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

[Oldman]

I'm torn on Paris Roubaix. He's the best TTer in the world right now and I think the best TTer in the world should give PR a shot. Maybe he's not ready to win it yet but it's the kind of race where he can use the experience if he wants to be a contender in a few years. But man I just really don't think he's gonna have a great time there. I don't think the weakness that he will have one the really rough cobbles has been exploited today. The way the race went was kind of convenient for him, where everything was kinda calm pre Molenberg, then he made the split on the Molenberg, and it was kinda calm again until the 2nd Kwaremont at which point the finale was already starting.

In Roubaix, even though the race might be just as selective as a whole, there is no one sector as selective as the cobbled hills in RVV. Maybe the group he's in will be quite small with 100km to go again, at which point things like positioning become much easier. But even then that means he already has 70 kms of constant fighting for positions and riding on really rough cobbles in his legs. I mean, as long as he manages to stay upright on the cobbles he should still be able to get a decent result, but I just can't see him being as comfortable there as he was in RVV.

This seems reasonable. The risks and GT climbing training can't wait in this planning progression, IMO. Recovery from PR, particularly the first time is no small thing.

 

[Oldman]

Riders crashing is part of the game. Some crashing better than others.

I think he should do P-R next Sunday just to get experience.

of crashing?

 

[CyclistAbi]

Now that was a great Tour of Flanders debut.

 

[canina82]

without looking at the rest of the thread, something I found interesting if you remove championships and olympics. The biggest race that Remco has won (apart from stages) over the last 2 1/2 seasons ....bit long winded I know...:

is ...
one day - Brabantse Pijl
overall - Algarve?!

This should be the peak of his career.

He may not win a lot of important races but he wins on Tiktok.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWFGcYDDUpX/?igsh=N2I2cmdpYW5xeGlx

But now I understand why Vingegaard doesn't work with him. This is so cringe.

 

[CyclistAbi]

This is so cringe.

Why? They look good together and seem to have fun.

 

[canina82]

Why? They look good together and seem to have fun.

True but it's also cringy. Can't see Vingegaard doing something like that.

 

[red_flanders]

True but it's also cringy. Can't see Vingegaard doing something like that.

For sure it's a bit cringe, but "can't see Vingegaard doing something like that" sounds like a compliment to me.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Can't see Vingegaard doing something like that.

Pogi would, though. Likely it comes down to the age.

 

[Berniece]

True but it's also cringy. Can't see Vingegaard doing something like that.

Evenepoel is also not together with someone 11 years older than him that just doesn't use TikTok, since that's from a completely different generation. He could always dye his hair white of course, just like VDB did

 

[Peter von]

He may not win a lot of important races but he wins on Tiktok.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWFGcYDDUpX/?igsh=N2I2cmdpYW5xeGlx

But now I understand why Vingegaard doesn't work with him. This is so cringe.

It’s a fine line between funny and cringe.

Vingegaard wouldn’t have done it and Pogi would probably have a better goofball energy.

But ultimately one man’s cringe is another mans cool. We can just stop watching if we don’t dig it.

Oh yeah and pretty uncringe ride in Flanders from Lil’bastard. He is not finished on cobbles, but he might stick with cobbles with percentages for the time being.

 

[KoopaCycling]

without looking at the rest of the thread, something I found interesting if you remove championships and olympics. The biggest race that Remco has won (apart from stages) over the last 2 1/2 seasons ....bit long winded I know...:

is ...
one day - Brabantse Pijl
overall - Algarve?!

This should be the peak of his career.

True. Second or third places do not equal wins.

 

[Extinction]

I'm torn on Paris Roubaix. He's the best TTer in the world right now and I think the best TTer in the world should give PR a shot. Maybe he's not ready to win it yet but it's the kind of race where he can use the experience if he wants to be a contender in a few years. But man I just really don't think he's gonna have a great time there. I don't think the weakness that he will have one the really rough cobbles has been exploited today. The way the race went was kind of convenient for him, where everything was kinda calm pre Molenberg, then he made the split on the Molenberg, and it was kinda calm again until the 2nd Kwaremont at which point the finale was already starting.

In Roubaix, even though the race might be just as selective as a whole, there is no one sector as selective as the cobbled hills in RVV. Maybe the group he's in will be quite small with 100km to go again, at which point things like positioning become much easier. But even then that means he already has 70 kms of constant fighting for positions and riding on really rough cobbles in his legs. I mean, as long as he manages to stay upright on the cobbles he should still be able to get a decent result, but I just can't see him being as comfortable there as he was in RVV.

Well, there's only one way to find out. But, alas, not this year.

 

[Extinction]

He may not win a lot of important races but he wins on Tiktok.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWFGcYDDUpX/?igsh=N2I2cmdpYW5xeGlx

But now I understand why Vingegaard doesn't work with him. This is so cringe.

Why so cringe? They look like a young, playful couple that have a good time together. That's how the young in love should be.

 

[HashRouge]

True but it's also cringy. Can't see Vingegaard doing something like that.

Nah, I think it's more cute than cringey. Vingegaard, much as I love him, is 29 going on 49, so of course he wouldn't do something like that.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Seixas impresses me more and more. To the point I am a believer of a podium finish in the TdF should he ride it.
That ain't good news for Remco. But as far as i'm concerned it's 1.Pogacar 2.Vingegaard 3.Seixas
and Remco, Lipo, Del Toro, and the rest fighting for a top 5. Lipo finished on 1.25. And with Remco his crash he (lipo) was slightly better than Remco in Catalunya. That's Vingegaard territory what Seixas is showing.

Also Dan Lorang will leave red Bull after the TdF

 

[AmRacer]

Seixas impresses me more and more. To the point I am a believer of a podium finish in the TdF should he ride it.
That ain't good news for Remco. But as far as i'm concerned it's 1.Pogacar 2.Vingegaard 3.Seixas
and Remco, Lipo, Del Toro, and the rest fighting for a top 5. Lipo finished on 1.25. And with Remco his crash he (lipo) was slightly better than Remco in Catalunya. That's Vingegaard territory what Seixas is showing.

Don't know Lipo's best shape, ha was sick at altitude camp and didn't he said he feels Catalunya in his legs.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Don't know Lipo's best shape, ha was sick at altitude camp and didn't he said he feels Catalunya in his legs.

Even so, i'm impressed.

 

[AmRacer]

Even so, i'm impressed.

Yeah, Sexias seems to be really good.

 

[Extinction]

Even so, i'm impressed.

And think Seixas is only 19. Nobody in the history of the sport at his age showed this strength.

 

[Berniece]

Seixas impresses me more and more. To the point I am a believer of a podium finish in the TdF should he ride it.
That ain't good news for Remco. But as far as i'm concerned it's 1.Pogacar 2.Vingegaard 3.Seixas
and Remco, Lipo, Del Toro, and the rest fighting for a top 5. Lipo finished on 1.25. And with Remco his crash he (lipo) was slightly better than Remco in Catalunya. That's Vingegaard territory what Seixas is showing.

Also Dan Lorang will leave red Bull after the TdF

I’m impressed but he won’t ride podium in TDF. Evenepoel will drop him if he’s at 2024 level or better

 

[Extinction]

I’m impressed but he won’t ride podium in TDF. Evenepoel will drop him if he’s at 2024 level or better

I don't see it, especially if Seixas continues to improve till July.

 

[red_flanders]

I don't see it, especially if Seixas continues to improve till July.

+1, nothing I see from these riders at this time indicates to me that Remco could beat this kid in a GT. LBL will be interesting.

 

[vappa]

I’m impressed but he won’t ride podium in TDF. Evenepoel will drop him if he’s at 2024 level or better

I don't know about that. Remco didn't show any climbing improvement this year but regression. And in 2024 TdF was best ever Remco, this was his level. So he has a long way to go to be climbing better than in 2024 and with that level he won't drop Seixas

 

[Berniece]

I don't know about that. Remco didn't show any climbing improvement this year but regression. And in 2024 TdF was best ever Remco, this was his level. So he has a long way to go to be climbing better than in 2024 and with that level he won't drop Seixas

I look at Evenepoel’s spring form differently. He’s going for the classics, he’s not in GT shape. I have the feeling Evenepoel improved this season, at least that was my thought after De Ronde. We’ll see in AGR and LBL.

Also Seixas was impressive for his age, felt like Vingegaard rode better in Catalunya

 

[AmRacer]

+1, nothing I see from these riders at this time indicates to me that Remco could beat this kid in a GT. LBL will be interesting.

LBL is Remco territory, if Sexias could keep up...