New Belgian Superstar on the way???

ademort
ademort Posts: 1,924
edited September 2018 in Pro race
https://www.hln.be/sport/wielrennen/18- ... ~abdf80b7/ Interesting story on the hln.be website. Remco Evenepoel is set be be the new Belgian cycling God. He,s got everything and can reach the top with many greats singing words of praise for this young 18 year old. Anyone any thoughts on the above. I understand Patrick Lefevere is looking at him as is Axel Merckx.
ademort
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Comments

  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Well the wee mannetje needs to get some PR training ASAP because saying stuff like this...
    Remco Evenepoel wrote:
    “Ik trap wattages zoals Froome”

    ...is only going to draw the unwanted attentions of French PE teachers, Diggers and bitter old Irish men called Paul.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • ademort
    ademort Posts: 1,924
    Above The Cows wrote:
    Well the wee mannetje needs to get some PR training ASAP because saying stuff like this...
    Remco Evenepoel wrote:
    “Ik trap wattages zoals Froome”

    ...is only going to draw the unwanted attentions of French PE teachers, Diggers and bitter old Irish men called Paul.
    Yes he doesn,t lack confidence does he. Just hope for the Belgian cycling folk that he turns out to be even half as good as he thinks he,s going to be.
    ademort
    Chinarello, record and Mavic Cosmic Sl
    Gazelle Vuelta , veloce
    Giant Defy 4
    Mirage Columbus SL
    Batavus Ventura
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    ademort wrote:
    Above The Cows wrote:
    Well the wee mannetje needs to get some PR training ASAP because saying stuff like this...
    Remco Evenepoel wrote:
    “Ik trap wattages zoals Froome”

    ...is only going to draw the unwanted attentions of French PE teachers, Diggers and bitter old Irish men called Paul.
    Yes he doesn,t lack confidence does he. Just hope for the Belgian cycling folk that he turns out to be even half as good as he thinks he,s going to be.

    It would be nice if only because I like the name Remco.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,544
    What are the odds that he never achieves much, like all those other Belgian superstars identified in their late teens who are then burdened with the expectations of the nation?
  • knedlicky
    knedlicky Posts: 3,097
    Evenepoel said he wanted to win this year's Gent-Wevelgem Juniors, but in the end he only finished 11th, 53 secs back, so I'd say he still has a bit to learn, modesty included.

    One other reason why Evenepoel may not be the next Merckx = had Merckx had a promising future as a footballer for Anderlecht, as Evenepoel did, I doubt Merckx would have ever given up football to take up cycling, as Evenepoel has done.

    Anderlecht is Merckx's favourite top Belgian team, even if he was always connected with R.W.D. Molenbeek.
    He played for the R.W.D. youth team as a 10-year old (right midfield), and during the 1970s he was on the club committee and occasionally even trained with the first team (Belgian champions in 1975).
    R.W.D. went bankrupt in 2002 and was dissolved, but Merckx still goes to watch Anderlecht.

    Evenepoel played for 2½ years for Anderlecht (left back), before a 3-month spell at Mechelen, after which he hung up his boots despite national honours at U16/U17 level.
    He may later regret that decision.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    Above The Cows wrote:
    ademort wrote:
    Above The Cows wrote:
    Well the wee mannetje needs to get some PR training ASAP because saying stuff like this...
    Remco Evenepoel wrote:
    “Ik trap wattages zoals Froome”

    ...is only going to draw the unwanted attentions of French PE teachers, Diggers and bitter old Irish men called Paul.
    Yes he doesn,t lack confidence does he. Just hope for the Belgian cycling folk that he turns out to be even half as good as he thinks he,s going to be.

    It would be nice if only because I like the name Remco.

    Remco sounds like the name of some industrial company that makes something that the world probably can't do without, but that you had no idea actually existed. Like drive motors for conveyor belts, or insulation foam for walk in refrigerators. You know logically that someone has to make it, but you have no idea what the market for it looks like or how any company got to specialise in something so esoteric.

    I guess that makes him a perfect fit for cycling, with its history of "what the fuck do they make?" sponsors.
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  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    andyp wrote:
    What are the odds that he never achieves much, like all those other Belgian superstars identified in their late teens who are then burdened with the expectations of the nation?
    The previous new Belgian superstar seems to be doing OK so far (van Aert)
  • mamil314
    mamil314 Posts: 1,103
    To me, Remco sounds more like name of a bully from 90s movies, like Butch. Suits the mindset, too.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,820
    He could well be the next Merckx. If that Merckx is Axel...
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Just hope they listen to him when deciding everyone's pay.

    *groan*

    It is however a Frisian name, Remco.
    _
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Just hope they listen to him when deciding everyone's pay.

    *groan*

    It is however a Frisian name, Remco.

    If that's a walk-in Freezian name then I'm claiming partial victory.
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  • m.r.m.
    m.r.m. Posts: 3,473
    maxresdefault.jpg
    PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 2023
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,646
    M.R.M. wrote:
    maxresdefault.jpg

    It's a nice prize, thanks. I'll just need to restock it with Duvel. :D
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  • dstev55
    dstev55 Posts: 742
    I reckon Tom Pidcock may have something to say about this. No?
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,544
    dstev55 wrote:
    I reckon Tom Pidcock may have something to say about this. No?
    Is he Belgian now then?
  • dstev55
    dstev55 Posts: 742
    andyp wrote:
    dstev55 wrote:
    I reckon Tom Pidcock may have something to say about this. No?
    Is he Belgian now then?

    Very true, I read it as a Belgian who's going to be the next cycling superstar. My bad.
  • m.r.m.
    m.r.m. Posts: 3,473
    It's going to be van der Poel vs Bernal anyway.
    PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 2023
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,249
    We should get a chance to see how good he really is pretty soon. He's skipping the under 23s and turning pro with Quick Step in 2019. He'll turn 19 next January. He's continued to dominate the Junior ranks, winning the European Road Race by almost ten minutes!
  • ShutupJens
    ShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    DeadCalm wrote:
    We should get a chance to see how good he really is pretty soon. He's skipping the under 23s and turning pro with Quick Step in 2019. He'll turn 19 next January. He's continued to dominate the Junior ranks, winning the European Road Race by almost ten minutes!

    Skipping u23 ranks sounds like a dodgy decision to me. The decision makes sense for QS, if he is indeed the next superstar then great they got him on the team, if not then it's hardly likely to be an expensive contract. Whereas for him, he might not find it as easy as junior racing and then it will be difficult for him to have a place to develop as well as he could have done in the u23 ranks.

    Then again Sagan turned pro when he was the same age and its not done him any harm. Maybe that's on Lefevres mind
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,820
    Mohoric turned pro at 19 and he's just finding his feet now at 22
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,249
    ShutupJens wrote:
    DeadCalm wrote:
    We should get a chance to see how good he really is pretty soon. He's skipping the under 23s and turning pro with Quick Step in 2019. He'll turn 19 next January. He's continued to dominate the Junior ranks, winning the European Road Race by almost ten minutes!

    Skipping u23 ranks sounds like a dodgy decision to me. The decision makes sense for QS, if he is indeed the next superstar then great they got him on the team, if not then it's hardly likely to be an expensive contract. Whereas for him, he might not find it as easy as junior racing and then it will be difficult for him to have a place to develop as well as he could have done in the u23 ranks.

    Then again Sagan turned pro when he was the same age and its not done him any harm. Maybe that's on Lefevres mind
    He apparently had a lucrative offer from Sky which forced QS's hand and probably means they didn't get him that cheap.

    Bernal also turned pro at 18, albeit at pro-conti level.

    You'd hope QS will look to give Evenepoel a fairly light schedule of smaller races during his first year.

    He's due to bid farewell to the junior ranks at the world championships. It will be interesting to see how he does.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,544
    He confirmed today that he's some talent. Let's hope he can develop away from the glare of the spotlight and have a good team around him to keep his feet on the ground.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,722
    andyp wrote:
    He confirmed today that he's some talent. Let's hope he can develop away from the glare of the spotlight and have a good team around him to keep his feet on the ground.

    He would have finished 4th in the U23 ITT, but handicapped by restricted gears.
    Crazy.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Over 50kmph average? Crikey
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,722
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    andyp wrote:
    He confirmed today that he's some talent. Let's hope he can develop away from the glare of the spotlight and have a good team around him to keep his feet on the ground.

    He would have finished 4th in the U23 ITT, but handicapped by restricted gears.
    Crazy.

    "Our Brian" just made this point during the men's ITT on Eurosport.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    And U23 road champion too now.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,252
    Me-109 wrote:
    And U23 road champion too now.
    Junior champion. U23 is on Friday. Sosa the favourite.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,249
    RichN95 wrote:
    Me-109 wrote:
    And U23 road champion too now.
    Junior champion. U23 is on Friday. Sosa the favourite.
    Given the amount of flat after the final climb, I find it difficult to see Sosa winning. With his lousy time trialling abilities he'd probably need a very big gap over that last climb. Pogacar, Mader, Stannard and even Eddie Dunbar would all seem to be better shouts. Sky stagiere Ethan Hayter and No Ta Doctor's man, Mikkel Bjerg are longshots but, if they can stay close enough to the climbers over that final ascent, I think that they have a shot.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Glad to see the Belgian's keeping the hype over Evenepoel low key.

    Sven Nys on Sporza TV: Remco can make the Giro podium.
    _
  • m.r.m.
    m.r.m. Posts: 3,473
    He is genuinely on his way to becoming an all time great. He is utterly insane for his age.
    PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 2023

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