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

[AmRacer]

So? 2023 Thomas wasn’t impressive, and neither was 2024

If so, what is that telling about the rest of the contenders?

 

[vappaxbipmv]

So? 2023 Thomas wasn’t impressive, and neither was 2024

None of the guys you mentioned, except Almeida, is impressive either. He wasn't impressive but his level was high regardless

 

[Berniece]

None of the guys you mentioned, except Almeida, is impressive either. He wasn't impressive but his level was high regardless

Those guys are all stronger than what Thomas and Martinez showed in 2024

 

[AmRacer]

Those guys are all stronger than what Thomas and Martinez showed in 2024

No, they aren't.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Dauphine - TDF 2024 difference was because he was still recovering from his crash. There wasn't time yet to properly decrease his weight.

I think 1kg is around 30s per X amount of km's. Don't now X anymore, I know logic used to say this here sometimes.

If Evenepoel loses significant time in mountains in big one week races, it barely has to do with his weight, and mostly with the build up towards goals. Most of them are easily explained by crashes.

I think we can agree that too large mass cost him a lot in some important races vs inferior opponents but also that some crashes made it harder for him to prepare good form (and optimal mass of course, he tends to get fatty quickly when off the training regime).

1 kg should be around 0.1 w/kg, which is around 1 second per 1 minute of very steep climb (the difference is lower on shallower climbs where gravity isn't such a dominant resistive force).

 

[RedheadDane]

Random thought, nothing to do with his racing, but rather his helmet.

I get that Red Bull wants all their riders to wear the Red Bull helmets, but... come on! They could have least have made one for him with a golden bull.

 

[Berniece]

Random thought, nothing to do with his racing, but rather his helmet.

I get that Red Bull wants all their riders to wear the Red Bull helmets, but... come on! They could have least have made one for him with a golden bull.

Not sure if it had an influence on it, but Evenepoel requested for not too many changes on his bike. He wanted it to look a lot like the rest of the team. Maybe that thinking was also used for the rest of his outfit?

 

[chickenlips]

No more excuses this season.

Unless he crashes, or gets sick, or, or, or, or.

 

[Red Rick]

I think we can agree that too large mass cost him a lot in some important races vs inferior opponents but also that some crashes made it harder for him to prepare good form (and optimal mass of course, he tends to get fatty quickly when off the training regime).

1 kg should be around 0.1 w/kg, which is around 1 second per 1 minute of very steep climb (the difference is lower on shallower climbs where gravity isn't such a dominant resistive force).

I'm pretty sure near peak weight you're gonna lose power very slightly as you drop weight. Otherwise it would just be too easy to maintain. Also you benefit by getting less fatigue over multiple climbs.

 

[Netserk]

I'm pretty sure near peak weight you're gonna lose power very slightly as you drop weight. Otherwise it would just be too easy to maintain. Also you benefit by getting less fatigue over multiple climbs.

hes heavier for the ardennes in order to push more power, but could counterfactually lose the marginal kg without losing any power on climbs

 

[red_flanders]

hes heavier for the ardennes in order to push more power, but could counterfactually lose the marginal kg without losing any power on climbs

I always assumed he was heavier in the spring 'cause it's just his more natural weight, moreso than anything intentional. And he really has to starve to get to GC weight.

 

[Netserk]

For rouleur purposes which help during Ardennes classics it's preferred he weighs a bit more

this means more power from the additional weight @red_flanders

 

[AmRacer]

I always assumed he was heavier in the spring 'cause it's just his more natural weight, moreso than anything intentional. And he really has to starve to get to GC weight.

That's my understanding too.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Proper weight management means you don't have to focus training efforts on maintaining a defecit, the only way to lose weight with minimal power loss is to either do it very slowly over a long period of time or just not have to do it at all. Coming into the season 4 or 5kgs above GT shape used to work when everyone was doing it, not so much now.

 

[AmRacer]

Proper weight management means you don't have to focus training efforts on maintaining a defecit, the only way to lose weight with minimal power loss is to either do it very slowly over a long period of time or just not have to do it at all. Coming into the season 4 or 5kgs above GT shape used to work when everyone was doing it, not so much now.

If some can be at GT weight all year long, and you must work hard for reaching your GT weight. You can lose endurance more so than power.

 

[red_flanders]

this means more power from the additional weight @red_flanders

I understand, I still wonder if that's really a plan, or moreso just what comes naturally.

 

[Unchained]

I understand, I still wonder if that's really a plan, or moreso just what comes naturally.

From the video I have seen he looks very relaxed on the bike, doesn't appear physically smaller or bigger than at his best. His available interviews are measured and positive. Guy is flying.
January, February he is already putting positive steps together for TDF.. Bora looks very organized..

 

[Krzysztof_O]

this means more power from the additional weight @red_flanders

It's really about if they can regulate additional muscle mass precisely in such a short time frame. It's likely that most of the additional mass is simply fat.

 

[red_flanders]

From the video I have seen he looks very relaxed on the bike, doesn't appear physically smaller or bigger than at his best. His available interviews are measured and positive. Guy is flying.
January, February he is already putting positive steps together for TDF.. Bora looks very organized..

Sounds like they were super strong tactically today from the write-ups I've seen.

 

[Berniece]

The day went perfect for him. Took that extra second and might catch 1 or 2 riders tomorrow

 

[Netserk]

It's really about if they can regulate additional muscle mass precisely in such a short time frame. It's likely that most of the additional mass is simply fat.

short?

gain is from end of previous season

loss is afterwards in time for the tour

no prob with the right help

 

[Krzysztof_O]

short?

gain is from end of previous season

loss is afterwards in time for the tour

no prob with the right help

There's like 2+ months between Liege and the Tour. If the mass difference is 3 kg (pretty normal by Remco standards) then I would think at least half of it (or more) is fat. You don't lose a few kg of muscles just like that, it's Fatco turning into Slimco. See how quickly he did it between Dauphine and Tour in 2024.

 

[Red Rick]

There's like 2+ months between Liege and the Tour. If the mass difference is 3 kg (pretty normal by Remco standards) then I would think at least half of it (or more) is fat. You don't lose a few kg of muscles just like that, it's Fatco turning into Slimco. See how quickly he did it between Dauphine and Tour in 2024.

It's easy enough. Women working in WWI ammunation factories found that out over a century ago.

 

[Jan the Man]

No, they aren't.

Agree to disagree. Thomas is arguable, but he turned 38 during the 2024 Giro and was patently past his prime. Hindley and Carapaz are patently more GT threats than Martinez. Both are past winners in the case of Carapaz also has multiple GT podiums outside the Giro. Carapaz’ pedigree in GTs is more extensive than Almeida’s who most people accept is likely to be Jonas’ closest advesary