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

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Sep 12, 2022
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1. If you finish 2nd in Lombardy, WC and EC last year, this climb isn't too steep, nor too long.
2. The guys he beat last week, performed really well this week. Tiberi in UAE, Almeida in Algarve. Evenepoel in in Valencia should always have been a podium contender in UAE. At least.
3. He mentioned a lack of freshness. Give me a break.

Either way, there's cause for concern.
I agree, but also last year pre-altitude was Tour of Britain which was underwhelming. Post-altitude was everything you just said
 
Jun 19, 2009
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Remco is know to fluctuate a bit in term of week long stage racing so i wouldn't put too much thought into it, one race. He has to improve, though.
It does speak to the added challenges and training necessary to be relevant in a GT. The top 3 steps for all major tours always reveal those that can endure and recover even if they are not judged the strongest.
 
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Apr 13, 2021
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I agree with the general consensus that he's not a natural climber and he will always fight an uphill battle trying to win grand tours. The 2022 vuelta was very very easy. One of the great attacking classics riders and time triallists of all time.

At the same time, I think people read a bit too much into a race in February. Vingegard was dropped by a bunch of teenagers on malhao last year and still won a GT

There's way too much disrespect to Quickstep in the last 2 years. They know how to get riders in shape, they are not amateurs. Bora meanwhile doesn't know what to do with all their new money. Remco has not joined some super team with better methods, that part is clear.
 
Apr 13, 2025
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I agree with the general consensus that he's not a natural climber and he will always fight an uphill battle trying to win grand tours. The 2022 vuelta was very very easy. One of the great attacking classics riders and time triallists of all time.

At the same time, I think people read a bit too much into a race in February. Vingegard was dropped by a bunch of teenagers on malhao last year and still won a GT

There's way too much disrespect to Quickstep in the last 2 years. They know how to get riders in shape, they are not amateurs. Bora meanwhile doesn't know what to do with all their new money. Remco has not joined some super team with better methods, that part is clear.

Well, Vingegard had more than enough credentials to think that Mahao's situation was somewhat anecdotal.

What you say about Quick-Step is true. Landa had a disastrous Tour in 2023 with Bahrain, and he was splendid with Quick-Step in 2024. Quick-Step didn't have climbers, but the only two good drivers they had for a GT finished third and fifth, being Landa's result a significant improvement compared to the previous year.

That's noticeable if we compare how their sprinters are doing elsewhere. The most extreme case is Jakobsen.But there are other cases like Gaviria. And even though these riders leave, they always succeed with someone new, now Magnier. Quick-Step also needs to restructure, surely they´ll win again with that type of rider that has always worked so well for them.
 
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Feb 24, 2020
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Remco has not joined some super team with better methods, that part is clear.

He basically just started out with the team. RBH can't have a significant impact on his performance yet.

Actually, the net result might even be negative at the moment as they still need to build all the data and are testing stuff such as that 68T chainring Remco was complaining about.
 
Dec 6, 2013
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If I read topcats new thread correctly, they think that this is a one off for RE.

EDIT: I hope that he is right for 2026!
 
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Jun 19, 2009
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I completely agree with the last statement, but If I understood the news correctly, he also brought over "his own crew" from QS?
It's ultimately up to the rider to integrate the best of his new situation. Repeating old advice and routines aren't necessarily bad but can be situationally horrible. He's preparing with a team that is financially and tactically dedicated to his both transitional success and his targeted success. None of it is an overnight panacea for his anxious uber-fans.
The very last thing he should do is second guess that team effort doing everything he should want by embracing the advice from entourage that provided his early success. That training regime peaked at two Olympic events that will seem like eons ago the next big climb he gets dropped...early.
 
Jun 19, 2009
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[ too hot]
[ too steep]
[ feel sick]
[ air conditioner didn't work]
[ no team support]
[ Roglic and Lipo not there to help]
[ gold accents on bike are heavy and not aero]
[ other riders are beating me, not showing me the respect that I think I deserve]
Missed this addition:
[Roglic and Lipo weren't there when I needed them because they followed ___________up the road. When my seatpost caused cramps, accentuated by bad climate control in my home's bedroom.]
 
Aug 30, 2010
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Decathlon set the pace that broke up the peloton

There are 14 riders ahead, only one from UAE , and riders from at least 10 other teams.

When Remco dominates the time trial, whoever finishes 15th can't use that as an excuse.
You can't use that argumente today. There are two Tudor riders there.

But that looks like a who’s who of cycling.
 
Jul 7, 2013
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Sep 1, 2023
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Remco saying he had a cold this week. His UAE performances would make some sense then (is it a valid excuse?)

But that is not an excuse
 
Oct 15, 2017
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I feel like we heard a lot of things in the past few days and I dont know what to believe anymore. It is getting stranger and stranger day by day.

All in all, one can only say it was bad and we will see what happens next.

With altitude, he should be better for Catalunya in a month. He does well there, then he should be on pace to be in good form for Ardennes.
 
Sep 12, 2022
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Remco saying he had a cold this week. His UAE performances would make some sense then (is it a valid excuse?)

He said himself it wasn’t an excuse, so no I guess. Also I read he had a cold before UAE, not during