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

[theyoungest]

Superb performance from OPL. Very sweat answer to the lack-of-support-for-Gilbert-criticism.

Funny what Gesink said before the race about trying to take advantage of Rabo's depth. First they make a great move by tearing the field apart, and then they suddenly stop riding, send LLS on a pointless solo attack and allow a lot of guys to return (Vanendert for example was like 30sec behind at the first passage on the Cauberg). Seriously, what's the point? They accomplished zero, except for wearing out their own team of course.

But whatever. The Belgians were great today. Ben Hermans confirmed his potential and my dark horse for this race Leukemans got a nice 7th. Impressive, especially when no one else of the big guys here rode both Flanders and Roubaix.

I suppose they expected other teams to join in and try to make it a hard race. But when Lulu and Barredo attacked, no one went with them. You can't do it all on your own.

 

[Greenflame]

Great race by Gilbert. He's clearly the strongest in these terrains, will be very interesting to see what happens in these races when Valverde returns.

Andy also looks very good for LBL, he's looking strong. Too bad for the race that Frank and Fabian were out before the finale, could have been an interesting fight between them and Gilbert, if it would have been Cancellara who took off when Andy did, not sure anyone would have been able to stop him.

Rabo can't really be blamed for their lack of results here. Freire was never going to win this (as everyone here knew), and Gesink just wasn't good enough. Vacansoleil on the other hand, I wonder why Leukemans didn't do any attacking. Of course, it is impressive he was up there anyway, after riding Roubaix.

Overall not as interesting as the previous classics this season, but then again, we've been spoiled so far with the best MSR & Flanders races in years, and a more than interesting Roubaix as well.
Now up to Flèche and LBL, let's hope those will be as fun to watch as the previous races this year.

 

[Benotti69]

I disagree completely. If Canc had ridden with his legs instead of his mouth, he could have closed that gap and sat in for a bit and still probably won. I think we can see from his final kick that he had the legs to win, and if he had just done what a champion like Gilbert does and ridden his competition down himself, Canc would have easily won last week. Instead, he whined like a little baby and took his ball and went home...and got 2nd. Gilbert rode like a man and got 1st. There is a lesson there.

i also believe that Canc should have done the above. Gilbert showed that today that when you are favourite you have to ride to win.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

What an incredible race.
It might seem boring because of the complete lack of attacks, but when you saw it at the Cauberg, it's unbelievable what total MASSACRE it was.

This is why the Amstel Gold Race is one of the hardest races there is. Tempo riding alone can CRUSH an entire field. First Rabo and then Omega Pharma lotto's tempo destroyed any chances of 99,99% of the peloton.

Of the 10 leaders in the final, 8 were dead. Only Andy Schleck, Philippe Gilbert and Rodriguez had anything left in the final to actually attack. And Schleck did the right thing by going before the Cauberg.

Rabobank didn't ride in the final because they were all dead. All other leaders were dead too. It says enough the second group was 1'30 behind. Never seen so many completely empty guys at the finish.

One of the only races in the world were riding a hard tempo can destroy an entire peloton. Just wow.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Also reading the reactions here it's very clear nobody understands the character of the Amstel Gold Race and it's hills.

It's such a demanding course, that when they ride at high pace, everyone is destroyed... People wondering why Rabo didn't ride, or why nobody else attacked, while the answer is the most obvious one in the world.
They could not.. They were just hanging on for dear life.

 

[jaylew]

I disagree completely. If Canc had ridden with his legs instead of his mouth, he could have closed that gap and sat in for a bit and still probably won. I think we can see from his final kick that he had the legs to win, and if he had just done what a champion like Gilbert does and ridden his competition down himself, Canc would have easily won last week. Instead, he whined like a little baby and took his ball and went home...and got 2nd. Gilbert rode like a man and got 1st. There is a lesson there.

Gilbert rode well and deserved the victory but he had 2 teammates helping him keep things in check. It's Canc's fault he decided to go to a team where he would have little help for the classics, of course. Anyway, the two scenarios and two races were very different.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Not defending Rabo btw, they failed in their home race.

But it has nothing to do with tactics. They just could barely follow, let stand work or attack.

Maybe people here should ride their bike sometime then they know what I mean. This course is absolutely one of the most unforgiving in cycling. Of the group of 12 that made the final cut, 95% was happy to just be there... they were that dead

 

[Anonymous]

Gilbert rode well and deserved the victory but he had 2 teammates helping him keep things in check. It's Canc's fault he decided to go to a team where he would have little help for the classics, of course. Anyway, the two scenarios and two races were very different.

No, Canc could have closed that gap by himself. No doubt about it. It was under 25 seconds when he started pouting and decided he wasn't gonna play anymore, but that does not mean he didn't have the legs to do it. Clearly he did. And sorry, but Gilbert did the work to get to Andy by himself when it counted. no whining, no going to the Rabo team car and making sweeping hand gestures with dismissive comments. Gilbert rode. He used his legs, and he went and won the race. Maybe it was a superhuman performance, but no more so than the motor aided accelerations of Canc last year. Gilbert rides like a champion, and I believe Canc rides like a whiny diva.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Awesome win for an awesome rider (and team, sure).

 

[Sciatic]

I understand what you folks are saying about Gilbert being willing to tackle bringing back andy even though he was the marked man, but still, making the comparisons with PR make you sound silly. There's a big difference b/t being willing to put the whole race on your shoulders, from 3 k out than it is from 50K out.

And Cancellera took the race to everyone, as well as he could, in MSR and the Ronde.

 

[jens_attacks]

at this moment,in an uphill sprint between gilbert,di luca,ricco,valverde and rebellin(those guys at their best not in this kind of form or totally lack of form),gilbert would win every time i guess.he is super strong.chapeau!
the race was pretty boring though.my goodness purito is looking for zoncolan and andy did a nice move.and that's it.
pretty disappointed by astana.

 

[jaylew]

No, Canc could have closed that gap by himself. No doubt about it. It was under 25 seconds when he started pouting and decided he wasn't gonna play anymore, but that does not mean he didn't have the legs to do it. Clearly he did. And sorry, but Gilbert did the work to get to Andy by himself when it counted. no whining, no going to the Rabo team car and making sweeping hand gestures with dismissive comments. Gilbert rode. He used his legs, and he went and won the race. Maybe it was a superhuman performance, but no more so than the motor aided accelerations of Canc last year. Gilbert rides like a champion, and I believe Canc rides like a whiny diva.

We'll certainly have to agree to disagree. Gilbert pulling for 1k to chase down 1 man does not equal Canc chasing for many, many K to bring back several riders. It was a studly performance by Gilbert, though.

at this moment,in an uphill sprint between gilbert,di luca,ricco,valverde and rebellin(those guys at their best not in this kind of form or totally lack of form),gilbert would win every time i guess.he is super strong.chapeau!

I'd still probably put my $ on Valverde.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Hello people.

Hope you had fun.
Did you see me ? I was the one who was waving on Eyserbosweg when it was passed before finish.

Brave Schleck-attack, perfect race by Gilbert.
This guy is really cool - cooler than Spartakus.

And thank you Raboguys for animating the race. Sad that they ended empty handed, but thats cycling.
I think they should have pulled it through when peloton was split, but always easy to say afterwards.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

They did try to animate the race but they got nobody to go with them. And in the final they simply were dead.

But that's what people didn't understand if I read the reactions. They all seemed to think Rabo was able to work or attack. But if they'd been able to, they'd have done it.

Cobblestoned was on the Eyserbosweg so he must have seen it as well, the peloton was full of dead bodies.
Nobody really understands how hard the Amstel Gold Race is. I'd advise people to ride the tourist version one time, and ride it as fast as you can. Then you understand how completely different this race to f.e Flanders

There is no flat to recover, it's just uphill, downhill, breaking for a corner, accelerating out of the corner, and then uphill again. It's so demanding that just by riding pace everyone withers and dies.
Only the very very very best can attack, and even they have trouble staying away....
Andy Schleck could solo 30km in LBL and win. But he can't solo 10km in AGR. That's how hard this race is

 

[jaylew]

I forget, how long was Frank's solo when he won?

 

[Anonymous]

We'll certainly have to agree to disagree. Gilbert pulling for 1k to chase down 1 man does not equal Canc chasing for many, many K to bring back several riders. It was a studly performance by Gilbert, though.

It isn't about the length. It's about the decision to go win the race when the race is there to win. Gilbert did that, and Canc didn't. But we can disagree about that too.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I forget, how long was Frank's solo when he won?

Exactly the same. From the Keutenberg, it's the only way to do it if there are no couples or people who work.

Fränk only had leaders behind him who didn't co-operate.
Gilbert had Vanendert and Rodriguez even pulled with him. Big difference!

Also the edition that Ivanov went it was from the top of the Keutenberg, and also lack of co-operation behind...

But if they keep riding tempo, you don't have a chance.
People do not understand that the Amstel Gold Race is a super hard race. It looks easy, it appears nobody wants to ride. But in fact, everyone is dead.
If organisers put 45 climbs in a 260km race, there won't be much people being able to attack. Maybe the best 3, that's it.

 

[roundabout]

I forget, how long was Frank's solo when he won?

He went from about the same distance as Andy today, maybe slightly earlier.

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

They did try to animate the race but they got nobody to go with them. And in the final they simply were dead.

But that's what people didn't understand if I read the reactions. They all seemed to think Rabo was able to work or attack. But if they'd been able to, they'd have done it.

Cobblestoned was on the Eyserbosweg so he must have seen it as well, the peloton was full of dead bodies.
Nobody really understands how hard the Amstel Gold Race is. I'd advise people to ride the tourist version one time, and ride it as fast as you can. Then you understand how completely different this race to f.e Flanders

There is no flat to recover, it's just uphill, downhill, breaking for a corner, accelerating out of the corner, and then uphill again. It's so demanding that just by riding pace everyone withers and dies.
Only the very very very best can attack, and even they have trouble staying away....
Andy Schleck could solo 30km in LBL and win. But he can't solo 10km in AGR. That's how hard this race is

Can't argue with that...

The AGR is like a horid circuit race/kermeese course that never ends, and keeps on changing.

The Dutch had one chance to create their own classic, and the last forty years has shown it to be absolutely brutal! Ending the day with 5 nasty hellingens will result in survival racing. That's not to excuse Rabo, but more of a comment of understanding. If you're hanging on, you're hanging on...

I have to say that I was impressed to see AS give 'er. That guy's gotta take charge more often.

And Gilbert, well... enough said...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Can't argue with that...

The AGR is like a horid circuit race/kermeese course that never ends, and keeps on changing.

The Dutch had one chance to create their own classic, and the last forty years has shown it to be absolutely brutal! Ending the day with 5 nasty hellingens will result in survival racing. That's not to excuse Rabo, but more of a comment of understanding. If you're hanging on, you're hanging on...

I have to say that I was impressed to see AS give 'er. That guy's gotta take charge more often.

And Gilbert, well... enough said...

Exactly, you got it sir!

 

[Cobblestoned]

They did try to animate the race but they got nobody to go with them. And in the final they simply were dead.

But that's what people didn't understand if I read the reactions. They all seemed to think Rabo was able to work or attack. But if they'd been able to, they'd have done it.

Cobblestoned was on the Eyserbosweg so he must have seen it as well, the peloton was full of dead bodies.
Nobody really understands how hard the Amstel Gold Race is. I'd advise people to ride the tourist version one time, and ride it as fast as you can. Then you understand how completely different this race to f.e Flanders

There is no flat to recover, it's just uphill, downhill, breaking for a corner, accelerating out of the corner, and then uphill again. It's so demanding that just by riding pace everyone withers and dies.
Only the very very very best can attack, and even they have trouble staying away....
Andy Schleck could solo 30km in LBL and win. But he can't solo 10km in AGR. That's how hard this race is

Oh, is the mood here so negative again today ? Sounds like that.
Sounds like much much CN-wahwahwah whining because of some wrong farts. Have a read later perhaps.

Well, Amstel is always surviving when 200km mark is crossed. Then its just saving as much energy as possible till a last attack or for Cauberg.
This race is not only hard for body, but also for mind, cause you need 110% concentration not to crash and not to fall back. Up,down,left,right,signs,islands - then small roads again etc.
From what I have seen so far, speed was very high (46km/h?) at beginning for a long time till THE break was gone.
They all had to pay for that in the end. They really looked dead.
If you would convert that race into a GT mountainstage, you would get a long, long stage with 2 HC climbs and MTF. So, its not easy have something left in the tank.

Final km were ridden clever, holding Andy on beatable distance but keep tempo up till Cauberg. It was clear that Andy would die there.
Impressive how Gilbert then took responsibility, sucked some last energy out of them till Purito attacked, and then just keept cool and outsprinted him.

Good ride for Gerrans in 3th, but was surprised to see that Vino, Samy and Cunego died so early.

 

[Flamin]

I suppose they expected other teams to join in and try to make it a hard race. But when Lulu and Barredo attacked, no one went with them. You can't do it all on your own.

Yeah, probably. But I reckon the plan was to isolate Gilbert and other favourites, so you can either send someone in the (early) break away and let them wear out their team, or make the race hard yourselves. Eventually they did something in between. I guess the other teams didn't see the point of trying to break away with LLS or Barredo, given how tough the race had already been.

 

[Sportman1987]

Did Horner start in this race?

 

[Mellow Velo]

I never knew that the AGR was a George A Romero film.
Will they be able to dig these boys up in time for LBL, next weekend and can zombies ride bikes?

 

[The Hitch]

Did Horner start in this race?

I was thinking the same but no, he didnt. This race seems to have been for RS what PR is for Euskatel. Deignan was their leader. Theyll have a better team for FW and LBL. I really hope to see Horner do well in both.