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

[Ulle97]

No clue why he would be dropped on the first big mountain stage if he didn't have preparation issues. We'll see, first have to focus on AGR and LBL anyway.

Do you classify Les Angles or Gavarnie Gedre as the first big mountain stage??

 

[vappa]

If Remco doesn't lose time in the first week he should be in a good position in the Tour.
He shouldn't lose time on the opening hilly stages or the uphill mountain finish at Les Angles.
On paper Gavarnie Gedre is a very easy climb. But after the Aspin and Tourmalet Remco might get those heavy legs.
Surely he can stay with the top guys on an 18km @3.5% gradient???

Do you think he can hang in or dare I say attack on these shallow gradients?? And put time into Pogacar?

Absolutely, but it's far more likely that Pogacar attacks over Tourmalet and Remco is 2 minutes behind when those 18km even begin

 

[Berniece]

Do you classify Les Angles or Gavarnie Gedre as the first big mountain stage??

With proper preparation, I can't see him get dropped by anyone besides Pogacar/Vingegaard on any of those two stages. And if he gets dropped by one of those two, he won't mentally check it out. He checks out if he drops hard and loses to 50 people in the peloton.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

If Remco doesn't lose time in the first week he should be in a good position in the Tour.
He shouldn't lose time on the opening hilly stages or the uphill mountain finish at Les Angles.
On paper Gavarnie Gedre is a very easy climb. But after the Aspin and Tourmalet Remco might get those heavy legs.
Surely he can stay with the top guys on an 18km @3.5% gradient???

Do you think he can hang in or dare I say attack on these shallow gradients?? And put time into Pogacar?

Tourmalet will be carnage. The last 10 km have almost 9% of average gradient. UAE and Pogacar will explode the race there with the intention of Pogacar going solo to the line. They won't wait until the last week of this backloaded race (one never knows what can happen in the meantime) and they will go for it early if Pogacar feels good.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I will say that Nibali was operating at a very high level in 2014. And it's fair to assume that he may have won even with the 2 big dogs present.

I agree that Nibali was superstrong in the Tour, but one thing that might is a bit undercommunicated about Nibalis 2014 season that is a bit relevant now that we discuss Remco in the end of March:

Nibali was pretty damn bad leading into the Tour:
44th San Luis
17th Dubai Tour
12th Tour of Oman
21st Paris-Nice
44th Milano-San Remo
52nd AGR
14th Fleche
30th LBL
5th Romandie (beaten by Froome, Spilak, Rui Costa & Matthias Frank)
7th Dauphine (beaten by Talansky, Contador, Vandenbroeck, Keldermerckx, Bardet & A.Yates)

Then he won the Italian NC in a 2 man sprint versus Formolo, the first victory of the season. And then he was flying in the Tour.

So when we are mentioning Nibali in this thread now, let that also be a reminder that the results in March isnt always telling what will happen in the Tour.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I agree that Nibali was superstrong in the Tour, but one thing that might is a bit undercommunicated about Nibalis 2014 season that is a bit relevant now that we discuss Remco in the end of March:

Nibali was pretty damn bad leading into the Tour:
44th San Luis
17th Dubai Tour
12th Tour of Oman
21st Paris-Nice
44th Milano-San Remo
52nd AGR
14th Fleche
30th LBL
5th Romandie (beaten by Froome, Spilak, Rui Costa & Matthias Frank)
7th Dauphine (beaten by Talansky, Contador, Vandenbroeck, Keldermerckx, Bardet & A.Yates)

Then he won the Italian NC in a 2 man sprint versus Formolo, the first victory of the season. And then he was flying in the Tour.

So when we are mentioning Nibali in this thread now, let that also be a reminder that the results in March isnt always telling what will happen in the Tour.

Wow, I totally forgot how bad Lo Squalo was that year. It's almost as if he had known what would happen at the Tour and just peaked for it. Nowadays those form changes are lower i.e. look at Pogacar (almost no changes) and Vingegaard (relatively small ones).

 

[ashhutch1997]

If something happens to Pogacar and Vingegaard (like to Froome and Contador in 2014) then Evenepoel can win the race like Nibali did (assuming he's well prepared for climbing). Things like that can happen sometimes. Obviously nothing is static and soon someone like Seixas may prove to be too much.

He's not beating Del Torro IMO.

 

[ashhutch1997]

No clue why he would be dropped on the first big mountain stage if he didn't have preparation issues.

I'm just going off his last few stage races, Catalunya, UAE, TDF, Dauphine, Vuelta 2023 ect,... It's pretty common for him to get dropped on the first big mountain stage. I'm sure Remco has his list of different excuses ready.

 

[AmRacer]

With proper preparation, I can't see him get dropped by anyone besides Pogacar/Vingegaard on any of those two stages. And if he gets dropped by one of those two, he won't mentally check it out. He checks out if he drops hard and loses to 50 people in the peloton.

Proper....With proper preparation, lots of riders will be ahead of Remco.

 

[KenFiamingo]

Instead of complaining to the media about the way Jonas Vingegaard races 'defensively' to the media (despite him attacking and gaining almost 3 mins on him and winning 2 stages). He should maybe observe how Jonas rides and learn from it, rather than doing pointless attacks and wasting energy.
I've defended Remco in the past but this week he has been very unlikable. I don't think hell ever come close to winning the TDF, especially with the likes of Del Toro and Sexas coming through, I actually don't think he'll win another GT.
Bora are paying massive money for a luxury Domestique at this rate. He doesn't have the build or mentality for GT's. I think he'd be better off targeting classics.

If you're the lesser climber, you need to try to find time elsewhere: either in TT's or in less obvious ("out of the box") race opportunities. Trying to race like Jonas would have had 0 payout. In fact, Remco's mindset is actually quite similar to Pogacar:

1. Besides Pogacar he's about the only rider who aims at one-day and stage races and is highly competitive in both (in addition to TTs).
2. He tries to take advantage of any (hilly) stage that allows for either a stage win or time bonuses. (Remember Pogacar's firs week at the Tour las year)

The downside is: Remco is no Pogacar which especially shows in mountain stages.

So the point is not: try to race like Vingegaard".

The point is: "don't try and mimic Pogacar". Which means: make choices instead of trying to be the best TT''er, the best classics rider, the best stage racer and the best GT rider. Wout Van Aert's destiny is looming: awesome all-round rider, but missing out on some (more) big wins.

 

[AmRacer]

If you're the lesser climber, you need to try to find time elsewhere: either in TT's or in less obvious ("out of the box") race opportunities. Trying to race like Jonas would have had 0 payout. In fact, Remco's mindset is actually quite similar to Pogacar:

1. Besides Pogacar he's about the only rider who aims at one-day and stage races and is highly competitive in both (in addition to TTs).
2. He tries to take advantage of any (hilly) stage that allows for either a stage win or time bonuses. (Remember Pogacar's firs week at the Tour las year)

The downside is: Remco is no Pogacar which especially shows in mountain stages.

So the point is not: try to race like Vingegaard".

The point is: "don't try and mimic Pogacar". Which means: make choices instead of trying to be the best TT''er, the best classics rider, the best stage racer and the best GT rider. Wout Van Aert's destiny is looming: awesome all-round rider, but missing out on some (more) big wins.

Last year, Pogi and Mathieu having fun. The rest tried to tag along

 

[Berniece]

I'm just going off his last few stage races, Catalunya, UAE, TDF, Dauphine, Vuelta 2023 ect,... It's pretty common for him to get dropped on the first big mountain stage. I'm sure Remco has his list of different excuses ready.

I can give you that list if you want You probably don't agree with it, but it's reality.

 

[ashhutch1997]

I can give you that list if you want You probably don't agree with it, but it's reality.

The problem is if it was a one off I'd understand, but it happens again and again. It's like cry wolf, I've stuck up for him in the past but I'm done with all the BS excuses. Just do your job.

 

[Netserk]

No clue why he would be dropped on the first big mountain stage if he didn't have preparation issues. We'll see, first have to focus on AGR and LBL anyway.

i expect vingegaard to drop him on tourmalet , and possibly pogi to drop vingegaard there too

we will immediately see who rides for third behind the two favourites

uae should full send it from gripp

 

[Berniece]

i expect vingegaard to drop him on tourmalet , and possibly pogi to drop vingegaard there too

we will immediately see who rides for third behind the two favourites

uae should full send it from gripp

It was in the context of Evenepoel breaking mentally. He doesn’t break mentally if those two drop him. So when I said “dropped”, I meant by the likes of Gee, Ayuso, Landa, Martinez.

I don’t think he will be able to follow Pogacar.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Since when are crashes the equivalent of a lame excuse....

 

[AmRacer]

Since when are crashes the equivalent of a lame excuse....

when you get back up riding and win the race