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

[Extinction]

I am not saying I am right, not saying you are wrong. Just I am siding with cycling insiders, people who have been around the sport for decades, and people who held his contract, he is not an elite climber in our shared opinion.
His form is so good, his speed is second to none, maybe you are right keep trying to race against Pogacar, Vingegaard and half dozen emerging talents and hope everything changes and he is able to climb with the best. You are right it could happen.

They should have brought him to the Tour by 2021 at the latest. He wants to be a grand tour champ, his early career should have showed him the level he needed. Now it's approaching the expiration date of those lofty ambitions.

 

[Oldman]

Bring the excuses, the popcorn is ready.

Suddenly Patrick LeFevre, no longer responsible for running interference for Remco; says what is known out loud.
As for Remco's ambition to be a preeminent GT rider we all know he can try. It will come at the expense of other talents but, IMO; it's a 2 year plan. Today is year one and next season would be the payoff. If he can't challenge Jonas he should live with his great one-day racing career.

 

[Extinction]

Suddenly Patrick LeFevre, no longer responsible for running interference for Remco; says what is known out loud.
As for Remco's ambition to be a preeminent GT rider we all know he can try. It will come at the expense of other talents but, IMO; it's a 2 year plan. Today is year one and next season would be the payoff. If he can't challenge Jonas he should live with his great one-day racing career.

He needs to become more lithe if he has any hope of being a first class mountain man.

 

[Tanakka]

My bet is Remco gets swaped for Seixas - remember where you read it first!

Some people don't see longevity in Seixas as GT racer.
They think he's too tall and will end up facing the same fate as Doumulin or Arensman.

But who knows, perhaps he'll end up being the next Froome or Indurain*.


*completely different times, though

 

[Rou]

Usually after the first small crack Evenepoel falls through the floor...
I hope we don't see a full collapse tomorrow on Pradell which will be quite demoralizing.

 

[Berniece]

His form is so good, his speed is second to none, maybe you are right keep trying to race against Pogacar, Vingegaard and half dozen emerging talents and hope everything changes and he is able to climb with the best. You are right it could happen.

As long as he stays upright. That’s the only thing I’m saying. Apparently for some, not you, Evenepoel has different standards to uphold, and even when he crashes he needs to be better

 

[AmRacer]

As long as he stays upright. That’s the only thing I’m saying. Apparently for some, not you, Evenepoel has different standards to uphold, and even when he crashes he needs to be better

He needs to be better if he wants to win GC.

 

[Unchained]

As long as he stays upright. That’s the only thing I’m saying. Apparently for some, not you, Evenepoel has different standards to uphold, and even when he crashes he needs to be better

Guy is 26 already has 73 wins, classic wins, wins at worlds, nationals, Olympics, won at the Vuelta, TDF.. the Giro .
He crosses over he speaks, English, French and whatever Dutch derivative he chooses, races with gusto..
He is the standard.
His failures are self imposed because he aims a little high..
I have seen 4,5 races this year he would have won or been a factor had he signed up.
Bonus that is unforgettable, they way he talks about and treats his wife and extended family is noble..
Race horses are high strung just comes with the territory.

 

[Andre]

Not that bad of a day at the office; Remco finished ahead of
O'Connor
Riccitello
Mas
Almeida
Onley
Carapaz...etcetera etcetera

Still room for much improvement. So many crashes and injuries and wasted time healing instead of gaining. I hope he can still win some more big races. His appetite for winning is still at the very top.

 

[peterfin]

I don't see him cracking this race. His performance today is probably close to what he expected. He would have been a bit closer if he could diesel his group but that was not possible with Lipo in front. His performance improves but it's not a stellar growth curve. Others, Almeide and Onley in particular (still issues after illness?), have more work to do.

Regardless where his shape ends up during the TdF, it's also clear that he won't challenge Pogacar or Vingegaard. I guess that's clear for everyone from the start. I assume Redbull knows this too. The 2024 edition of Remco is probably close to the best they can hope for. Will any change in training or fueling be effective after just 6 months RBH? I don't think so. I also doubt he can make huge leaps relative to the others in the future. At 26 he is probably as strong as he can be. He needs luck if he wants to go a step higher on the TdF podium and he needs to use the terrain when it favors him. The alternative is doing stuff that belongs in the clinic. In any case: he should not crash during his preparation! This race may end up to be a negative overal for his shape, just because he crashed again.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Haven't watched it yet, judging from the rankings, seems remco did okay.
Maybe he could have been in the same time as Lipo without the crash. maybe not and this is his current level.
Will need to see the stage first to see how much I believe it affected him.

If this is his current level , than that is no man overboard. There is still time till the Tour to improve further. At least He proved he is once again a respectable climber. Not sure why people are making this out to be all gloom & doom. Last i checked riders like Onley and Almeida finished even further down.

If i can believe his interview, we may get an active Remco tomorrow. So hoping that's the case.

 

[canina82]

I wasn't expecting this performance after his crash. Kudos for him nevertheless I still think he won't be on the podium in the TdF.

 

[Red Rick]

It's not that doesn't have a reason to underperform, it's that he literally always drops off hard anytime something happens.

 

[Peyresourde]

Your expectations seem really low. He was better today than at UAE, but only marginally. In his 2023 Catalunya shape he might have even been with Vingegaard today.

The crash certainly did not help, but for me it was still disappointing.

 

[AmRacer]

Haven't watched it yet, judging from the rankings, seems remco did okay.
Maybe he could have been in the same time as Lipo without the crash. maybe not and this is his current level.
Will need to see the stage first to see how much I believe it affected him.

If this is his current level , than that is no man overboard. There is still time till the Tour to improve further. At least He proved he is once again a respectable climber. Not sure why people are making this out to be all gloom & doom. Last i checked riders like Onley and Almeida finished even further down.

If i can believe his interview, we may get an active Remco tomorrow. So hoping that's the case.

Everybody will improve for the Tour. And this is the first real hard stage, should've been the second.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Your expectations seem really low. He was better today than at UAE, but only marginally. In his 2023 Catalunya shape he might have even been with Vingegaard today.

The crash certainly did not help, but for me it was still disappointing.

Yes, that is the biggest issue. He should be getting better each year, but instead he seems to be going backwards. 2023 Catalunya Remco smokes GC Remco from everything except the 2024 Tour. Every version of GC Remco in 2025 is worse, every version of 2026 GC Remco is significantly worse. He was very good in that race, whether you go by the eye test or the calculated numbers, which were I believe better than what Vingegaard showed here.

 

[Ulle97]

Or not

I don't see any reason for it at the moment. He crashed, hard. Everyone knows the 48h after it are worst. He lost at least 10% of his capabilities. I see no reason to make conclusions out of this.

Tomorrow will be 72hrs......... do you get better or worse after the crash at 72hrs??

 

[Berniece]

Tomorrow will be 72hrs......... do you get better or worse after the crash at 72hrs??

I think he'll be better, and I also think he'll win in Barcelona. He got better in Vuelta 2022 too...

 

[KoopaCycling]

I see your point @AmRacer , but i was expecting remco to be further back today. I actually though he looked solid enough today. He also did not fell away after blowing up in Jonas his wheel. if he rides well next 2 days, i think he'll be good for for contending Amstel and being amongst the podium for LBL. Same if they decide to let him ride Flanders. I think he'll be a podium contender there as well. Especially since he'll be able to ride it with only the stress he himself puts on himself. First time, other favourites for podium and Pogacar being already pencilled in, ... should allow him to ride somewhat free.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I think he'll be better, and I also think he'll win in Barcelona. He got better in Vuelta 2022 too...

Barcelona suits him way better though. He excels on short climbs as well as on aerodynamic sectors.

 

[Ulle97]

I think he'll be better, and I also think he'll win in Barcelona. He got better in Vuelta 2022 too...

I think tomorrow might suit him a bit better.
The uphill finish is about a 15min effort. He can do well on this. Problem is, Vingo is also very good at that distance too.

But on Sunday, I think he can win and finish alone. He will definitely attack from distance.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Remco and Lipo need to work on their understanding a bit more, some waffling moments. Lipo was seen thinking wether he should wait, and Remco was pulling the chasing group instead of switching to defense immediately and save his legs for the final 2 kms. But all in all they seem to work well enough together. complimenting each other.Utter pikachu at ineos. them pacing for so long for Onley to be nowhere.

 

[AmRacer]

I see your point @AmRacer , but i was expecting remco to be further back today. I actually though he looked solid enough today. He also did not fell away after blowing up in Jonas his wheel. if he rides well next 2 days, i think he'll be good for for contending Amstel and being amongst the podium for LBL. Same if they decide to let him ride Flanders. I think he'll be a podium contender there as well. Especially since he'll be able to ride it with only the stress he himself puts on himself. First time, other favourites for podium and Pogacar being already pencilled in, ... should allow him to ride somewhat free.

He fought hard and found good company up the mountain. His recovery after multiple consecutive hard mountain stages are unknown for the moment.

 

[KoopaCycling]

I think tomorrow might suit him a bit better.
The uphill finish is about a 15min effort. He can do well on this. Problem is, Vingo is also very good at that distance too.

But on Sunday, I think he can win and finish alone. He will definitely attack from distance.

If Jonas lets him go. We all know Jonas prefers to keep things as safe as possible. No arguing the results. I actually think remco and Pidcock could work well together in barcelona. I'm not sure how bad Pidcock crash was though.

 

[Berniece]

I think tomorrow might suit him a bit better.
The uphill finish is about a 15min effort. He can do well on this. Problem is, Vingo is also very good at that distance too.

I actually hope Evenepoel goes on Collada de Sant Isidre. Let RBH set a decent pace on Coll de Pradell to make sure most teams only have a few riders lefts. Then just go all-in on Collada de Sant Isidre. Obviously Vingegaard will be able to follow, and hopefully this time he does ride along. Might help him get on the podium.