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

[Jan the Man]

Then make sure you work on that physique from the start of the season. It's like they didn't use any of the knowledge they got from SOQ, and decided to start fresh. Why not reduce the amount of muscles this season already? Why waste another one by thinking that just increasing his threshold is enough for some races when the goal is to win TDF?

Is it this simple? I mean SOQ and Bora have access to great sport scientist - surely every rider has a tipping point where losing weight means they can’t sustain the power. Ultimately people are built differently. This is the hand Remco has been dealt. I agree maintaining his weight if possible rather than seeing big oscillations is better but has he not basically said he’s already at LBL weight - i would not read too much into yesterday’s performance. He won’t face another climb like that until the Summer.

At Catalunya he will face some tough climbs but nothing which really compares. Will it be enough to finish ahead of Jonas, not sure, and yesterday has no bearing on likely performance in the Ardennes etc

 

[KoopaCycling]

I don't really get why people get upset when Remco gives an excuse.
If he says nothing, they would just get upset by him for not saying anything and him just saying he was not good enough.
We all know Remco is both a control freak and an emotional guy.
Honestly he's a great addition to the peloton. Few riders as colourful as him.

 

[Rou]

At Catalunya he will face some tough climbs but nothing which really compares. Will it be enough to finish ahead of Jonas, not sure, and yesterday has no bearing on likely performance in the Ardennes etc

If he doesn't improve significantly he will lose a lot more than 2 mins on the Col de Pal stage in Catalunya.
Or if he loves it so much he can focus all his effort in the wind tunnel and trying to beat Ganna with more seconds.

 

[AmRacer]

I don't really get why people get upset when Remco gives an excuse.
If he says nothing, they would just get upset of him by not saying anything and him just saying he was not good enough.
We all know Remco is both a control freak and an emotional guy.
Honestly he's a great addition to the peloton. Few riders as colourful as him.

Don't know why Remco fanboys getting upset with his Excuses. 🤷

 

[AmRacer]

If he doesn't improve significantly he will lose a lot more than 2 mins on the Col de Pal stage in Catalunya.
Or if he loves it so much he can focus all his effort in the wind tunnel and trying to beat Ganna with more seconds.

He has an altitude camp coming up before Catalunya

 

[Divergence]

Is it this simple? I mean SOQ and Bora have access to great sport scientist - surely every rider has a tipping point where losing weight means they can’t sustain the power. Ultimately people are built differently. This is the hand Remco has been dealt. I agree maintaining his weight if possible rather than seeing big oscillations is better but has he not basically said he’s already at LBL weight - i would not read too much into yesterday’s performance. He won’t face another climb like that until the Summer.

At Catalunya he will face some tough climbs but nothing which really compares. Will it be enough to finish ahead of Jonas, not sure, and yesterday has no bearing on likely performance in the Ardennes etc

Yes, it is. Lower weight = better road cyclist.
Great sports scientist is just an oxymoron. I implore people with real science background to read/hear some interviews from the top sports scientists. It is just sad...
It is true that people a built different and also it is part of one's talent to be disciplined enough to stay at a low weight at all times.
In general, unless you are stranded in the Andes and starving to death, losing weight is a good thing for a road cyclist. And, yes, it is possible to lose weight without starving. You just need to be extremely disciplined.

 

[Berniece]

I did and he spoke about the air-conditioning. So instead of trying to defend him all the time you can accept that this is who he is.
He always needs to find an excuse for his failures.

It's not about an excuse, he isn't looking for an excuse... He is just saying that he had a bad nights sleep, but that doesn't change the result or should be used as an excuse, he literally said that the day before already. It's just the same type of people always wanting to discredit him. We can all keep saying, oh AGR came after Roubaix which is why Pogacar got caught in 2025. That's all fine. But saying he woke up due to the heat but that it's no excuse is supposedly Remco looking for excuses...

Is it this simple? I mean SOQ and Bora have access to great sport scientist - surely every rider has a tipping point where losing weight means they can’t sustain the power. Ultimately people are built differently. This is the hand Remco has been dealt. I agree maintaining his weight if possible rather than seeing big oscillations is better but has he not basically said he’s already at LBL weight - i would not read too much into yesterday’s performance. He won’t face another climb like that until the Summer.

At Catalunya he will face some tough climbs but nothing which really compares. Will it be enough to finish ahead of Jonas, not sure, and yesterday has no bearing on likely performance in the Ardennes etc

It was said he was weighing 65kg again, so yeah it's that simple sometimes. I don't understand why he doesn't just try to keep being closer to his TDF weight throughout the season and make his body accustomed to it.

 

[chickenlips]

It seems he still trains mostly in Calpe. A move to Monaco would offer far better climbing opportunities.

Maybe the reason he goes to Calpe is because the Monaco hills are too hard for him 😁

 

[Pozzovivo]

Remco either.

Sometimes you forget that Remco debuted in PRO the same year as Pogacar (2019) and that he's only one year and three months younger than him.

Based on their debut year, they're from the same generation.

It´s more likely that there will be a later dominance with Seixas and another cyclist from a later generatio (Perhaps one that doesn't stand out like Vingegaard before 2022) than with Remco, who is from the same generation.

Age is not that relevant imo - he got 10 more years at top age wise, and motivation is the real key. I think he is very very motivated to be a multiple Tour champion while serious questions can be asked about Pogacar's motivation for that race the next five years. I just get the impression that also JV is running out of motivation - pure speculation of course.

Generations are not created equal. Barring Pogacar (maybe best rider ever?) Remco is clearly the best cyclist since Hinault at least, imo of course. Probably won't see him being bettered by the next few crops that come up.

 

[cafe_rider]

Oscar Onley beating Evenepoel in the tour if both have a clean run and no injuries. That just will not happen. The 2nd best engine in cycling is Remco. We can all see that.

Surely you will admit that that there is a non-zero chance of Onley beating him? Are you saying if they both finish? Onley "beat" Remco in 2025 as Remco DNFed and has DNFed half of his grand tour starts (Plus Vuelta crack in 2023). Durability is the issue - Andy Schleck is the best comparator to Remco - great when he finished (Two 2nd and one win at tour and a second at the Giro but also 3 DNF). When he finished he was great but did not finish 33% of the time.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I have to agree he is overrated, with the caveat that his ceiling is not overrated. He can be in the tier below Pogacar and Vingegaard with Roglic, Almeida, and Lipowitz, and he has the potential to be better, but his palmares and consistency is more akin to Carapaz or Hindley than Roglic, much less Pogacar. If he’s who he thinks he is, he needs to win stage races much more frequently than he does.

Carapaz:

2018: Giro - 4th
2019: Giro - 1st
2020: Vuelta - 2nd
2021: Tour - 3rd
2022: Giro - 2nd
2023: -
2024: Vuelta - 4th
2025: Giro - 3rd

In terms of GT GC riders, Remco is more akin to Tejay van Garderen, but with a higher ceiling.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Surely you will admit that that there is a non-zero chance of Onley beating him? Are you saying if they both finish? Onley "beat" Remco in 2025 as Remco DNFed and has DNFed half of his grand tour starts (Plus Vuelta crack in 2023). Durability is the issue - Andy Schleck is the best comparator to Remco - great when he finished (Two 2nd and one win at tour and a second at the Giro but also 3 DNF). When he finished he was great but did not finish 33% of the time.

I admit that thre is a non-zero chance yes. But i'd say it's 0 point something. As in 1000 tours with no injuries during or leading into the tour, Onley only beats Remco in no more than 9 of them. Onley is not even a serious threat imo. Lipowitz and mayve even Del toro and ayuso is much better than him.

 

[Netserk]

>he doesnt give excuses
>you just say that because youre a hater
>he does give excuses
>but its good

 

[Potomac]

Of all the things that will never happen, this will never happen the most.

you are a poet

 

[cafe_rider]

I admit that thre is a non-zero chance yes. But i'd say it's 0 point something. As in 1000 tours with no injuries during or leading into the tour, Onley only beats Remco in no more than 9 of them. Onley is not even a serious threat imo. Lipowitz and mayve even Del toro and ayuso is much better than him.

I agree that Lipowitz seems more durable over week long and three week races. However my point is that, based on his history in three week races and the big seven one week races, Remco is competitive about 50% of the time. If you had to bet your house at the start of a Grand tour would you put it on Remco? There is close to 50% chance that he does not finish

 

[Pozzovivo]

I agree that Lipowitz seems more durable over week long and three week races. However my point is that, based on his history in three week races and the big seven one week races, Remco is competitive about 50% of the time. If you had to bet your house at the start of a Grand tour would you put it on Remco? There is close to 50% chance that he does not finish

Remco have had so many problems though. Crashed by freakin postman pat last winter. I agree that his record is bad. It's indisputable. I see your point for sure, if i had to bet on finishing all GT in 5-10th position I would choose Onley over RE.

My point is rather. If I had to bet a considerable amount on one rider that is not Pog and JV to win one of the Tour de frances the next five years - I am completely certain that I would place it on Remco Evenepoel. Who would you place you money on?

Onley would never be in serious consideration. I'd rather try wildcards like Seixas and Nordhagen than him.

 

[Berniece]

>he doesnt give excuses
>you just say that because youre a hater
>he does give excuses
>but its good

>he doesnt give excuses
>i say he does because of my own insecurities
>day after he extends on it because journalists ask about it
>see im right

 

[Netserk]

>i say he does because of my own insecurities

typical reaction here

any criticism of remco is met with lashing out at the infidels

 

[Jan the Man]

It's not about an excuse, he isn't looking for an excuse... He is just saying that he had a bad nights sleep, but that doesn't change the result or should be used as an excuse, he literally said that the day before already. It's just the same type of people always wanting to discredit him. We can all keep saying, oh AGR came after Roubaix which is why Pogacar got caught in 2025. That's all fine. But saying he woke up due to the heat but that it's no excuse is supposedly Remco looking for excuses...


It was said he was weighing 65kg again, so yeah it's that simple sometimes. I don't understand why he doesn't just try to keep being closer to his TDF weight throughout the season and make his body accustomed to it.

However it is not altogether uncommon for people to lose a couple of kg between Ardennes and Tour, because that’s really what we’re talking about - he’s not far from peak Tour weight. Pog also loses a couple of kg after the classic campaign. He’s not doing an Ullrich he is a couple of kg from Tour weight, that’s all.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Don't know why Remco fanboys getting upset with his Excuses. 🤷

I don't get upset with it. I just read a lot of comments saying remco giving excuses again. I don't get that.
If every rider would only say i was not good enough, interviews would become a waste of time.
I like that he brings colour to a peloton. I do find his interviews interesting whilst also thinking on what i believe myself about a situation. remco and his analysis aren't always flawless, or on the money but usually honest in his feelings in that moment.

I thought about it some more. maybe everyone just want to say they find his explanation just an excuse without elaborating further. So as to makle it clear, it justy ain't one person thinking that way. Like people don't feel it's enough someone else already posted it, they want to emphasise they feel the same way. I would elaborate my viewpoint, as else i would think i would not be adding anything. But maybe that's just me.

I guess it's cause were on a forum and not on youtube. i expect certain style of comments more on youtube. whilst i tend to expect longer thoughts on a forum. Maybe that's just my own expectations.

In any case, i do agree he does seem to have a problem with double digit gradients, and needs special prep to stomach those. Whilst he personally properly thinks he is in good shape (which he is) and should do good. On most terrain he would. But being in good shape does not seem to be enough for remco in double gradients. He'll need to work and prep for those walls to stomach them.

 

[Berniece]

typical reaction here

any criticism of remco is met with lashing out at the infidels

I only see you here when he underperforms. What does that say about you?

 

[AmRacer]

I don't get upset with it. I just read a lot of comments saying remco giving excuses again. I don't get that.
If every rider would only say i was not good enough, interviews would become a waste of time.
I like that he brings colour to a peloton. I do find his interviews interesting whilst also thinking on what i believe myself about a situation. remco and his analysis aren't always flawless, or on the money but usually honest in his feelings in that moment.

I thought about it some more. maybe everyone just want to say they find his explanation just an excuse without elaborating further. So as to makle it clear, it justy ain't one person thinking that way. Like people don't feel it's enough someone else already posted it, they want to emphasise they feel the same way. I would elaborate my viewpoint, as else i would think i would not be adding anything. But maybe that's just me.

I guess it's cause were on a forum and not on youtube. i expect certain style of comments more on youtube. whilst i tend to expect longer thoughts on a forum. Maybe that's just my own expectations.

So who gets upset then?

 

[AmRacer]

I only see you here when he underperforms. What does that say about you?

Are you in Pogi's thread when he performs?

 

[Netserk]

I only see you here when he underperforms. What does that say about you?

that i make comments here about remco, the topic

 

[KoopaCycling]

So who gets upset then?

I think were talking next to each other. and perhaps upset is the wrong word. I just saw several posts basically saying the same thing. Like i said, it is probably my own expectations for more elaboration. Instead of several people saying the same thing without more. Seems a bit redundant to me. But like i posted, maybe it's to simply emphasise it's a shared perspective.

I do feel for some it's more of a critique on remco the person than on remco the rider when they say he's just giving excuses again. That's fine, we all have mentality and personalities we like more. Just hard to tell at times without more info. I used to not be a fan of spartacus for example. he just seemed fake. In any case i would not like a peloton where everyone gives the same answer. Professional sports are entertainment at the end of the day after all.