I'm sorry but if you peak for Catalunya while you're (at least) a top 3 favourite for LBL you deserve to underperform there. So it shouldn't be that, but maybe it is
Sure, but the level later in the season tends to be lower. Evenepoel wasn't at 100% earlier in 2025, so he was likely the only rider in insane form.
- Feb 20, 2012
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7 (individual) wins, including Amstel, and podium at the two Monuments he rode (RVV and Liège). That is definitely not bad if you only look at the results.
But I'm still disappointed (just like many of you it seems in this thread).
I expected a significant improvement in his level this year, not necessarily because of the team transfer but because for the first time in years he had an uninterrupted winter break and he could build on the very good level he showed in fall last year.
Now it looks like he not only didn't improve anything but he actually degressed compared to his level at the end of last season.
The only time I was actually impressed by his performance was at RVV.
Now onwards to the TDF. I will remain hopeful he can achieve great things there (which I guess would translate to a podium spot) but my realistic expectations will definitely be a bit lower.
But I'm still disappointed (just like many of you it seems in this thread).
I expected a significant improvement in his level this year, not necessarily because of the team transfer but because for the first time in years he had an uninterrupted winter break and he could build on the very good level he showed in fall last year.
Now it looks like he not only didn't improve anything but he actually degressed compared to his level at the end of last season.
The only time I was actually impressed by his performance was at RVV.
Now onwards to the TDF. I will remain hopeful he can achieve great things there (which I guess would translate to a podium spot) but my realistic expectations will definitely be a bit lower.
- Feb 20, 2012
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- Sep 12, 2022
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Roglic can't be bothered until the Vuelta. He's just cruising and spending more time with the family.
- Jul 7, 2013
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How about beating overweight Pogi on long climbs this week? Roglic is one of two people to have beaten Pog in a stage race since his breakthrough at 2020 Tour.
- Sep 12, 2022
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Maybe focus on helping Lipowitz finishing on the podium. A bit more realistic scenario
- Aug 12, 2012
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Well, I said we have stiil to see Remco and Pogacar at this kind of races at his best and we watched yesterday.
Remco disssapoint me. I though he Will be better for la Redoute.
Now I think he wasnt so bad or with over weight last year..or at least no as bad I thought
Maybe was a mental issue, or maybe to be on the break make him were less protected than Pogacar, or a more demanding start...I dont know.
It is hard to belive for me than a Rider Who follow Pogacar as a hard climb as he followed at the European more than 1 km or Who has won hard stages at la Vuelta, or even winning a Vuelta with hard mountains, or be the third climber after Pogacar and Vingegaard at le Tour cant do aymore at la Roduloute..at least to be at Skeljmose level ( he was clearly better than him at Amstel)
His team didnt worked yesterday, less than UAE....La Redoute came from a long straight descent were Remco is one of the best of the world..and started the climb with UAE first, Seixas second and him 9th or 10th?? But anyway, despite he started bad, he can be very strong for this kind of climbs, becouse he won San Sebastián after Tontorra Climb..a climb were I had to get out of my bike and couldnt walk with cycling shoes becouse humidity and about 25 % slope...
I cant admite if UAE make very hard all those climb of Liege, as Rossier, from stockeau to la Redoute, Remco can sufgfer s little compared to Pogacar, or Seixas but yesterday lot of riders climbed better than him.
If he could stay at Skeljmose level, and Seixas finally drops at the end of Redoute, as he was close to do...maybe thay could catch him later, and thee Riders againts Pogacar, with Remco doing his superpulls on the flat could have changed the race ( or not ,becouse Pogacar was super as usual) . But if Remco cant climb as Skeljmose in a race as Lieje....all my previous análisis is wrong, or maybe his head is not working well or maybe to be in the split was bad for him for some reason...
Not sure.
Remco disssapoint me. I though he Will be better for la Redoute.
Now I think he wasnt so bad or with over weight last year..or at least no as bad I thought
Maybe was a mental issue, or maybe to be on the break make him were less protected than Pogacar, or a more demanding start...I dont know.
It is hard to belive for me than a Rider Who follow Pogacar as a hard climb as he followed at the European more than 1 km or Who has won hard stages at la Vuelta, or even winning a Vuelta with hard mountains, or be the third climber after Pogacar and Vingegaard at le Tour cant do aymore at la Roduloute..at least to be at Skeljmose level ( he was clearly better than him at Amstel)
His team didnt worked yesterday, less than UAE....La Redoute came from a long straight descent were Remco is one of the best of the world..and started the climb with UAE first, Seixas second and him 9th or 10th?? But anyway, despite he started bad, he can be very strong for this kind of climbs, becouse he won San Sebastián after Tontorra Climb..a climb were I had to get out of my bike and couldnt walk with cycling shoes becouse humidity and about 25 % slope...
I cant admite if UAE make very hard all those climb of Liege, as Rossier, from stockeau to la Redoute, Remco can sufgfer s little compared to Pogacar, or Seixas but yesterday lot of riders climbed better than him.
If he could stay at Skeljmose level, and Seixas finally drops at the end of Redoute, as he was close to do...maybe thay could catch him later, and thee Riders againts Pogacar, with Remco doing his superpulls on the flat could have changed the race ( or not ,becouse Pogacar was super as usual) . But if Remco cant climb as Skeljmose in a race as Lieje....all my previous análisis is wrong, or maybe his head is not working well or maybe to be in the split was bad for him for some reason...
Not sure.
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- Feb 20, 2012
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It's Romandie. Just try not to freeze to death if it rains.
- Aug 12, 2012
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If I ask Chat GPT
Yes, you’re thinking about it the right way: even without contributing, there was a small energy cost from being in that early break.
Let’s break it down clearly, because in races like Liège–Bastogne–Liège these details matter:
🔹 1. Getting into the break
To make that initial group, he had to respond to attacks or anticipate moves.
That almost always means short efforts above threshold (Zone 4–5).
This is where the main cost is: not long, but explosive.
👉 In other words: the most “expensive” effort isn’t pulling — it’s getting into the move.
🔹 2. Riding in the break without contributing
Even without pulling, he wasn’t getting the same protection as in the peloton.
In a small group:
More pace changes
Less aerodynamic shelter
More positional tension
👉 That leads to a moderate but continuous energy cost, higher than sitting safely in the bunch.
🔹 3. No team support
In the peloton, a rider like Remco Evenepoel is usually well protected by teammates.
In the break:
No domestiques, so he has to stay alert
Cover small gaps, manage positioning
👉 That means constant micro-efforts.
🔹 4. Did he ever take pulls?
From what was seen, he didn’t do any real, sustained work.
Maybe a minimal turn or just maintaining speed, but no structured contribution.
🔹 5. Overall energy balance
❌ Not a big cost like pulling the break
✅ But still more energy spent than staying in the peloton
👉 Practically:
A rider like him will feel it a bit, but it’s not decisive on its own.
It might slightly reduce freshness later, but it doesn’t explain the final result by itself.
🧠 Clear conclusion
Yes, he did spend more energy than if he had stayed in the peloton, but mainly from getting into the break and from lack of protection — not from actually working in it.
I think It was like that...the only benefit for Remco to be on the split with just a domestique was than UAE wasted three riders and he one.
That could be an advantage to positioning at la Redoute, but despite that UAE and Decathlon positioned better Pogacar and Seixas. So to be at the split was a mistake. Except Remco would have convince Egan to go with all they toghether and at least get Stockeau with some advantage...but It looks would have been useless as well
Yes, you’re thinking about it the right way: even without contributing, there was a small energy cost from being in that early break.
Let’s break it down clearly, because in races like Liège–Bastogne–Liège these details matter:
🔹 1. Getting into the break
To make that initial group, he had to respond to attacks or anticipate moves.
That almost always means short efforts above threshold (Zone 4–5).
This is where the main cost is: not long, but explosive.
👉 In other words: the most “expensive” effort isn’t pulling — it’s getting into the move.
🔹 2. Riding in the break without contributing
Even without pulling, he wasn’t getting the same protection as in the peloton.
In a small group:
More pace changes
Less aerodynamic shelter
More positional tension
👉 That leads to a moderate but continuous energy cost, higher than sitting safely in the bunch.
🔹 3. No team support
In the peloton, a rider like Remco Evenepoel is usually well protected by teammates.
In the break:
No domestiques, so he has to stay alert
Cover small gaps, manage positioning
👉 That means constant micro-efforts.
🔹 4. Did he ever take pulls?
From what was seen, he didn’t do any real, sustained work.
Maybe a minimal turn or just maintaining speed, but no structured contribution.
🔹 5. Overall energy balance
❌ Not a big cost like pulling the break
✅ But still more energy spent than staying in the peloton
👉 Practically:
A rider like him will feel it a bit, but it’s not decisive on its own.
It might slightly reduce freshness later, but it doesn’t explain the final result by itself.
🧠 Clear conclusion
Yes, he did spend more energy than if he had stayed in the peloton, but mainly from getting into the break and from lack of protection — not from actually working in it.
I think It was like that...the only benefit for Remco to be on the split with just a domestique was than UAE wasted three riders and he one.
That could be an advantage to positioning at la Redoute, but despite that UAE and Decathlon positioned better Pogacar and Seixas. So to be at the split was a mistake. Except Remco would have convince Egan to go with all they toghether and at least get Stockeau with some advantage...but It looks would have been useless as well
- Mar 19, 2009
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The way things are usually going, Pog will find out that the extra weight didn't influence his watts/kg and he'll just be stronger from now on all terrain. Also it would infuriate a lot of people, which is why it's going to happen.
Also on a more serious note: the "long" climbs are a bit shortish in Romandie this year, and the longest climb should be perfect for overweight power-climber Pogi.
It would be nice if Roglic came aroung to helping his team and teammates, but it seems he just can't be arsed.
- Feb 20, 2012
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This was not the case. Just wrong.
This was the case once they got over the Houssire: some gaps, some half-hearted pulls.
See above
see above
same same.
con: he spent a bit of energy in the last 10K before Wanne / before they got reeled in.
pro: they went up slower on e.g. Houssire so he saved a bit of energy, chatGPT seems to forget about this, but I don't
.In the end, none of it played a significant role.
Even if being glued to Pog's / Seixas wheel until Redoute, he would have been dropped.
As you say the I think the biggest worry/disappointment is lack of appreciable improvement despite an uninterrupted winter/prep.
And results wise they are fine, particularly one day races. If anything he overperformed my expectation in Flanders. He probably slightly underachieved performance wise in Liege but not results wise really although i expected him to finish second.
- Aug 12, 2012
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I asked just becouse I could be wrong, and he is going to explain better than me in english. It is an opinion more.
To be in a Big break not colaborating could looks better...but in fact to be Up at the begining when the rest is more relaxed, and over all, to be well protected at a continuos rythm, is better than to be in a group where your team doesnt protect you and at the begining for sure he had to close some gaps or change rythm becouse there were always attacks, even if you dont pull.
I dont day that make a Big impact, but everything counts. His director dsys that could happend and they are going to study It. I just try to explain how he was so bad at Redoute, becouse I have clear is not his level. His level is at least to be with Skeljmose at Redoute.
I dont know if to be on the break was good or not for him, I am just trying to analyze It, for that is a forum.
This break was formed after the crash, so the above doesn't apply and there were 53 riders in the break.
- Aug 12, 2012
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Remco said once he has 3 or 4 kilos more at april than at july. That he has a better sprint now but he climb worse.
That explain for me why he climb worse now than at San Sebastián, Lombardía... I hope to see a race Remco can play his cards againts Pogacar or Seixas in a hilly clasic, but that is just possible if there is Worlds with similar route than Liege.
That explain for me why he climb worse now than at San Sebastián, Lombardía... I hope to see a race Remco can play his cards againts Pogacar or Seixas in a hilly clasic, but that is just possible if there is Worlds with similar route than Liege.
- Sep 12, 2022
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- Aug 12, 2012
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I dont understand you.
If he is 3 kilos more now than in summer, Flanders and Liege are similar races for him. Liege has lot of elevation gain and if is raced hard as yesterday and he is 3 kilos more dont suits him a lot. Flanders is worse for him becouse the cobbles, but with more kilos, It is quite similar. I thought he was maybe just one kilo more than at le Tour.
- Sep 12, 2022
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Flanders is "only" 2.000 meters of altitude. It's why MVDP has a chance there while he doesn't in LBL. So my question remains, did he bulk up and work on his explosivity? Purely for Flanders? With the idea that he could ride better over the cobbles and win a sprint there. Because they must be aware that this would be a disaster at LBL with +4.000 meters of altitude.
I read Brullnux reply as:
Why is he 3kgs heavier? As it had no benefit, not even for Flanders.
I am on the same page. My expectations for the TdF are low. Even a top 5 might be difficult, especially if he fails to make the top 3 and it makes sense to go for a podium for Lipo.
The only thing I do want to remind myself of is that Remco never really shines during spring. He was good in preparation for his 2023 Giro (but didn't have to face Pogacar) and his 2024 campaign started out better than this one until that crash. In the mean time he had two bad crashes but you do see a pattern: he regresses much more than others during the winter season. His weight might be the biggest factor. It may be unavoidable to stay healthy, I don't know. If that's the case he needs to focus much more and we can't expect him to be top year round like Pogacar.
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