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

[Carols]

Re:

Valverde so close once again.

Big Sigh.......

 

[Libertine Seguros]

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?

The loop of the 2012 Worlds course is a stupid, stupid, stupid idea. The Bemelerberg is nowhere near tough enough to be decisive and Geulhemmerweg is too short and consistent, so there are no decisive climbs between penultimate Cauberg and final Cauberg. They need Eyserbosweg and Keutenberg back near the finish to make the group smaller.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

So what was that about how Valverde couldn't beat Gilbert

Gilberg was strongest on the climb of Cauberg, so it's not entirely wrong

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

So what was that about how Valverde couldn't beat Gilbert

Damn matthews.

 

[Pulp]

Nice to see Kwiatkowski win in rainbow jersey. Great cyclist!

 

[GuyIncognito]

My standings were wrong. Gallopin 5th, GVA 6th, so I had them backwards. The rest is correct.

EDIT: Or not. CQRanking says I had it right the first time

1. POL KWIATKOWSKI Michal EQS 220
2. ESP VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro MOV 132
3. AUS MATTHEWS Michael OGE 112
4. POR COSTA Rui Alberto Faria LAM 96
5. BEL VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC 86
6. FRA GALLOPIN Tony LTS 76
7. FRA ALAPHILIPPE Julian EQS 66
8. ITA GASPAROTTO Enrico WGG 58
9. POL PATERSKI Maciej CCC 52
10. BEL GILBERT Philippe BMC

 

[willbick]

For an apparently simple sport, the strategy of cycling is quite interesting

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

So what was that about how Valverde couldn't beat Gilbert

Not on the Cauberg

 

[ILovecycling]

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

Thanks Phil for fvcking with Matthews

My hate for Valverde is alive again

 

[Squirbos_19]

Did not expect that from Matthews on the Cauberg, he was too strong.
Great sprint by Kwiatkowski to get the win.

 

[DBotero]

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

Boring race,Valverde again on his usual routine.Matthews really impressive,Gilbert just couldn't drop him,too bad would have won it.

 

[Carols]

Well my pay service for beIN never worked for the race so I was forced to use a Eurosport link that dropped with 1km to go LOL......I'm a loser like Bala....

 

[willbick]

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

 

[OlavEH]

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?

The loop of the 2012 Worlds course is a stupid, stupid, stupid idea. The Bemelerberg is nowhere near tough enough to be decisive and Geulhemmerweg is too short and consistent, so there are no decisive climbs between penultimate Cauberg and final Cauberg. They need Eyserbosweg and Keutenberg back near the finish to make the group smaller.

Yep. With this years course it's too long between the climbs the last 30 km after Keutenberg, and Bemelerberg is far too easy.

 

[Miburo]

Gilbert destroyed matthews on the cauberg.

 

[SeriousSam]

And Matthews destroyed Gilbert on the Cauberg. Beautiful symmetry.

 

[The Barb]

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.

 

[Vino's Mum]

Merckx, Hinault, Raas... and Kwiatkowski. Not a bad group to join, huh?

 

[willbick]

Re:

And Matthews destroyed Gilbert on the Cauberg. Beautiful symmetry.

They should make exhausted love tonight

 

[Miburo]

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.

 

[murali]

what a race!

what a win by kwiato!!!


is there any medal for most number of second place finishes?

 

[Netserk]

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

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

what a race!

what a win by kwiato!!!


is there any medal for most number of second place finishes?

Yes, it's silver

 

[DFA123]

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.

You can bet each way or head to head, not just outright winner. Valverde would have won both of those, Gilbert neither today.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

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

As usual he wanted to win. Everything was under control except he forgot about Power Flower.