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

[The Hitch]

They do care, the 'gelegenheidsvolgers' know only of the Tour, the Amstel Gold Race, and maybe some of the monuments (Paris Roubaix, Flanders).

Take what Gesink said in the newspapers: "Besides the Tour de France, I get asked about the Amstel Gold Race the most from journalists"

There's definately a lot of people coming to the race, ofcourse not comparable to Flanders standards, but for Dutch people, who are not such big cycling fans, still very high.

Last year they let those helis in the air to telivise it, even though the ash cloud had grounded most flights, so it must mean something. At least thats what Harmon said.

It looks like the GVA camp is rapidly becoming huge. ACF magic I guess, he's a real fairy alright.

For forum reasons the interest is in whether he can get into that top 5.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well f.e the media attention for this race in the normal papers, etc, is much bigger than for monumental classics like San Remo, Flanders and Roubaix.
Here it's in the press all week.

While for other big classics, you only get some articles about the race the day before.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm wondering, do people in Holland really care about AGR? I mean is it a big day for the Dutch or do most people not even realize it's going on?

And also: "how high do the Dutch people on this forum rate the Gold Race"?

Well, this isn't Flanders, it's not some kind of national holiday or whatever. I had to smile about the Cyclingnews preview, where they called Robert Gesink our national hero. He has never even been nominated for best athlete of the year

Nonetheless, like Dekker_T says, for a cycling event this is pretty big in Holland, and certainly in Limburg of course. But to say the average Dutchman really cares about this race... no, I don't get that impression.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

This stage has written Sagan all over it.

 

[boomcie]

For forum reasons the interest is in whether he can get into that top 5.

He obviously can, how is that interesting . Though I'm guessing not this year.

 

[The Hitch]

He obviously can, how is that interesting . Though I'm guessing not this year.

Because if he does, one poster has promised to have an avatar he doesnt like for the next 3 years.

 

[boomcie]

Because if he does, one poster has promised to have an avatar he doesnt like for the next 3 years.

I read something about that. Fingers crossed.

 

[auscyclefan94]

It looks like the GVA camp is rapidly becoming huge. ACF magic I guess, he's a real fairy alright.

I am a very influential little fairy! I have powers over people of which they don't even know about!

BMC are due for a big win. They have been up and around the front of the races all spring.

 

[boomcie]

I am a very influential little fairy! I have powers over people of which they don't even know about!

BMC are due for a big win. They have been up and around the front of the races all spring.

Permission for BMC win granted.

 

[Kwibus]

I'm wondering, do people in Holland really care about AGR? I mean is it a big day for the Dutch or do most people not even realize it's going on?

And also: "how high do the Dutch people on this forum rate the Gold Race"?

D_T and the youngest allready pretty much answered this question, but today in the newspaper(AD Sportwereld) there was a piece about AGR where they wrote that the race is finally getting respect from the other big cycling countries. During the last 10 years the race has developed into a real classic which the cycling elite wants to win.

It's not a monument, but more prestigious than for example Gent - Wevelgem etc. Mr. de Kauwer actually said that....

 

[R.0.t.O]

It's not a monument, but more prestigious than for example Gent - Wevelgem etc. Mr. de Kauwer actually said that....

I would think of it as probably the 10th race in pro cycling to be honest. The next after the monuments, grand tours and worlds. Because of where it sits in the calendar, weekend date, the list of past winners, the distance and terrain, being the biggest race in its country. It's only a small dip in the spring weekend run of RVV, PRx, AGR, LBL.

I'm not sure who will win but I don't think it will be Gilbert this time.

 

[masking_agent]

Is Michael Rasmussen's Christina Watches team going to be racing this ?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Is Michael Rasmussen's Christina Watches team going to be racing this ?

Heh, not in a million years

 

[ingsve]

Procycling.no reports that Lars Petter Nordhaug will get the opportunity in Amstel Gold Race to be captain along side Simon Gerrans.

 

[Gloin22]

Very much deserved. Best Sky rider not counting G this season imo. And most improved. Hope he can get a good result. Gerrans as well, if he doesnt do well, he sure is going out of Sky this season.

 

[Cobblestoned]

warmup

 

[Cobblestoned]

 

[hatcher]

Procycling.no reports that Lars Petter Nordhaug will get the opportunity in Amstel Gold Race to be captain along side Simon Gerrans.

Good to see. Cummings was also expecting to go in as protected. I guess if Gerrans and/or Nordhaug struggle he's next in line.

In that procycling.no article, does it say Nordhaug won't be riding the Tour de France, but that Arvesen will be? Google translate has confused me.

 

[roundabout]

Nordhaug says that he might have had a better season than Arvesen, but Arvesen will do a better job than him in the Tour. He also thinks that he is not ready for the Tour yet (from a linked article).

 

[Damiano]

In that procycling.no article, does it say Nordhaug won't be riding the Tour de France, but that Arvesen will be? Google translate has confused me.

No, he's just saying that he's been better than Kurt Asle Arvesen so far, but Arvesen will be a better helper at the tour.

 

[hatcher]

Thanks roundabout.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nordhaug with a free role. Good for him, that means he can become 21th or something

 

[ingsve]

Nordhaug with a free role. Good for him, that means he can become 21th or something

Probably. That wouldn't be a bad guess based on the occasions he has shown some ability. Though it happens that riders have breakthrough rides that are above what they have done before so anything is possible in theory.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Oh well, if he doesn't go in any of the attacks pre-Cauberg and it then stays together, he might end higher up.
It happened last year with a lot of guys like Gasparotto, Hesjedal, Kroon etcetera. Invisible during the race, but because they didn't attack they ended higher up than the Schlecks, Kolobnev, Ivanov and others who made the race

Btw it will be at least a bit more quiet during the race in this topic with me and Ryo Hazuki missing

 

[Jamsque]

Btw it will be at least a bit more quiet during the race in this topic with me and Ryo Hazuki missing

Thank god for small mercies.