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

[Pozzovivo]

While weight is always a relevant topic in the Remco thread I think we can discuss Vingegaards tour prep in his thread, @Armchair Cyclist

 

[hayneplane]

It would be a lot easier to accept the litany of excuses/explanations if he had also flunked the ITT and lost to Tarling.

As it is it looks like they have managed to emphasise what he is already very good at whilst neglecting the things he needs to be a consistent top 5 Grand Tour finisher.

Getting clapped by Byron Munton and Mathys Rondel on both MTF is alarmingly bad for someone hoping to podium a grand tour this year.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

And other 14 riders...
What should concern you is not that Del Toro beats Remco, but 13 other riders, including 2 Tudor cyclists whose highest aspiration in the Tour with Storer is a stage win or a hard-fought top 10 finish.

I was referring to today's (flat) stage, where Del Toro took it upon himself to reel him in.

But yes, Remco's climbing level is definitely concerning. I have Evenepoel on my CQ team and sensed there would be trouble after his (to me) less than impressive early season wins. I stated as much in the CQ game thread back then.

That was before he dropped Almeida, but even so... short climbs are not Almeida's forte. Remco didn't seem much stronger than Pellizzari back then. A slightly stronger field or Pellizzari on a different team = probably no Remco road stage win.

And that was his most impressive win in 2026 up until that point.

So yeah, I didn't understand the hype to begin with.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The issue isn't really suggesting a reason for poor performance, it's suggesting many, after the fact, after talking a big game before the race.

We've had so far

1. Air conditioning
2. Didn't train long climbs yet
3. Tired from previous races
4. Illness

He added on as extra cope

5. It's only February and this doesn't really matter.

Fans have added on top that

6. He's not on climbing weight
7. He hasn't been to altitude
8. He hasn't adapted to heat

All this while also

9. Saying before the race he was aiming to win 2 stages + the GC
10. Saying he was doing the same watts as when he won UAE previous time (which I guess is in training before, but he should really know the field in general does higher watts
11. Acting like he was cramping the when he first started to go backwards.

It almost seems as if a cataclysm of biblical proportions had hit Remco. It will be forgotten in a month when he shows Vingo how to climb properly in Catalunya.

 

[James M]

I'm a Remco fan, but I have to say I'm done with the excuses. The man is a limited climber at best.

The man is NOT a climber. He is sacrificing results and potential victories in other races by chasing a dream of winning the Tour de France. He has ZERO chance of doing that.

Yet I hear all this tripe that he needs altitude camps, he needs to lose weight, he's not dialled in, he has no base, the AC was smashed. The man is killing himself trying to be someone he's not.

Preach. A leopard cant change its spots. And hes tried its whatever

He cant change his innate character. Year 4-5 and running on the same excuses is borderline embarassing I hope if its the same nonsense when the season is over we get to see him in even more classics next seasons.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

His talk about training for 5 min/explosive efforts when his stated goals are Catalunya and the Tour is ridiculous. Just as Vingegaard putting on extra muscle for last years Tour when it may have been the the longest average duration for the mountain top finishes in Tour history.

Either these statements are just lies, or they are not looking at the parcours of races they target?

I still would not be surprised to see him in good/great climbing shape in a month.

The disproportion between his 5-minute and 20-minute uphill performances was already shown in the past. Practising those 5-minute climbs a lot will help him in Liege but against Pogi or Vingo at the Tour it's completely different story. He probably thinks improving his 5 minute power will help him match Pog's attacks (he mentioned it in the autumn) but the problem is he needs huge lactate steady state w/kg on top of that (associated with 30-60 minutes climbs).

 

[AmRacer]

One hot topic is discussing whether a Remco statement is
--an Excuse
--an Explanation
--something else/completely different
--doesn't mean anything

or a combination of the above

 

[peterfin]

It would be a lot easier to accept the litany of excuses/explanations if he had also flunked the ITT and lost to Tarling.

As it is it looks like they have managed to emphasise what he is already very good at whilst neglecting the things he needs to be a consistent top 5 Grand Tour finisher.

Getting clapped by Byron Munton and Mathys Rondel on both MTF is alarmingly bad for someone hoping to podium a grand tour this year.

He doesn't need be in top shape to win an ITT. We have seen that in the past.

 

[peterfin]

One hot topic is discussing whether a Remco statement is
--an Excuse
--an Explanation
--something else/completely different
--doesn't mean anything

or a combination of the above

The thread would be more meaningful if we discuss his performance, strategy and results instead of every word the guy says.

 

[Netserk]

11. Acting like he was cramping the when he first started to go backwards.

its a very particular evenepoel phenomenon

whenever he disappoints or feels bad , he imagines that something external is wrong

rwanda didnt go as hoped , so there must have been something with his bikes

 

[James M]

its a very particular evenepoel phenomenon

whenever he disappoints or feels bad , he imagines that something external is wrong

rwanda didnt go as hoped , so there must have been something with his bikes

been saying it forever this excessive need to make up ridiculous excuses nonstop just to create a certain perception to xxxx people and cater to a fragile ego isnt it. Whoever in his circle enables this genuinely isnt helping him.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Sure, he is a temperamental rider who desperately wants to be the best. When he is not on a given day, it shows both in his race decisions and in his post race interviews. Still, I think many riders could say exactly the same things after a disappointing performance, yet only Evenepoel is consistently criticised for “making excuses.”

At this point, it almost feels impossible for him to explain or reflect on a bad day without parts of the media and many forum users framing whatever he says as an excuse.

 

[AmRacer]

Sure, he is a temperamental rider who desperately wants to be the best. When he is not on a given day, it shows both in his race decisions and in his post race interviews. Still, I think many riders could say exactly the same things after a disappointing performance, yet only Evenepoel is consistently criticised for “making excuses.”

At this point, it almost feels impossible for him to explain or reflect on a bad day without parts of the media and many forum users framing whatever he says as an excuse.

Of course every rider "could", but they don't. And no other top tier rider has this kind of setbacks.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Of course every rider "could", but they don't. And no other top tier rider has this kind of setbacks.

Agree with the second statement, but not the first. I hear so many riders say various things about illness and sleep or other random thing. Yet, writing headliens like "Onley: I slept bad last night" don't generate clicks...

 

[Netserk]

Sure, he is a temperamental rider who desperately wants to be the best. When he is not on a given day, it shows both in his race decisions and in his post race interviews. Still, I think many riders could say exactly the same things after a disappointing performance, yet only Evenepoel is consistently criticised for “making excuses.”

At this point, it almost feels impossible for him to explain or reflect on a bad day without parts of the media and many forum users framing whatever he says as an excuse.

who are these other riders that are similar to evenepoel in this regard ?

 

[AmRacer]

Agree with the second statement, but not the first. I hear so many riders say various things about illness and sleep or other random thing. Yet, writing headliens like "Onley: I slept bad last night" don't generate clicks...

But Onley didn't say he would win if....
And also didn't say he aiming for...
And also don't uses it as an excuse why he failed.... And his fanboys don't do it either.

 

[Divergence]

The disproportion between his 5-minute and 20-minute uphill performances was already shown in the past. Practising those 5-minute climbs a lot will help him in Liege but against Pogi or Vingo at the Tour it's completely different story. He probably thinks improving his 5 minute power will help him match Pog's attacks (he mentioned it in the autumn) but the problem is he needs huge lactate steady state w/kg on top of that (associated with 30-60 minutes climbs).

Training 5min power improves 20min power and vice versa, so there is no real tradeoff between the two. There is some tradeoff when it come to really short bursts but 5min is already aerobic enough.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Training 5min power improves 20min power and vice versa, so there is no real tradeoff between the two. There is some tradeoff when it come to really short bursts but 5min is already aerobic enough.

Obviously 5 min intervals are Z5 and they should improve VO2max as well as some longer efforts. Still, the difference between Evenepoel's 5-min climbs vs long climbs has shown over the years.

 

[Divergence]

Obviously 5 min intervals are Z5 and they should improve VO2max as well as some longer efforts. Still, the difference between Evenepoel's 5-min climbs vs long climbs has shown over the years.

Do you think that exercises which improve VO2max do not help to improve more sustained efforts?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Do you think that exercises which improve VO2max do not help to improve more sustained efforts?

Obviously they do when coupled with other zones (mainly z2 and z4). What I'm saying is that Remco is most of the time very good at 5-minute steep climbs but often collapses in long climbs.

 

[saunaking]

Currently it looks like they signed Evenepoel (and Roglic before) because they were the biggest names available, not because they had a plan for them.

!!!!!!!!!!!! yes!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pozzovivo]

But Onley didn't say he would win if....
And also didn't say he aiming for...
And also don't uses it as an excuse why he failed.... And his fanboys don't do it either.

I am not defending everything Remco has said over the past week, or in previous years. He clearly came into this race believing he could win, and now he is offering reasons and explanations for why he did not. I also agree that some of his explanations sound implausible, and at times they suggest a reluctance to acknowledge that other riders were simply stronger or smarter.

That said, if you watch pre race interviews from the UAE Tour or similar races, you will find many riders making statements that are very similar in tone and content to Remco’s.

What his fans say is not my point. I will also admit that I have sometimes given his explanations more credibility than they deserved. In some cases, that has certainly been unwarranted.

 

[saunaking]

Interviewer: Remco, tough race today. You didn’t win. What happened out there?


Remco Evenepoel: In the end, someone else was better. It’s that simple. The strongest rider won today. I didn’t have the legs to make the difference when it mattered.

---

Interviewer: Was there a specific moment where you realized it wasn’t going to be your day?


Remco Evenepoel: On the final climb. I tried to respond to the acceleration, and I could follow for a few seconds, but I didn’t have that extra punch. That’s usually where I can hurt others. Today, I was the one hurting.

---

Interviewer: Do you think tactics played a role?


Remco Evenepoel: Tactics are always part of cycling, but no, I won’t hide behind that. The team did a great job positioning me. When the decisive move went, it was about pure legs. And mine weren’t the best.

---

Interviewer: Were you missing something physically — maybe peak form?


Remco Evenepoel: I felt good coming into the race. Training was solid. But racing is different. Sometimes you’re at 98%, and someone else is at 100%. At this level, that’s enough to lose.

---

Interviewer: The fans expect you to attack and dominate. Did you hesitate at any point?


Remco Evenepoel: No hesitation. I attacked when I believed it was right. I just couldn’t sustain it. You can’t bluff your way through a final like that. If you don’t have the power, you don’t have it.

---

Interviewer: Is it frustrating to admit that someone was simply stronger?


Remco Evenepoel: Of course it’s frustrating. I come to win. But I respect the sport. When someone is stronger, you shake their hand and you work harder. Making excuses doesn’t make you faster.

---

Interviewer: Last question — was there anything at all that might have affected you? Preparation, rest, anything small?


Remco Evenepoel: Honestly… maybe I didn’t sleep perfectly last night. But that’s normal before a big race. I don’t think that was it. The truth is simple: today, another rider was better. And next time, I’ll try to be that rider.


Forum: What a wanker with the constant excuses!!!

 

[Cycling111]

Van Baarle tenth in a mountain stage. Soudal is definitely underrated.

 

[Red Rick]

Interviewer: Remco, tough race today. You didn’t win. What happened out there?


Remco Evenepoel: In the end, someone else was better. It’s that simple. The strongest rider won today. I didn’t have the legs to make the difference when it mattered.

---

Interviewer: Was there a specific moment where you realized it wasn’t going to be your day?


Remco Evenepoel: On the final climb. I tried to respond to the acceleration, and I could follow for a few seconds, but I didn’t have that extra punch. That’s usually where I can hurt others. Today, I was the one hurting.

---

Interviewer: Do you think tactics played a role?


Remco Evenepoel: Tactics are always part of cycling, but no, I won’t hide behind that. The team did a great job positioning me. When the decisive move went, it was about pure legs. And mine weren’t the best.

---

Interviewer: Were you missing something physically — maybe peak form?


Remco Evenepoel: I felt good coming into the race. Training was solid. But racing is different. Sometimes you’re at 98%, and someone else is at 100%. At this level, that’s enough to lose.

---

Interviewer: The fans expect you to attack and dominate. Did you hesitate at any point?


Remco Evenepoel: No hesitation. I attacked when I believed it was right. I just couldn’t sustain it. You can’t bluff your way through a final like that. If you don’t have the power, you don’t have it.

---

Interviewer: Is it frustrating to admit that someone was simply stronger?


Remco Evenepoel: Of course it’s frustrating. I come to win. But I respect the sport. When someone is stronger, you shake their hand and you work harder. Making excuses doesn’t make you faster.

---

Interviewer: Last question — was there anything at all that might have affected you? Preparation, rest, anything small?


Remco Evenepoel: Honestly… maybe I didn’t sleep perfectly last night. But that’s normal before a big race. I don’t think that was it. The truth is simple: today, another rider was better. And next time, I’ll try to be that rider.


Forum: What a wanker with the constant excuses!!!

'Someone else was better' doesn't absolve the excuses made.

It's like saying "I don't mean to be rude" before saying something outrageously insulting