at 18-19 from entering and/or completing a bunch of races earlier in his career.

I personally would have loved to see him him target the Giro this year, and then see how he could do in the TDF even after that. However, I understand why they made the choices they made. Let's see how he can do with an injury-free build towards a TDF that doesn't even play to his strengths - I think that's kind of honorable. He is choosing to put all the chips down in a race he is likely to be dominated by the other two, instead of chasing an arguably better chance at the Giro or whatever.

Agree and the two middle paragraphs emphasize the level of mismanagement and preparation he was exposed to. It's hard to say he is to blame for the choices made when he was a hyped 18 year old. Too much pressure to make a huge jump.
Now he's gotten a great, fresh start. It's not an indication of too much more than we've seen in early seasons before but now he has more disciplined help and a chance at reasonable, long term expectations.

 

[Oldman]

I agree with most of what was posted here, with the caveat that Red Bull was always going to make the Tour his biggest target in his first year with them. Remco would have needed to throw the biggest of tantrums if he wanted to make any other GT his primary target this year.

He needs to ride the Tour on a good team to know what it takes to win. Pogacar being absent would help.

 

[repre]

I think some posters don't always realize how injuries, crashes and illness have delayed Remco's career.

For example, he was to do the giro in 2020.
We might have seen him at the TDF even in 2021 at that point -- or perhaps the Vuelta would have been in 2021 and the TDF in 2022.

Instead, he rushed back to the Giro in 2021 and did the Vuelta in 2022. His return to the Giro in 2023 was then thwarted by Covid, that then forced him to the Vuelta without proper prep. Then the TDF in 2024 -- successful, despite even a rushed prep due to crash. Then 2025 crash.

I want to be clear, this is not about whether he would have been more successful and won any of those races, but it just goes to show how all of the crashes, injuries and illness have delayed a guy who turned pro at 18-19 from entering and/or completing a bunch of races earlier in his career.

I personally would have loved to see him him target the Giro this year, and then see how he could do in the TDF even after that. However, I understand why they made the choices they made. Let's see how he can do with an injury-free build towards a TDF that doesn't even play to his strengths - I think that's kind of honorable. He is choosing to put all the chips down in a race he is likely to be dominated by the other two, instead of chasing an arguably better chance at the Giro or whatever.

He is crashing a lot cause he lacks technique. It's not like he was just unlucky. And it's likely won't go away. He will crash again. And if not that will be pure luck)

 

[AlpRaid]

He is crashing a lot cause he lacks technique. It's not like he was just unlucky. And it's likely won't go away. He will crash again. And if not that will be pure luck)

Seriously? How is this got ANYTHING to do with the point I was making?

Absolutely zero.

You are on ignore because you cannot be bothered to actually read my post. You just triggered your own agenda. Unreal.

 

[Berniece]

He is crashing a lot cause he lacks technique. It's not like he was just unlucky. And it's likely won't go away. He will crash again. And if not that will be pure luck)

Does WVA also lack technique?

 

[AmRacer]

Does WVA also lack technique?

Yeah, at least the last couple of seasons.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Does WVA also lack technique?

People will always finds stuff to criticise about someone they dislike. Remco will never be a MVDP but only his Lombardia crash can be immediately correlated to his bike handling.

-Lombardia - yes (but others crashed there before, known danger point)
- Covid - Obviously no (not a crash)
- Basque - Mostly no. You can nitpick and say maybe with MVDP level bike handling he could have held that corner, or not crashed in the woods after succesfully jumping over the ditch. All in all i think he could have crashed far worse there and i would say the crash was due to the peloton as a whole taking too much risk. Hence so many of the favourites crashed and suffered there.
- Postal cardoor - No, nothing to do with bike handling, if you want to blame it on Remco it's cause of him not showing enough situational awareness of potential danger.

 

[Berniece]

People will always finds stuff to criticise about someone they dislike. Remco will never be a MVDP but only his Lombardia crash can be immediately correlated to his bike handling.

-Lombardia - yes (but others crashed there before, known danger point)
- Covid - Obviously no (not a crash)
- Basque - Mostly no. You can nitpick and say maybe with MVDP level bike handling he could have held that corner, or not crashed in the woods after succesfully jumping over the ditch. All in all i think he could have crashed far worse there and i would say the crash was due to the peloton as a whole taking too much risk. Hence so many of the favourites crashed and suffered there.
- Postal cardoor - No, nothing to do with bike handling, if you want to blame it on Remco it's cause of him not showing enough situational awareness of potential danger.

I'm aware. He isn't the most technical gifted, and I still feel he is bad at cornering, but it's not like his crashes and misfortune the past few years was always his fault.

 

[Oldman]

He is crashing a lot cause he lacks technique. It's not like he was just unlucky. And it's likely won't go away. He will crash again. And if not that will be pure luck)

Bike handling is an acquired skill that takes time. Some are more inclined, particularly if they've been in similar sports like motocross, alpine skiing, gymnastics.
It also takes good vision and a developed sense of advance tracking riders and pack pace. It also helps to be away from other riders as much as you can manage it. Getting caught in pack crashes is inevitable but riders like Pogacar seem to gravitate to open areas or the front when the pace goes up. He can learn, if he dedicates the time.

 

[Oldman]

Yeah, at least the last couple of seasons.

Jonathan Vaughters quit racing because he felt his lack of form had him constantly fatigued. He attributed that to poor pack placement, slower response time and increased tension. Those attributes don't help bike handling. A tense or apprehensive rider is a danger to himself and others.

This is how an alpine skier would descend:

'We have earned our place - no one can take that away from us' – Tom Pidcock confirms return to Tour de France as leader for Pinarello-Q36.5 debut

Swiss ProTeam earned their way to a place at the 2026 edition mainly thanks to star British rider

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Oldman]

Yeah, at least the last couple of seasons.

He lacks form. That puts him in a bad place to gain pack position and has him fatigued when he needs to be aware. He's used to being in the front of the field anytime he wanted to be. Not so much except the last stage of the Tour. He got where he needed to be on wet pave and rode perfectly.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Evenepoel remains unbeaten in 2026. I wonder if he can keep this up for the rest of the season.

Pogi is thanking God that Lord Remco skips MSR, Flandres and Roubaix this year.