Youth and Enthusiasm - Remco Evenepoel

Last year at the Tokyo Olympics Mens individual time trial, I saw Remco Evenepoel finish his run and take the lead. He was as happy as an elementary school kid who hits a home run to win the little league game. Evenepoel is small, with short upper arms that help him curl into an extremely aerodynamic ball -- more of a compact tuck than any other rider. The combination of formidable power and this balled shape is a winner for TT.

On that day, he put on an ice vest and took the "hot seat" (with more experienced TT specialists such as Filippo Ganna, Rohan Dennis, Tom Dumoulin, WVA, and Primoz Roglic, among others, still to come) ... but he was full of joy and bouncing around, not sitting down. Evenepoel does not have a poker face. In fact, his entire body shows his mood ... innocent, like a kid.  And sometimes this year, he has raced like an innocent as well, burning energy to no purpose, though he is learning fast.  Watching all this makes it very hard not to cheer for him. 

A bouncy Remco takes the "hot seat" at the Olympics TT -- barely manages to sit down. Not my finest photo so did not make the cut in my initial report of the event.

 
In the end, Evenepoel fell to 9th place in the Olympics TT, far out of medal contention, as Primoz Roglic crushed the course and finished looking as if he was only just then turning on the after burners ... not stopping or even slowing until hundreds of meters beyond the finish line.

Yesterday, at the Vuelta Espana's stage 10 time trial, it was Evenepoel's turn to crush the competition. He ended up 48 seconds ahead of Roglic in an effort of slightly over a half hour. He knew he had won, but did not know by how much until a reporter informed him.  The expression on his face says it all. Best watched on the video. 

Really?! 48 seconds faster than Primoz? Oh my!

After 10 out of 21 stages, Evenepoel leads the Vuelta by 2:41 over Roglic (who has won the past 3 years ... but may still be recovering from the injuries and fatigue he suffered in the Tour de France), 3:03 over Enric Mas (who just hangs in there but never seems to win), and everyone else who is further back. None of the other general classification riders have looked even once as if they could put him into difficulty. It is now Evenepoel's race to lose.  (He will also likely win the "Best Young Rider" white jersey, as a 22 yr old). At this point, I think he will win easily, absent illness, crash, or positive PCR test.

The other name worth mentioning from this year's Vuelta is Jay Vine.  A 27-yr-old Australian rider, he got his pro contract with Alpecin Deceuninck by winning the 2020 "Zwift Academy" competition.  This year, he has already won 2 mountain finish stages of the Vuelta and looks to be the strongest climber in the race, sporting the polka dot jersey. Maybe I'll join Zwift Academy this year ... coming up in September  ... maybe Alpecin has a Master's team?

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Update -- After 15 stages Evenepoel, who did crash a few days ago, is 1:39 ahead of Primoz Roglic, having lost some time on the final climbs of stages 14 and 15. Stage 15 ends with a climb to “Sierra Nevada”. … which we did in 2013. We continued up to Pico de Veleta, highest paved road in Europe at nearly 3400m elev.

Further update -- Remco won the Vuelta easily.  He won stage 18, and ended up over 2 minutes ahead of Enric Mas, and nearly 5 minutes up on Juan Ayuso, with everyone else further back. (He is no longer Remco Evenepoel.  Remco will suffice.) 

September update -- Remco went to Wollongong, NSW, Australia, and won the World Championship Men's Elite Road Race.  He rode away from the field with nearly 30 kms left in the race and soloed home against the best riders in the world. It was a dominating performance. His aero tuck is one of the most efficient in the peleton and he has a very big engine. Only 4-5 years ago he was winning the Junior division.