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

[Berniece]

I will say this, Remco not doing MSR was maybe the correct decision. Maybe i'm overestimating what I saw today, or i do feel like giving Pogacar some credit, but that descent looked fast today. As much as remco has improved i'm doubtful he could have held the wheel without extensive prior training.

Then he would’ve closed that gap later

 

[Red Rick]

Absolutely 0 reason for Evenepoel to skip Sanremo.

 

[peterfin]

I will say this, Remco not doing MSR was maybe the correct decision. Maybe i'm overestimating what I saw today, or i do feel like giving Pogacar some credit, but that descent looked fast today. As much as remco has improved i'm doubtful he could have held the wheel without extensive prior training.

The decent is fast but not that technical for somebody who knows the corners. I don't think they can drop him there, at least not enough to give him no chance to come back.

 

[vappa]

I will say this, Remco not doing MSR was maybe the correct decision. Maybe i'm overestimating what I saw today, or i do feel like giving Pogacar some credit, but that descent looked fast today. As much as remco has improved i'm doubtful he could have held the wheel without extensive prior training.

These might be the only descends (Cipressa and Poggio) that Pogacar can do faster than Pidcock, I think he was taking better lines through the corners today and somehow putting him under pressure even there. He rode them so many times, also with Bonifazio, surely he could do it eyes closed by now

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Then he would’ve closed that gap later

I don’t see it.

Absolutely 0 reason for Evenepoel to skip Sanremo.

I agree.

 

[Berniece]

I don’t see it.

WVA almost closed it and he came from farther back. You don’t think that if Evenepoel would take the descent slightly slower he would’ve come back on the flat? Like Ganna last year

 

[AmRacer]

WVA almost closed it and he came from farther back. You don’t think that if Evenepoel would take the descent slightly slower he would’ve come back on the flat? Like Ganna last year

Nope, Ganna come back because Pogi and Mathieu slowed down.

 

[Berniece]

Nope, Ganna come back because Pogi and Mathieu slowed down.

So did Pogacar and Pidcock yesterday…

 

[Berniece]

He lost 2-3kg’s past few weeks according to article on HLN. He’s ready for Catalunya

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He lost 2-3kg’s past few weeks according to article on HLN. He’s ready for Catalunya

Well, he can do it quickly as we saw in 2024. So no more Muscleco/Fatco. I'm expecting him to finish the race 2nd of 3rd.

 

[Salvarani]

So did Pogacar and Pidcock yesterday…

MVDP dropped like 15 seconds on Poggio and was caught right towards the end by the peloton.

They didnt really slow down. Pog and Pidcock went really fast on the descent and worked together until 700-800m, where Pidcock stopped taking turns.

Pog kept the pace high enough so they would not be caught, until sprint started.

 

[vappa]

MVDP dropped like 15 seconds on Poggio and was caught right towards the end by the peloton.

They didnt really slow down. Pog and Pidcock went really fast on the descent and worked together until 700-800m, where Pidcock stopped taking turns.

Pog kept the pace high enough so they would not be caught, until sprint started.

Pidcock's last turn ended more than 1km to go and you could see that neither pulled all out at that point

 

[Salvarani]

Pidcock's last turn ended more than 1km to go and you could see that neither pulled all out at that point

Yeah, then Pog pulled to about 800m and Pidcock didnt take another turn... basically what I said. So Pog had to be on the front for the remainder to keep the pace up somewhat, so they didnt get caught.

 

[vappa]

So did Pogacar and Pidcock yesterday…

You're arguing against yourself here, if the front doesn't slow down, dropped riders aren't coming back. So Remco can only catch back if he's close enough and the front slows down

 

[Berniece]

You're arguing against yourself here, if the front doesn't slow down, dropped riders aren't coming back. So Remco can only catch back if he's close enough and the front slows down

It was about the situation yesterday. Someone said the Evenepoel might have followed Pogacar/Pidcock but would’ve been dropped on the descent. I’m saying he would’ve come back after the descent since Pogacar/Pidcock slowed down.

 

[canina82]

Remco can win every race he doesn't race. It's a trend from his fanbase. When he actually has to race against the Big Boy, he hardly can keep with him for 5".

Regarding Catalunya, I'm happy to see him with less 2-3 kgs, this means his weight can no longer be an excuse after he drops like a stone on stage 5.

 

[Berniece]

Remco can win every race he doesn't race. It's a trend from his fanbase. When he actually has to race against the Big Boy, he hardly can keep with him for 5".

Regarding Catalunya, I'm happy to see him with less 2-3 kgs, this means his weight can no longer be an excuse after he drops like a stone on stage 5.

No one said he would've won MSR... That's ridiculous. He has a worse sprint than Pidcock and Pogacar

 

[Red Rick]

No one said he would've won MSR... That's ridiculous. He has a worse sprint than Pidcock and Pogacar

I think Evenepoel could be a huge annoyance for Pogacar, but he wouldn't refuse to pull.

 

[HashRouge]

He lost 2-3kg’s past few weeks according to article on HLN. He’s ready for Catalunya

I'm looking forward to Catalunya, should be a good race. Shame that I also have to work, but never mind!

 

[Mayomaniac]

He lost 2-3kg’s past few weeks according to article on HLN. He’s ready for Catalunya

Ozempic is one hell of a drug.

 

[peterfin]

I think Remco's descending skills are underrated. He does it much better now than a few years ago. Also, the Poggio is just not technical enough to distance him more than a few seconds. I think he would be one of the better descenders there. He has the aerodynamics for it at those speeds.

 

[Jan the Man]

Pure speculation how he’d have fared yesterday but I maintain there was no reason for him to miss it. Pidcock is doing both and I appreciate he’s been at altitude but i think it is clear he has the characteristics to be a protagonist in MSR.

Interesting he has lost that much weight since UAE.

Be interested to see how much of a step he has made in his climbing against ostensibly tougher competition in Vignegaard.

I’d be concerned if he is not there or thereabouts with Almeida, Pidcock but I expect him to be.

I’d be pleasantly surprised if anyone, including Remco, lays a glove on Vignegaard.