46th Amstel Gold Race (The maze) - Sunday April 17, 2011

[Mellow Velo]

Which race will Evans win? I don't see how he will win anything left on the calender.

If his Tour goes the way of his last two attempts, BMC's season could be as bad, or even worse than last year.
The Tirreno GC and a stage win, doesn't match a semi classic, GT stage and 2 Swiss stages.

Still, it's early days to be writing them off completely, but they need somebody other than Cuddles to do something surprising.

gesink said he had cramps

Time of the month?

 

[luckyboy]

+1. ...............

Yeah I've pretty much accepted this about Gilbert now.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

I understand the family reasons, but still Oman...

It just was his first chance to do something.

 

[pmcg76]

curse you gilbert

if it weren't for you i would have won my bet

anyway he deserved the win too bad i could only watch the last 6 k <_<

You really didnt miss that much other than Andy attacking, uneventful race to be honest.

Good result with the strongest rider winning. I can see what Rabobank were trying to do by making Gilbert work but still think they should have tried to force his hand by trying to attack him. In fairness none of the rest of the group tried either, other than Schleck, considering Rabo, Katusha, Vacansoleil had two or more riders in the group, they rode incredibly negative.

Shows waht it means to have a good team around you, was it VDB or Vanendert who was riding at the front late on?

 

[luckyboy]

I understand the family reasons, but still Oman...

I guess he wanted to be sure that he could get a win.

Maybe if he trained properly and was better at the Ardennes he still wouldn't win anything this week.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Don't act surprised ACF, that's how they always ride. Rabo are a team of losers, who will never win something major.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Shows waht it means to have a good team around you, was it VDB or Vanendert who was riding at the front late on?

Both, with Vanendert lasting the longest.

 

[The Hitch]

Can someone answer a stupid question for me:

Just started watching cycling ... but why when cancellara was so dominant in the cobbled classics was this race not suited for him, is it really that different? (to the point that he was just a domestique)

I think Cancellara could do well in a race like this if he made it his season aim (like he did in Mendrisio 09), didnt ride the cobbled classics and didnt crash.

But Cancellara was coming off a big peak in the cobbled classics and he preffers those type of races than ones with climbs in them as hes not the best climber.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Yeah it's logical that he trains to be good at Oman, a race that doesn't really matter anyway. When it really matters, when the real races are ridden with the strongest competitors, Rabo simply doesn't have what it takes to win a race, let it be a major classic or stage race. Maybe they should hire Bjarne Riis, who gets most out of his riders?

percific reasons. wanted to win the race for his dad whom passed away just a couple months earlier.

damn the guy for having his priorties messed up.

you're right maybe riis can set gesink straight. Cycling > family right.
Gesink has been struggling with putting the sport into perspective(something he wanted to avoid), I doubt he even regrets his form much.

 

[Bala Verde]

Schleck had attacked earlier and was one of the strongest riders in the race. Besides, unlike Gesink, Schleck was been improving all season, going from utterly horrible in february to quite decent now, while Gesink has been close to top too long I think. But with a good break now he could still be ready for TDF obviously.

That's all I am trying to say.

They ride different programs, so as of yet, I am not too concerned about his, or Schleck's (or any other 'insert TdF name') potential for July. If Schleck was strong today because he attacked @ 7-8K, I doubt that is a meaningful for a stage race in later this summer.

Should we be worried for Evans, because he has sustained an injury now? I doubt it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I thought he would have had a chance in the Fleche or Tour of Lombardy, Romandie ? Who knows whether he can bounce back to his best at the TDF or the Vuelta ? I suppose we will see how his change in preparation has worked, in a few months time. Obviously a grand tour is what he wants to win.

Haters gonna hate...don't bother.

 

[Bala Verde]

Both, with Vanendert lasting the longest.

Both rode an amazing race in service of Gilbert!

 

[movingtarget]

I thought's Gesink's ride today was about what I expected. I never thought he could have beaten the first or second placed rider and his main aim is the TDF. He does not have the power to beat people like Gilbert in these types of races. He needs longer climbs.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Both rode an amazing race in service of Gilbert!

yep opl really desevred thier win today.
Gilbert... I really hope he can take lbl.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Which race will Evans win? I don't see how he will win anything left on the calender.

I thought he would have had a chance in the Fleche or Tour of Lombardy, Romandie ? Who knows whether he can bounce back to his best at the TDF or the Vuelta ? I suppose we will see how his change in preparation has worked, in a few months time. Obviously a grand tour is what he wants to win.

Don't know about the win, but whatever he tries to go with I just hope he goes down swinging. He may have a good chance at Romandie, if he's racing it.

On today's race. Nice try by Schleck, really. Almost got it. But Gilbert's a machine. Nice job by him and his team all day.

 

[theyoungest]

I thought's Gesink's ride today was about what I expected. I never thought he could have beaten the first or second placed rider and his main aim is the TDF. He does not have the power to beat people like Gilbert in these types of races. He needs longer climbs.

He looked pretty good on the Eyserbosweg, one of the strongest there, but there's not much you can do about cramps. Ask Cancellara. I don't think he'd have won, but some kind of attack could have been expected.

 

[dlwssonic]

Pity they had the crash otherwise Leopard trek could do a 1,2 3,4. Cancellara could ride away from them from where andy attaccked

 

[Bala Verde]

D

On today's race. Nice try by Schleck, really. Almost got it. But Gilbert's a machine. Nice job by him and his team all day.

I think schleck timed his attack well, that's about the point where you will have to go if you want to go solo/prevent a sprint. I think he was hoping that OPL/KAT/RAB/VAC would have difficulties figuring out who would chase and he was right.

In the end it all came down to OPL, and they rode their hearts out, deservedly taking the win.

 

[Bala Verde]

Surprised Hesjedal was not around.

 

[NickRooz]

Their have been times that Rabo has won, but those are really sporadic wins, and yes i mist acknowledge that those are big wins, but what about the current crop of riders that ride for the Rabobank team?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Surprised Hesjedal was not around.

yeah he looked pretty good at basque i thought.

can't see him doing much at the other two.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Their have been times that Rabo has won, but those are really sporadic wins, and yes i mist acknowledge that those are big wins, but what about the current crop of riders that ride for the Rabobank team?

Rabo have some pretty decent results in the last yuear or two from thier current crop of riders.

I mean, if your gonna make this statement it applies to 90% of the teams. stupid.

 

[jaylew]

Their have been times that Rabo has won, but those are really sporadic wins, and yes i mist acknowledge that those are big wins, but what about the current crop of riders that ride for the Rabobank team?

You must mean other than Freire because 3 x MSR and 3 x Worlds is pretty huge.

 

[NickRooz]

Rabo have some pretty decent results in the last yuear or two from thier current crop of riders.

I mean, if your gonna make this statement it applies to 90% of the teams. stupid.

Yes 'decent' is the word, but will anyone, in a few years, remember all those second or third places? All that matters are wins, and Rabo need them fast. It's nice that they won Oman and de Omloop, but they really need a 'real' win. Just like Leopard for example.

 

[roundabout]

You must mean other than Freire because 3 x MSR and 3 x Worlds is pretty huge.

Not need to exaggerate it's only 3 x MSR and 1 x Worlds while at Rabo.