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

[peterfin]

Sporza is saying it's for real

Geen aprilgrap: Remco Evenepoel debuteert zondag in de Ronde van Vlaanderen | sporza

Dan toch. Remco Evenepoel (26) laat zich dit voorjaar dan toch dopen in de Ronde van Vlaanderen, zo weet onze redactie. Rond Evenepoels deelname waren er de voorbije maanden veel geruchten, maar midden december veegde Evenepoel die eigenhandig van tafel. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe en hun kopman...

sporza.be

Now the recon in December with Vermeersch and trainers makes sense. It must have been a conditional option all along.

 

[Berniece]

Now the recon in December with Vermeersch and trainers makes sense. It must have been a conditional option all along.

The weather is fine for Sunday, might have been always that. It was something Michel Wuyts said

 

[Didinho]

He also did the recon last year as a surprise because he had to do a long training to get ready for Brabantse Pijl etc. This year it was already confirmed he would do the recon.

Now he just have to follow Gianni and Tim to stay in good position before the decisive parts. But I don’t think the positing will be any problem. The parts between the hills will be more action with Remco for sure.

 

[AmRacer]

But what with altitude camp before the Ardennes then?

 

[The bald fraud]

Great news! It was about time Remco finally starts in the greatest Flemish race, the Tour of Flanders. His presence will surely add to the dynamics of the race and make it less predictable.

We can expect a proper showdown with Pogačar, MVDP, WVA and Mads. A top 5 is definitely on cards, but he can ride without pressure. It's his debut there after all.

 

[Netserk]

Now the recon in December with Vermeersch and trainers makes sense. It must have been a conditional option all along.

similar to pogi for roubaix last year , but even worse

 

[KenFiamingo]

Curious how Vanthourenhout is going to spin this. Makes 0 sense IMO.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Remco definitely has the right build for RVV, however the fight for position is what will be the issue IMO. He should've done Omloop or even Dwars door vlaanderen today to prepare. I think this is what Remco should be focusing on rather than Grand Tours and its the right move.

 

[Snake]

Between the 2 monumento had more sense to ride Sanremo, I just don't trust his ability to stay on that bike in a chaotic race like this.

 

[peterfin]

I have to say that even after the confirmation I am not sure if he actually rides RVV. April's foolsday....

 

[Valv.Piti]

Curious how Vanthourenhout is going to spin this. Makes 0 sense IMO.

Cause Remco is getting his ass beat in week long stage races. Should have done this a long time ago

 

[ashhutch1997]

Between the 2 monumento had more sense to ride Sanremo, I just don't trust his ability to stay on that bike in a chaotic race like this.

Yeah I think people are really underestimating his lack of cobbled racing.

 

[Berniece]

With how hyped this already is in Belgium media I can see a classic Remco scenario unfold where he crashes out for the rest of spring

 

[peterfin]

With how hyped this already is in Belgium media I can see a classic Remco scenario unfold where he crashes out for the rest of spring

Lets hope this horror scenario does not unfold.

 

[KenFiamingo]

Lets hope this horror scenario does not unfold.

Exactly what's going to happen. Plenty of potholes over here.

 

[Berniece]

Lets hope this horror scenario does not unfold.

Indeed, I think he can just win it

 

[ashhutch1997]

With how hyped this already is in Belgium media I can see a classic Remco scenario unfold where he crashes out for the rest of spring

The lack of cobble racing could indeed play a part in this happening.
It's funny because me and you have gone back and forth about his ability as a GT racer, but these are the races I think he should be targeting.
Give him a bit of experience in these races and I think he can win races like RVV.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Exactly what's going to happen. Plenty of potholes over here.

The death valley is calling him.

 

[Berniece]

The lack of cobble racing could indeed play a part in this happening.
It's funny because me and you have gone back and forth about his ability as a GT racer, but these are the races I think he should be targeting.
Give him a bit of experience in these races and I think he can win races like RVV.

I believe he can do it all. He should just follow Pogacar's calendar. Not this year's calendar, because it's too barebones, but a 2023 or 2025-like calendar.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Yeah I think people are really underestimating his lack of cobbled racing.

On the flip side, his performance in Brabantse Pijl last year compared to the one in 2022 suggests his deficiencies on this kind of terrain are a lot smaller than they once were.

 

[ashhutch1997]

I believe he can do it all. He should just follow Pogacar's calendar. Not this year's calendar, because it's too barebones, but a 2023 or 2025-like calendar.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this! He's a great rider, but I think people way overate his GC ability.
I think if he did a calender like Pogacar in 2023/25, he'd end up being jack of all trades master of none, he's not Pogacar (nobody is).

 

[ashhutch1997]

On the flip side, his performance in Brabantse Pijl last year compared to the one in 2022 suggests his deficiencies on this kind of terrain are a lot smaller than they once were.

I was thinking that, however I don't think you can compare Brabantse Pijl to RVV, it's a totally different beast.

 

[Didinho]

Don’t think the lack of cobbled races are still a problem. And he got a really strong team. The legs will decide more than the experience.

Just hope he can race without any problems on Sunday. He knows the climbs and rolling terrain is his thing.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I was thinking that, however I don't think you can compare Brabantse Pijl to RVV, it's a totally different beast.

It's only a different beast distance-wise, and we obviously know that Evenepoel likes monument-length races. Moskesstraat is pretty comparable to most of the main hills in RVV that are not named Oude Kwaremont.

 

[Extinction]

With how hyped this already is in Belgium media I can see a classic Remco scenario unfold where he crashes out for the rest of spring

Nah, he's a Flandrian and should do this race. It's the same for everyone else. He's a warrior and will do fine.