"I just think he’d be a lot more successful" - Adam Blythe believes Remco Evenepoel would be better suited hunting stages rather than GC at future Grand Tours
Cycling
Remco Evenepoel saw his ambitions of taking a second Red Jersey at the Vuelta a Espana go up in smoke courtesy of a dramatic collapse on stage 13. The Belgian bounced back in style on stage 14, taking a stage win and Adam Blythe believes that could be his future role.
"He could be absolutely successful if he targeted stages. I just think he’d be a lot more successful in terms of that pressure," said the Brit on Eurosport's The Breakaway as part of the channel's coverage of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana following Evenepoel's stage win.
“I feel like that pressure is so much for a Grand Tour that he’s done it once, but this is a proper field that he’s up against and it’s the second time… he was dropped earlier on in the race and he limited that loss, and that was very early on," Blythe explains, referencing the complete explosion Evenepoel suffered. “And then he was dropped yesterday and took a load of time out. Yes, he’s bounced back today, but how many times could he do this in a Grand Tour where he said one day in a big mountain stage, ‘Right, I’m going to lose loads of time today, tomorrow’s another big mountain day and I’m going to light it up'?”
Blythe's colleague, Daniel Lloyd however, isn't convinced. “There is absolutely no doubt if he went to any race saying: ‘I’m just here for stage wins’, he’d probably pick up quite a few, but of course at this point of his career he’s won a Grand Tour, he’s still 23,” Lloyd answers. “He’s got to go to the Tour de France next year with the ambition of winning it because if he can string together 100% Remco for 21 stages in a row there’s no reason he can’t be up there with the best in the world.”
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santiagobenites25-03-2025 - The guy has changed teams so often they are not sure what one is currently his.Cyclingsbestfan25-03-2025
- Do you honestly not have a picture of Ewan in his correct team kit?JoBro25-03-2025
- that sounds right. at Roubaix, any of the strong riders who has better luck than the other elites can win. not the case at flanders, where THE strongest almost always wins. (which means rvv will be either tadej or mathieu.)OCexile25-03-2025
- Yes try riding same distances as themen as courses as hard. No point wanting same money if you are not putting the miles and same work in.paultryan200225-03-2025
- Come on, shorter stages, easier stages, less stages, easier one day races, shorter one day races, far lesser competition, slower speed, lack of bike handling skills and strategy … you can demand equality where it is due.. but that is rather not the case here. The men’s race was 20x more entertaining, so receiving 10x less is rather fair.
UltimateOpportunist25-03-2025 - this is officially the stupidest article i’ve ever read about cycling, or maybe anything else. i want those 2 minutes of my life back…OCexile25-03-2025
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- Yes, I think he still has a lot to say in road cycling. In the CX races he showed a very good gear but... the problem was essentially his NERVOUSNESS then he took bad decisions in finding the best strategies and paths. He needs confidence (calm down) and maybe a very good preparation gave him that.
maria2024202425-03-2025 - I don't believe so sadly, much as pulling another rider into that group I think Tadej and MVDP have raised the game so far they are essentially untouchable. The spoils of this season will be split between them, I believe Tadej will take RVV, LBL and Lombardia, MVDP MSR and Roubaix. I'm not even sure Remco will be at their level when he comes back. Tadej and MVDP are just a step above everyone elseslappers6625-03-2025