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

[Oldman]

I’m very high on Seixas. Huge for sure. And would love him to crush Pog.

But l’m not 100% sure he has surpassed Remco on a course like LBL yet. Maybe. But not yet, I think. His Basque rides were great but ultimately he couldn’t drop Lipowitz, so we will see.

Yeah, don't think that's happening. Pogi can take a beating so can't see anyone "crushing" him. Likewise, I wouldn't think he'd do more than usual after he gets a gap; maintain it and monitor what's going on behind.

 

[AlpRaid]

Yeah, don't think that's happening. Pogi can take a beating so can't see anyone "crushing" him. Likewise, I wouldn't think he'd do more than usual after he gets a gap; maintain it and monitor what's going on behind.

Oh for sure. Without mishap Pog wins this easy. I am just hoping Seixas can rival him sooner rather than later.

I see more of a reenactment of the EC last fall. Maybe Seixas comes in with Remco this time.

 

[houtdffan]

Oh for sure. Without mishap Pog wins this easy. I am just hoping Seixas can rival him sooner rather than later.

I see more of a reenactment of the EC last fall. Maybe Seixas comes in with Remco this time.

that would be a massive improvement.

Remco was 30 seconds behind Pog while Sexias was about 3 minutes behind Remco.

Remco lost 40 seconds on the stretch where Sexias was doing the work in front.

Sexias has a ways to go to challenge Remco regularly, much less Pog

 

[Berniece]

Oh for sure. Without mishap Pog wins this easy. I am just hoping Seixas can rival him sooner rather than later.

I see more of a reenactment of the EC last fall. Maybe Seixas comes in with Remco this time.

Hopefully Seixas actually takes turns this time instead of staying in the wheel

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I’m very high on Seixas. Huge for sure. And would love him to crush Pog.

But l’m not 100% sure he has surpassed Remco on a course like LBL yet. Maybe. But not yet, I think. His Basque rides were great but ultimately he couldn’t drop Lipowitz, so we will see.

Remco is the 2nd LBL favourite until proven otherwise, he's just super good during long races on this kind of terrain. Seixas is a step below, I would place him at #3 in terms of winning/podiuming probability but normally there should be some guys (i.e. Pidcock when healthy) with similar odds.

 

[Lequack]

Is he riding Fleche or not?

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Is he riding Fleche or not?

According to PCS he is.

 

[KoopaCycling]

According to PCS he is.

Pretty sure he is not.
I also read an article that said Pogacar is riding Amstel. Despite his program never having included it for this year.

 

[Berniece]

Is he riding Fleche or not?

They have always said he won't. Maybe they let it depend based on how AGR went, how tired he is after the race, and how the weather is during Fleche. The most important race is LBL. He needs to be 100% there. If he's slightly off, chances of winning are 0.

 

[Taxus4a]

Remco is the 2nd LBL favourite until proven otherwise, he's just super good during long races on this kind of terrain. Seixas is a step below, I would place him at #3 in terms of winning/podiuming probability but normally there should be some guys (i.e. Pidcock when healthy) with similar odds.

iIf he is at last year, Worlds-European-Lombadie level (profile where Pogacar is clearly better) I put him at the same level than Poggi to win, Pogacar is a better sprinter, but no much difference in that. Everything depends on how he manage the strategy and his head, main problem for Remco. Remco can beat Pogacar or finish at a disco pub on Spa before to finish the race or in a river thowing stones to the water....

If Pogacar attacck at la Redoute and nobody can follow him, with is quite possible, in the case, Remco and Seixas are close, and Del Toro Behind them, I am pretty sure they will catch Pogacar and everything can happend. Last part, of descent and flat in Liege is much better for Remco except for the sprint. Remco is super powerfull for thi kind of climb of about 2 km. But maybe Pogacar is better, at least an attack in a 15 % slope. We will see! For me is the race of the century, if all of them are face to face as it happened at Flandes, becouse is a race wich suits very well both Remco (despite 5000 m elevation gain) and Pogacar. If forst climb are climbed at a high speed as UAE did at Roubaix, always hard..maybe is worse for Remco, but I am not sure.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Will del Toro race LBL?
I thought he was gonna skip the Ardennes after his crash

 

[Berniece]

Will del Toro race LBL?
I thought he was gonna skip the Ardennes after his crash

Don't think he's riding anything

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

iIf he is at last year, Worlds-European-Lombadie level (profile where Pogacar is clearly better) I put him at the same level than Poggi to win, Pogacar is a better sprinter, but no much difference in that. Everything depends on how he manage the strategy and his head, main problem for Remco. Remco can beat Pogacar or finish at a disco pub on Spa before to finish the race or in a river thowing stones to the water....

If Pogacar attacck at la Redoute and nobody can follow him, with is quite possible, in the case, Remco and Seixas are close, and Del Toro Behind them, I am pretty sure they will catch Pogacar and everything can happend. Last part, of descent and flat in Liege is much better for Remco except for the sprint. Remco is super powerfull for thi kind of climb of about 2 km. But maybe Pogacar is better, at least an attack in a 15 % slope. We will see! For me is the race of the century, if all of them are face to face as it happened at Flandes, becouse is a race wich suits very well both Remco (despite 5000 m elevation gain) and Pogacar. If forst climb are climbed at a high speed as UAE did at Roubaix, always hard..maybe is worse for Remco, but I am not sure.

I don't understand the phrase that if they're at last fall's level they can beat him. Last year he didn't have any chance.

 

[Berniece]

I don't understand the phrase that if they're at last fall's level they can beat him. Last year he didn't have any chance.

Was he at fall's level last year?

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Was he at fall's level last year?

Was he close to beating him in the autumn? Not in the World Championship, nor in the European Championship, nor in Lombardy.

 

[Berniece]

Was he close to beating him in the autumn? Not in the World Championship, nor in the European Championship, nor in Lombardy.

No he wasn't. Although I still have to see how WC RR would've went without mechanicals. I think Pogacar would've still dropped him eventually though.

UEC RR and Lombardia were harder and different from LBL. With much longer climbs.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

No he wasn't. Although I still have to see how WC RR would've went without mechanicals. I think Pogacar would've still dropped him eventually though.

UEC RR and Lombardia were harder and different from LBL. With much longer climbs.

Lombardy and WC were more difficult but EC had a lot of flats and Pogacar held well on those. Remco might catch Pog after Redoute but I am far from certain. Even if he does Pog may strike again later. On this kind of profile I still rate Pogs engine higher so Remco catching him is not obvious (it might happen).

 

[Berniece]

Lombardy and WC were more difficult but EC had a lot of flats and Pogacar held well on those. Remco might catch Pog after Redoute but I am far from certain. Even if he does Pog may strike again later. On this kind of profile I still rate Pogs engine higher so Remco catching him is not obvious (it might happen).

It was all about that 7km climb in UEC RR. That’s where he dropped Evenepoel and took a bigger advantage. In LBL the climbs are shorter so his gap, if he takes one, will be smaller. Maybe Evenepoel will just hang on

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It was all about that 7km climb in UEC RR. That’s where he dropped Evenepoel and took a bigger advantage. In LBL the climbs are shorter so his gap, if he takes one, will be smaller. Maybe Evenepoel will just hang on

In Liege everything is shorter: climbs but also aero sections. The total elevation is pretty big. I think its more likely Evenepoel will lose little time and catch up later than him hanging on (which could be a mistake). We will see, the finale could get interesting, that we agree on.

 

[Berniece]

In Liege everything is shorter: climbs but also aero sections. The total elevation is pretty big. I think its more likely Evenepoel will lose little time and catch up later than him hanging on (which could be a mistake). We will see, the finale could get interesting, that we agree on.

I want to say that AGR will show us what’s possible the week after, but that didn’t work out last year

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I want to say that AGR will show us what’s possible the week after, but that didn’t work out last year

Well, Remco should be better than last year given his preparation. Winning solo seems feasible.

 

[Rob5091]

Has Remco gone down with Mikkel Bjerg's "beautiful wife syndrome"?!
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...anaging-burnout-pogacar-islam-and-hour-record

"Yes, it's no secret that since Oumi and I got married in 2022, we share a common religion (Islam, ed.). It's something I'm learning day by day, month by month, year by year... and I'm happy about it."
"Cycling isn't forever. Being a husband, a father... it's more than that. That's how I see it, and I must say that I find this philosophy in the team too. We're very serious, but when the "work" is done, you have to enjoy the moments," he adds. "We mustn't forget that, and the more you enjoy the good times, the better you can handle the bad ones."

 

[Berniece]

Original article can be found here

Evenepoel: "Al Giro puntiamo su Pellizzari e Pogacar è uno stimolo. L'Islam? Sono felice"

Il belga domenica corre l’Amstel: "Il record dell'Ora non è una priorità. La religione? Imparo ogni giorno"

www.gazzetta.it

Bad web translation:

The Belgian runs the Amstel on Sunday: "The Hour record is not a priority. Religion? I learn every day"​

Sharing the same sporting era with Tadej Pogacar and not considering it a misfortune, but an opportunity. This is how Remco Evenepoel thinks, who exalts himself in the competition and never loses the mentality of number one. In the Grand Tours he has –at least– Pogi and Vingegaard ahead of him; in the Great Spring Classics Pogi himself and Van der Poel, with whom he shared the podium at Flanders (ahead of Van Aert, later king of Roubaix), while in the time trial he also managed to do better than Filippo Ganna. Overall, at 26, his record shines brightly and with Red Bull his ambitions remain top-notch. Starting with the Ardennes triptych: the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday (yet to be confirmed), Liège on Sunday 26th, where the world champion always awaits him...

Evenepoel, does the goal remain to reach and surpass the level of Pogacar? But is it realistic?
"I want to achieve the best version of myself ever, which hasn't been seen yet. On the bike, and as a person. There is so much I can learn. I believe there is a lot of room for growth and I think I am in the right environment to try to achieve my goal."

For what reasons, in particular?
"On this team, I'm also discovering new things about myself. It was really the right time for a change. Every race will be an opportunity to see how this process goes."

What are the main differences with the past? Or the most important one?
"The fact of changing coaches and teammates gives greater motivation, first of all. I need to speak more English, of course. There is great communication, connections and exchanges between every aspect of preparation."

Can challenging Pogacar in particular be daunting?
"No, if anything a stimulus. I, in any case, focus above all on myself, on what I can do. And compared to previous seasons, my intention is to compete more."
Cycling is not all life and it is not forever: you have to find a balance, enjoy the moments

A curiosity… with an Italian background, regarding his intention to attempt the Ora che adesso record, with 56.792 km, belongs to Filippo Ganna: when will it happen?"Definitely not this year, not even in 2027. And then I never went too far on the track. We have on the staff someone like Dan Bigham who was also the Hour's record holder but... As far as I'm concerned, if it happens it won't be before 2030."

At the start of the season he surprised Simon Yates' retirement and raised the risk of “nervous breakdown” in modern cycling: what is his opinion on the matter?
"Each of us has a different mindset about how to live life and how to find balance with cycling. I, when necessary, am two hundred percent professional. But there are also times when I “cut off”, especially at home with my wife Oumi. If I come back from training, she asks me how it went and then that's it, let's not talk about bikes anymore. When you are too focused on cycling, you risk losing control of your personal life."

Is this a message you want to get across?
"Yes, because cycling isn't forever. Being a husband, a father... surpasses it. I see it that way, and I have to say that I find this philosophy in the team too. We are very serious, but when the “work” ends you have to enjoy the moments. We must not forget this and the more you can enjoy the good times, the better you can manage the negative ones».

The pressure on her, especially in Belgium, remains very high: does she now know how to handle her better?
"I think so, I've already been in professional cycling for seven or eight years and that helps. I had already found myself in the center of attention at my debut, but now pressure and expectations are no longer an issue."

In the past, he has also referred to the importance of faith: is this a topic he willingly talks about?
"Yes, it is no secret that since Oumi and I have been married, since 2022, we have shared the religion (Oumi, a Belgian of Moroccan origins, is Muslim; ndr). It's something I'm learning day by day, month by month, year by year... and I'm happy about it."

His teammate Giulio Pellizzari will lead the Giro d'Italia: what are his prospects?
"I met him at the winter training camps, and we ran together in Valenciana for the first time (first and third; ed.). He's a little’ younger than me, but we have the same energy. He's cheerful, he gives you morale, he's very nice. As a runner... The time when he can think about getting on the podium of the Giro is very close. And when you're ready for the top three, you can aspire to win. He has a great future ahead of him, to become one of the best men in the world for grand tours."

 

[memyselfandI]

Sounds like he's bought a ticket or two to the same vacay flight as Rogla. Mate...

In other news Seixas is training lika a madman. Liege... I think Remco has better sprint than Lipowitz and prolly can use his brain cells wisely enough not to open sprint 700 meters out, but Seixas ain't no kiddo no more. He spent energy quite a bit in Itzulia and did not bonk. His engine seems to reach level to get more nasty in long one day races.

 

[vappa]

I’m very high on Seixas. Huge for sure. And would love him to crush Pog.

But l’m not 100% sure he has surpassed Remco on a course like LBL yet. Maybe. But not yet, I think. His Basque rides were great but ultimately he couldn’t drop Lipowitz, so we will see.

Seixas was hard dropped by Izaguire on 1km uphill section at the finish of stage 4 in Itzulia. If Pogacar decides to drop him, he will. 4 minute climbs are not Seixas's strong side (yet)