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

[The Hitch]

Thank god for small mercies.

Well Ryo would only really be a threat to the Castille y Leon thread. I dont see Colombia es Passion, Androni or Geox in this race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Thank god for small mercies.

You do know that, deep down, you couldn't live without me in these topics

 

[theyoungest]

You do know that, deep down, you couldn't live without me in these topics

Apart from you, nobody cares about this race

 

[boomcie]

You do know that, deep down, you couldn't live without me in these topics

Try us...

 

[sublimit]

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

Possibly but he's getting there. He's under the radar so maybe he can get some reasonable results in the next 3 races. A-G-R, Fleche, L-B-L.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Any of our dutch forum friends going to Amstel tommorow?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Me, Ryo Hazuki and a group of guys from PCM Benelux are going.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Me, Ryo Hazuki and a group of guys from PCM Benelux are going.

Surely you wouldn't be watching the race from the Cauberg?

 

[Cobblestoned]

Any of our dutch forum friends going to Amstel tommorow?

For sure.
They can be identified by their caravans.

ACF, just tell me what the outcome of your GVA discussion was.
I mean the golden middle. I have to make some decisions now.
Up there or not ?

 

[auscyclefan94]

For sure.
They can be identified by their caravans.

ACF, just tell me what the outcome of your GVA discussion was.
I mean the golden middle. I have to make some decisions now.
Up there or not ?

Yeah, I think he should top 5. I think it's likely that we will see something similar to last year. Multiple attacks on the climbs, which come back together, a late attack from a katusha rider, gets brought back and then we have the cauberg kick to decide the winner. If Greg is up there he can definetly take the win.

 

[sublimit]

Me, Ryo Hazuki and a group of guys from PCM Benelux are going.

Have a good day.. dont throw any beer at passing Belgian or British riders will you.

Anyway I reckon Gilbert will kick *** here and own everybody unless he falls off.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Have a good day.. dont throw any beer at passing Belgian or British riders will you.

Anyway I reckon Gilbert will kick *** here and own everybody unless he falls off.

No beer throwing (beer causes cancer), and no nail-throwing onto streets (nails cause punctures)

Phil said he will do a defensive race - just outsprint them on Cauberg defensively.

 

[LabMonkey]

Picking my final rider for a fantasy cycling game - who do you think will finish the highest out of F. Schlek, Sagan, Vinokourov, Hesjedal or Kolobnev... or stick with Cancellara?

Any thoughts will be much appreciated.

 

[roundabout]

Hesjedal is probably the safest bet for a top-10.

 

[Ferminal]

Picking my final rider for a fantasy cycling game - who do you think will finish the highest out of Vinokourov, Hesjedal or Kolobnev... or stick with Cancellara?

Any thoughts will be much appreciated.

Hesjedal or Kolobnev.

Hesjedal is probably a bit safer, but Kolobnev has a better chance of winning... if that makes sense.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

IF Martens waits, and it comes to a uphill sprint. He will podium.

 

[LabMonkey]

Roundabout, Ferminal, Timmy... thanks for your input!

Martens is/was on my shortlist.

So you don't think that F. Schlek will end up being Leopards number 1 and so protected?

Vino won't make some crazy bid for glory?

What about Ben Hermans as a (cheap) outsider... sneak a top 20??

Another option is HTC's Albasini... he is top dog for them at Amstel?

 

[meandmygitane]

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.

Lal, can you recapitulate the victories, podiums or top-10 GC placings scored by Nordhaug by heart?

What about Greg Hendersons stage victory in Paris-Nice or Suttons win in KBK? What about EBHs podium in Oman? Flechas second place in Omloop? Urans fifth place in the GC of Catalunya? Cummings stage win Algarve?

 

[sublimit]

Roundabout, Ferminal, Timmy... thanks for your input!

Martens is/was on my shortlist.

So you don't think that F. Schlek will end up being Leopards number 1 and so protected?

Vino won't make some crazy bid for glory?

What about Ben Hermans as a (cheap) outsider... sneak a top 20??

Another option is HTC's Albasini... he is top dog for them at Amstel?

Albasasini is solid but I doubt if he will go top 20. Peter Velits could be a decent option if he's cheap.

 

[LabMonkey]

Sublimit - P. Velits is pretty expensive, but then, so is Albasasini.

Ben Hermans is the cheap option really... solid on the flat, can climb pretty well, but is he explosive enough?

 

[Gloin22]

Lal, can you recapitulate the victories, podiums or top-10 GC placings scored by Nordhaug by heart?

What about Greg Hendersons stage victory in Paris-Nice or Suttons win in KBK? What about EBHs podium in Oman? Flechas second place in Omloop? Urans fifth place in the GC of Catalunya? Cummings stage win Algarve?

Henderson is a great sprinter, he would never got that victory without Thomas. He won once, that was it, he didnt do too much after. Sutton won once too, I didn't see anything impressive from him except that victory, could you ?

EBH 2nd on the mountain was great, but still that was the only result he got this year, he didn't win any of the sprint stages or the tt. Flecha too, second in Omloop and then only 10 and 9 in the monuments. Certailny not most improved from last year. Uran got great ride in catalyuna but in pais vasco he was 20 minutes + behind the leader when nordhaug wasnt and finished better tahn Uran.

This is me personal opinion though, he improved a lot and from last year performace i wouldnt expect him to be 7th on mountain stage in Crit or finish very well in Pais vasco, best rider from Sky.

 

[Gloin22]

Sublimit - P. Velits is pretty expensive, but then, so is Albasasini.

Ben Hermans is the cheap option really... solid on the flat, can climb pretty well, but is he explosive enough?

They both cost only 4 points, that the lowest you can get a rider for

 

[Cobblestoned]

IF Martens waits, and it comes to a uphill sprint. He will podium.

He is an option for sure.
I can only see 2 problems here.

Gesink and Freire.

 

[LabMonkey]

Cobblestonned - yep, picking the team 'leader' seems like a sensible way to go...

 

[wirral]

What's the latest on Visconti? On Wednesday, it was reported he had flu but planned to rest up before Amstel.