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

[Krzysztof_O]

Some observations on Evenepoel:

• He’s won the Amstel Gold Race and was on the podium of two monuments, but people talk about him as if he’s had a terrible spring.
• Lipowitz isn’t a rival, but a teammate. The idea is to join forces to compete with UAE and Visma.
• He’s currently not at his best on the longer climbs, but he can work on that. In July he’ll probably climb better than in April.
• It’s an unusual choice to have eight weeks without competition before the national championships and the Tour. He’ll go on altitude, train his climbing, reconnoitre mountain stages, and follow a strict diet. The idea is to reach his top shape away from the limelight. In modern cycling the idea of a “preparation race” has become less important. We'll see how it works out.

The problem aren't results but the gap vs the competition (now not just two guys but three). Keep in mind we are talking about a guy who wants to be the best in the world.
The problem aren't just longer climbs: his level on shorter climbs in favourable long classic environment was also mediocre (Liege and even Flandres), compared to last autumn.

 

[Berniece]

The problem aren't results but the gap vs the competition (now not just two guys but three). Keep in mind we are talking about a guy who wants to be the best in the world.
The problem aren't just longer climbs: his level on shorter climbs in favourable long classic environment was also mediocre (Liege and even Flandres), compared to last autumn.

Does it matter that there are three? It’s about the gap with number one, since he wants to win. So as long as Seixas isn’t better than Pogacar, which he isn’t, the situation hasn’t changed.

 

[Berniece]

You are maybe right. Maybe im thinking too negative. But if i get a confirm that Remco is not a Quintana or Valverde im already good if he finishes near the top 5 after 2 years of being a mediocre climber

I think you are too negative, TDF will show it worked itself out. It could be he’s already at his ceiling and he achieves similar TDF 2024 level of performance and the rest did get better. But that would be surprising since he’s the youngest of the three and had the most time of the bike due to injuries

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Does it matter that there are three? It’s about the gap with number one, since he wants to win. So as long as Seixas isn’t better than Pogacar, which he isn’t, the situation hasn’t changed.

The gap seems bigger than last autumn. Liege was poor by his standards and even Flandres wasn't that convincing (he rode a good race but his strength were aero sectors, not climbs).

 

[Berniece]

The gap seems bigger than last autumn. Liege was poor by his standards and even Flandres wasn't that convincing (he rode a good race but his strength were aero sectors, not climbs).

I agree with that. They went overboard on his punch. It’s not that he was fat, just too many muscles

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I agree with that. They went overboard on his punch. It’s not that he was fat, just too many muscles

If on 1 km of Redoute you lose the same amount of time as on a much longer EC climb last year then something is off.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

@Berniece I still don't fully get why they want to keep his mass large.
I mean skeletor Remco won OG on a moderately difficult route (plus TT as well).

 

[Berniece]

If on 1 km of Redoute you lose the same amount of time as on a much longer EC climb last year then something is off.

Could be a number of things. Overraced and too tired, too heavy due to focus on accelerations, too much effort before La Redoute, or all of the above

 

[Berniece]

@Berniece I still don't fully get why they want to keep his mass large.
I mean skeletor Remco won OG on a moderately difficult route (plus TT as well).

I don’t get that either. Must be a reason for it that SOQ and RBH both do that. Because I get you want to be a bit heavier in spring and weigh less during TDF, but in both cases he’s too heavy. He needs to be at TDF 2024 weight during spring and even less during TDF

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I don’t get that either. Must be a reason for it that SOQ and RBH both do that. Because I get you want to be a bit heavier in spring and weigh less during TDF, but in both cases he’s too heavy. He needs to be at TDF 2024 weight during spring and even less during TDF

Oumi will need to take care of him after the retirement. Without those huge burned kJ he will have to eat much less!

 

[Mayomaniac]

I don’t get that either. Must be a reason for it that SOQ and RBH both do that. Because I get you want to be a bit heavier in spring and weigh less during TDF, but in both cases he’s too heavy. He needs to be at TDF 2024 weight during spring and even less during TDF

My impression is that he doesn't want to live the gt rider livestyle year round. He also brought his entourage and his former NT coach as a DS to Bora, I just don't get the impression that those were moves made by someone who thinks he needs to change stuff. Now all the talk is to get him back to a previous peak level, not about improving further or trying to close the gap...

 

[Krzysztof_O]

My impression is that he doesn't want to live the gt rider livestyle year round. He also brought his entourage and his former NT coach as a DS to Bora, I just don't get the impression that those were moves made by someone who thinks he needs to change stuff. Now all the talk is to get him back to a previous peak level, not about improving further or trying to close the gap...

Nobody should ride all year long at Tour de France weight but those changes in Remco's case are visually spectacular! Compare his Dauphine 2024 to OG 2024.

 

[yaco]

I think remco will have a better 2027 because this year he's had the calendar chosen by Red Bull's management which all centres around the TDF. It appears that management wants to see his true level at the 2026 TDF. This will govern his 2027 calendar.

 

[houtdffan]

I agree with that. They went overboard on his punch. It’s not that he was fat, just too many muscles

It makes sense that they did as he was also supposed to race MSR as he said. He just got stuck on the mountain due to the snowstorm.

He needed the punch for MSR

In retrospect, he should have rode PR this year given his Flanders form. I think he would have been in the sprint for the win, and likely would have won it

 

[Berniece]

It makes sense that they did as he was also supposed to race MSR as he said. He just got stuck on the mountain due to the snowstorm.

He needed the punch for MSR

In retrospect, he should have rode PR this year given his Flanders form. I think he would have been in the sprint for the win, and likely would have won it

I think there was a bigger chance winning MSR than PR

 

[Extinction]

If Remco does not perform in this Tour, then there is no therapy.

 

[BahamontesPhantom]

If Remco does not perform in this Tour, then there is no therapy.

Must be expectation of third as others have said , it will he get that ?

 

[Red Rick]

Does it matter that there are three? It’s about the gap with number one, since he wants to win. So as long as Seixas isn’t better than Pogacar, which he isn’t, the situation hasn’t changed.

Yes. Because Seixas is way younger than him.

The entire premise that Evenepoel was the future once Pogacar/Vingegaard flamed out was ended in a like 2 months once a French kid's chouquettes descended.

 

[Oldman]

Yes. Because Seixas is way younger than him.

The entire premise that Evenepoel was the future once Pogacar/Vingegaard flamed out was ended in a like 2 months once a French kid's chouquettes descended.

They descended hard. He's got 3-4 peers close to his age that are in the immediate rear view of not only Vingegaard but also Pogacar. Seixas also has amazing tactical and field placement skills; well beyond his years. Remco could make gains as an opportunist but power against power and fighting for pack position? He can aspire to the podium with attrition from others, IMO.

 

[Berniece]

Yes. Because Seixas is way younger than him.

The entire premise that Evenepoel was the future once Pogacar/Vingegaard flamed out was ended in a like 2 months once a French kid's chouquettes descended.

No, because it's about the gap to the first place. Seixas isn't first. I don't think Evenepoel cares if he is 2nd, 3rd or 4th. It's about first place, as long as the gap towards #1 isn't smaller, it doesn't matter at all that Seixas is also fighting for 3rd place.