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

[Berniece]

I can't message you directly, so you'll need to visit other parts of this forum to find out why.
Especially since i've just been reminded to not be so overt about my opinion on the matter and my previous post may already be construed as saying too much.

I've read that, I just don't think that has much of an impact in MSR compared to 3 week racing and mountainous terrain. Cipressa and Poggio ain't that hard, and I wouldn't be surprised if WVA isn't dropped either in two weeks.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I've read that, I just don't think that has much of an impact in MSR compared to 3 week racing and mountainous terrain. Cipressa and Poggio ain't that hard, and I wouldn't be surprised if WVA isn't dropped either in two weeks.

This is not Van Aert from 3-5 years ago, almost everyone will be dropped. Evenepoel is another story but he's not there anyway.

 

[Berniece]

This is not Van Aert from 3-5 years ago, almost everyone will be dropped. Evenepoel is another story but he's not there anyway.

I think riders will be dropped if they aren't properly positioned. If for some miraculous reason you have Del Toro - Pogacar - MVDP in a row, and then from the strongest to the weakest rider in the wheel of MVDP. I'm not sure it's only Pogacar and MVDP that are at the top of Cipressa

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I think riders will be dropped if they aren't properly positioned. If for some miraculous reason you have Del Toro - Pogacar - MVDP in a row, and then from the strongest to the weakest rider in the wheel of MVDP. I'm not sure it's only Pogacar and MVDP that are at the top of Cipressa

UAE is weaker due to Narvaez and Wellens absence so maybe Cipressa won't be as brutal as last year. If they want to replicate similarly brutal pace they will have to sacrifice Del Toro. If not then they should use Del Toro as a bait for Van der Poel. Anyway, Van Aert is not a rider he used to be, he was strongly beaten by many guys at Strade.

 

[Berniece]

UAE is weaker due to Narvaez and Wellens absence so maybe Cipressa won't be as brutal as last year. If they want to replicate similarly brutal pace they will have to sacrifice Del Toro. If not then they should use Del Toro as a bait for Van der Poel. Anyway, Van Aert is not a rider he used to be, he was strongly beaten by many guys at Strade.

Sure, but Strade is difficult for a rider like WVA. This isn't the 2020 route anymore

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Sure, but Strade is difficult for a rider like WVA. This isn't the 2020 route anymore

Come on, Van Aert podiumed Liege and had some spectacular performances on long climbs (Tokyo Olympics says hi, he catched Pogacar on 11% long climb). He was always much better at climbing than MVP but he's the shadow of his former self. It's a pity to watch a monster like him being beaten so much.

 

[Berniece]

Come on, Van Aert podiumed Liege and had some spectacular performances on long climbs (Tokyo Olympics says hi, he catched Pogacar on 11% long climb). He was always much better at climbing than MVP but he's the shadow of his former self.

That's true, I also didn't see Strade, so don't really have a proper clue how he fared. I only know he finished 10th. And if I would make an assumption on MVDP's performance here, it would be something similar.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

That's true, I also didn't see Strade, so don't really have a proper clue how he fared. I only know he finished 10th. And if I would make an assumption on MVDP's performance here, it would be something similar.

I think this route would suit the old Van Aert much more than MVP. It's more about endurance than explosivity now (and Van Aert was surely better at handling cumulative vertical meters while MVP is more of an uphill puncher).

 

[Red Rick]

This is not Van Aert from 3-5 years ago, almost everyone will be dropped. Evenepoel is another story but he's not there anyway.

If Ganna can follow on Cipressa, so can Van Aert.

 

[jotafap]

If Ganna can follow on Cipressa, so can Van Aert.

At this point in his career, that is highly subjective, and Ganna was dropped on both climbs.
In two weeks we’ll see, but I would put money on Van Aert having no impact on the race or the final result.

 

[Jan the Man]

At this point in his career, that is highly subjective, and Ganna was dropped on both climbs.
In two weeks we’ll see, but I would put money on Van Aert having no impact on the race or the final result.

The question is whether Remco would get dropped. He wouldn’t imo if he was well positioned - this is the big if as his positioning has undoubtedly been lacking in several one day races.

 

[Extinction]

I expect him to ride both of them every year starting next year. They’re going all-in on TDF this year and see where that takes him. If he barely makes podium and the gap with Pogacar/Vingegaard is similar to 2024, then what’s the point… just do classics and the Giro

I'd say he needs to show improvement; now Pog and Vingo aren't the only to contend with but, perhaps now even, Seixas and Del Toro.

 

[Berniece]

I'd say he needs to show improvement; now Pog and Vingo aren't the only to contend with but, perhaps now even, Seixas and Del Toro.

Del Toro hasn’t shown he can push similar numbers to Evenepoel in TDF 2024. And we still have to see if Seixas can hold his form for 3 full weeks

 

[AmRacer]

Del Toro hasn’t shown he can push similar numbers to Evenepoel in TDF 2024. And we still have to see if Seixas can hold his form for 3 full weeks

Neither has Remco

 

[Berniece]

Neither has Remco

Yeah, people often get worse when being 26 years old

 

[Krzysztof_O]

If Ganna can follow on Cipressa, so can Van Aert.

If it's so easy then why almost nobody could do it? Ganna at his peak is a power monster, who can withstand a lot on shallow gradients (he was dropped on Cipressa & Poggio BTW but came back due to Pogacar-Van der Poel tactical deadlock). Van Aert could follow if he was in a very good form but he is far from it.

 

[Red Rick]

If it's so easy then why almost nobody could do it? Ganna at his peak is a power monster, who can withstand a lot on shallow gradients (he was dropped on Cipressa & Poggio BTW but came back due to Pogacar-Van der Poel tactical deadlock). Van Aert could follow if he was in a very good form but he is far from it.

Because they were being silly with their positioning

 

[James M]

I'd say he needs to show improvement, not Pog and Vingo aren't the only to contend with but, perhaps now even, Seixas and Del Toro.

Same people always look back for comfort or nitpick whatever they want to see, even though its less relevant to today than other things, and then the same people wonder why they’re surprised every single time. Funny how that goes.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Because they were being silly with their positioning

Again, you are underestimating Ganna. It wasn't the first time that he was in top3 of San Remo finale. Those shallow gradients are borderline for him: he can still use his big power while gravity works against him in a moderate way. Van Aert is too weak nowadays to match Ganna's level of performance. He would be up there with MVP and Pog if it was a few years back.

 

[AmRacer]

Yeah, people often get worse when being 26 years old

Same for other riders

 

[Extinction]

Del Toro hasn’t shown he can push similar numbers to Evenepoel in TDF 2024. And we still have to see if Seixas can hold his form for 3 full weeks

True, but surely Del Toro will be on a higher level this year. Seixas still needs to ride the Tour, but he has huge potential.

 

[Berniece]

True, but surely Del Toro will be on a higher level this year. Seixas still needs to ride the Tour, but he has huge potential.

Could be, but we won't really know until we see him ride in Dauphine in a proper mountain stage.

 

[Extinction]

Could be, but we won't really know until we see him ride in Dauphine in a proper mountain stage.

Seixas came 8th in the Dauphine last year, I expect him and Del Toro to be high in GC this year.

 

[canina82]

The 2024 TdF can't be used as an argument forever but let's wait for Catalunya to know if Remco can still climb against world class climbers (Vingegaard is on another level but Lipo, Almeida will be there for example).

 

[Berniece]

The 2024 TdF can't be used as an argument forever but let's wait for Catalunya to know if Remco can still climb against world class climbers (Vingegaard is on another level but Lipo, Almeida will be there for example).

Since it’s the last GT he was in some way properly prepared for and it’s only 1.5 years ago, I think it’s fine.

If he has proper preparation and fails in TDF 2026, then you have a point.