2015 Ardennes Classics: 50th Amstel Gold Race - 4.19 - 258km

[Red Rick]

Matthews can't walk normally anymore it seems

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re:

Not sure why people are so happy Matthews didn't win ... he was the second strongest on the Cauberg, then immediately went to the front when they went over the top. Had he won the sprint it would have been tremendously deserved. Beaten, but a terrific ride.

Matthews, for better or worse, is seen as a sprinter that can get over obstacles - he ought to be comparatively competitive in a race like this but realistically shouldn't be able to win. Think how many top 10s Óscar Freire compiled, and yet the closest he came to winning was in a solo from distance.

The other thing is, when adaptable sprinters like Zabel were winning the race, they moved the finish to the Cauberg to try to combat that. If they do that now, with the silly unnecessary loop of the 2012 Worlds course, then the race just becomes another Flèche Wallonne, only easier. The Ardennes are already raced way too conservatively in recent years without giving even more incentives to race them like that.

 

[Carols]

Re:

Valverde will never win this race, he can't best gilbert on the cauberg and when a few guys remain and piti comes back, he'll find a way to end up 2nd or 3th.

Thus way better to bet on gilbert than piti which was the original discussion.

Bala each way is always a good bet

 

[Bushman]

Re:

It's funny how Valverde can outsprint anyone in the world for a 2nd place

Could probably place second on Champs Elysees in between Kittel and Cavendish

 

[The Barb]

Re:

Interesting to compare how far gilbert was clear of the chasers (not incl matthews) this year compared to last

Only about 3 seconds this year ... was 7 by my watch last year.

 

[hfer07]

so.... One single pony trick Gilbert failed in his own territory- what is he going to do from now on????

 

[Asero831]

If only Degenkolb were there..

 

[hfer07]

Re:

If only Degenkolb were there..

or Kristoff ....

 

[hrotha]

Lol at BMC. Van Avermaet vs Fuglsang was too risky apparently, then they launched Hermans because if that provoked a split with a couple of stronger riders they couldn't anticipate much closer to the finish line that would somehow have been easier to handle, and then they had Van Avermaet sprint for the win anyway. So glad they didn't win. Praise Matthews for his sacrifice.

 

[the asian]

Re:

so.... One single pony trick Gilbert failed in his own territory- what is he going to do from now on????

Win FW and Liege

 

[IndianCyclist]

Everything is either ending in sprints or being won by classics sprinters. The lone attacker is dead.

 

[Bushman]

Great to see Alaphllippe in the front group. Exciting rider.

 

[marinoni]

Tomorrow the CN site will have the usual 10 Conclusions We Can Make From ... article. The only conclusion that matters after this race is that pro cycling does not, in any way, reward aggressive racing. I applaud riders like Martin and Nibali that tried to buck the trend but like in virtually every race on the calendar it was pointless. I don't know what has changed about this sport in the last few years, I dearly wish I did, but I can feel my interest gradually dying the more I see races where the entire point is to avoid doing anything at all until the last possible moment. I, and anyone who follows this sport closely, know precisely how Fleche and LBL will play out. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,(sigh), wait, wait, attack on the Mur/St Nicholas. And then lose because you attacked too early and got passed by the guy who waited a bit longer. So depressing.

 

[BigMac]

Re: 2015 Ardennes Classics: 50th Amstel Gold Race - 4.19 - 2

This race is getting plain *** by the year. Some teams still with a horde of domestiques in the last loop, while others have their leaders alone. Worst of all, these domestiques cause a huge mess on the approach to Valkenburg, and kill the chances for some leaders to get a spot in the front, as the likes of Movistar, BMC, Orica have a full train clogging the road. It's bloody irritating.

For the first time I am not pissed Kwiatkowski won, and that should say a lot. What on earth was MM doing there, looked like a sunday ride effort, which shouldn't be for the likes of him. Delighted for Costa finally having his breakthrough placing in the Ardennes, despite a flat tire inside the last 30k's and having no team with him the majority of the race. Oliveira is really missed.

That said, can't wait for Flèche.

Tomorrow the CN site will have the usual 10 Conclusions We Can Make From ... article. The only conclusion that matters after this race is that pro cycling does not, in any way, reward aggressive racing. I applaud riders like Martin and Nibali that tried to buck the trend but like in virtually every race on the calendar it was pointless. I don't know what has changed about this sport in the last few years, I dearly wish I did, but I can feel my interest gradually dying the more I see races where the entire point is to avoid doing anything at all until the last possible moment. I, and anyone who follows this sport closely, know precisely how Fleche and LBL will play out. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,(sigh), wait, wait, attack on the Mur/St Nicholas. And then lose because you attacked too early and got passed by the guy who waited a bit longer. So depressing.

Good post. One note, though. Attacking on Saint-Nicolas is still better than waiting for Ans.

 

[Asero831]

Re: Re:

If only Degenkolb were there..

or Kristoff ....

Maybe even Ben Swift or Cancellara. This race will slowly turn into strong sprinters' race

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Re:

so.... One single pony trick Gilbert failed in his own territory- what is he going to do from now on????

Win FW and Liege

It's 2015. Not 2011.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Thank **** god it was Kwia and not Valverde or Matthews! The only good thing about this race. What a freakin borefest. They really need to do somehthing about the course next year. Was it 50-60 men that hit Cauberg the last time?

Why is that the only good thing? Because you like him? And why not Valverde and Matthews, you think Kwiatkowski deserved this more or what?

 

[Netserk]

Matthews did what he had to do, though it probably would've been wiser if he hadn't taken a pull with Gilbert and Valverde and instead readied himself for the sprint. Gilbert did too what he could (and should) do, but he just wasn't good enough and his team rode sub-optimally to put it mildly.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

Re:

GVA probably would have won had he played it better

If they'd let him ride with Fuglsang he probably would. What Greg needs is a smaller team where he is the sole leader in every race but GT's. Seems like he should go replace Leukemans at Wanty.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

so.... One single pony trick Gilbert failed in his own territory- what is he going to do from now on????

Win FW and Liege

In your dreams maybe..

 

[Velolover2]

Horrendous race. I would have prefered a uphill sprint over this. With well-established trains, Amstel could be a sprinter's race.

Nibali was the only bright spot.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

Thank **** god it was Kwia and not Valverde or Matthews! The only good thing about this race. What a freakin borefest. They really need to do somehthing about the course next year. Was it 50-60 men that hit Cauberg the last time?

Why is that the only good thing? Because you like him? And why not Valverde and Matthews, you think Kwiatkowski deserved this more or what?

Spot on! Kwiatkowski did nothing the entire race. He's no better than Valverde or Matthews.

 

[SeriousSam]

I'm sure the riders will take the stinging criticism from the cyclingnews forum to heart and will in the future lower their chances to do well in races with suicidal solo attacks.

 

[Gloin22]

Re:

I'm sure the riders will take the stinging criticism from the cyclingnews forum to heart and will in the future lower their chances to do well in races with suicidal solo attacks.

Armchair Pro Cyclists for the win