47th Amstel Gold Race (The maze) - Sunday April 15, 2012

[Bala Verde]

Agr is not made for a boonen or cancelara PR type of move. Anyone who attacks 50km out pays for it before the last 20k have started, or dies a slow death between km 10-20. I don't know if it is possible, but if it is, it would require a bit of a group of top riders to stay away.

On the other hand, tactically, it was demonstrated by Freire's move how a team can put pressure on those who dare to wait for and rely on a sprint on the Cauberg. This year's edition also showed a rather cautious peloton, perhaps some teams were naively hoping for rabobank to take control of the race, but even in the final 20k, and with some teams still with 3 riders in the front group, they appeared to be looking at each other "you do it." In that circumstance, Freire's move was brilliant, because no one reacted immediately to neutralize the move and set up the Cauberg sprint. Gilbert ultimately had to put in a monster effort to close the gap, which ruined his chances and allowed others in his wheel to seize the day.

I'd like to see more teams next year try to avoid the sprint up the Cauberg, or make it at least a brutal one.

I wonder if Jrod was affected by the weather today, given his near absence in the finale.

Any post race interviews with Jrod, Cunego, Sanchez and Valverde?

 

[The Hitch]

Weird race. Thomas Dekker was good.

we may differ on this, but personally I dont rate finishing 14th, 18th or 19th best in something, that highly

 

[El Pistolero]

Wink wink.

 

[The Hitch]

Wink wink.

are you hitting on me?

 

[greenedge]

My tip for the race shall be Gerrans, i think the race suits him. If Gilbert is not in form yet and Valverde does not go well here usually i think he can beat JROD ( under his new found form ).
Gerrans
JROD
Gilbert
Valverde
Sagan

Ponzi could have a chance if some of the the other riders ( Freire/ Sagan are there ). Strong team but lacking Kreuziger.

No idea for EE.
Katusha have Freire, Moreno and JROD. They have an option for a sprint and Moreno to perfectly place JROD. Paolini will attack a bit i think.
Nibali will probably not go great here ( even though he is looking much more explosive- Green Mountain Oman ) i think he could do better at F-W/ LBL but he will want the experience before the WC. Has Sagan who could do anything ( but maybe not this year ).
Vanendert and JVDB will make sure Lotto are present. They will only win if they can go solo.
Rabo have 2 cards in Breschel/ Gesink. They will want to go well in front of their home crowd. Martens and Mollema could also do something.
Voeckler ( has to be considered )

Gerrans failed ( maybe at LBL he could go well ) but his next peak will be TDF or the WC.
JROD complaining about the cold odd. Not like him to fail to even get on the podium.
Gibert did well- GVA/ Santombrogio were superb for him. I loved his never say die attitude.
Valverde disappointed. LBL/ F-W will suit him but maybe he peaked too early in the season.
Sagan did great. However he should not have attacked with Voeckler earlier and he should have used his sprint 30-50 metres later ( inexperience ). He must now be considered even more of a favourite at the WC.

How wrong was i. Ponzi did do something- attacking and they rode a perfect race for Gasparotto. They are always a strong team with many options.

That quote about EE was stupid- i later said Sanchez has a good chance.
Odd to find Oscar attacking. I loved that attack and until Gilbert went, i thought Freire was going to win. However he would have definitely had a chance to win and JROD could have at least went on the Keutenberg.
Nibali should have attacked- not Sagan.
Sad that JVDB crashed- but Vanendert lived up to his promise and went well ( hopefully he can also go well at F-W/ LBL ).
Rabo completely failed. Breschel/ Gesink were not in good form for the race. Bauke just saved the day for them, getting the honorary 10th place.
Voeckler attacked and did well at the finish.


Overall congrats to Bardet, Howes, Freire, Gilbert, GVA, Sagan, Voeckler, Vanendert and Enrico ( a deserving winner ).

I feel sorry for Cunego who crashed.

 

[greenedge]

Accept once and for all that BMC sucks thus far, take it like man!

But based on that performance by Gilbert, they could win one of the remaining 2.

And i think that will happen.

 

[greenedge]

Gilbert single handedly took freires win away

Goes to show how much the race hinged on that move.

 

[c&cfan]

i'm just waiting for freire to say this:

"why did he chased me? he is not racing to win..he is racing to make others loose."

 

[c&cfan]

But based on that performance by Gilbert, they could win one of the remaining 2.

And i think that will happen.

even if they do win, does it justify the galaxies of money invested?

 

[karlboss]

even if they do win, does it justify the galaxies of money invested?

What is his contract worth?
Gilbert had one shot to win, catch friere and hope at the end of it noone was on his wheel, it would have worked in 2011. He took his shot and failed, like Cancellara at MSR, really only had one shot, took it and failed (albeit got a little closer ).

 

[El Pistolero]

even if they do win, does it justify the galaxies of money invested?

Only if he fails to win a classic for 2 seasons it won't be justified.

 

[auscyclefan94]

even if they do win, does it justify the galaxies of money invested?

well if you read what BMC have said, the money put into the team is to develop riders for the future. Of course they have been dissapointing but money is not going to equate to results all the time. it is road cycling, FFS. A lot can happen!

 

[c&cfan]

well if you read what BMC have said, the money put into the team is to develop riders for the future. Of course they have been dissapointing but money is not going to equate to results all the time. it is road cycling, FFS. A lot can happen!

i would agree with you, but i won't. why?

they have hard working guys, that race to win and are not making s+itty excuses. ballan and greg. amazing guys. (to another extent evens. he makes excuses, but boy.. he has a big heart and rides fueled by it). those cyclists, the ones saving the team, are being treated as 2nd rate at most.

their money wasn't for this riders and younger ones. their money was for gilbert's and hushovd's of this world.

they are the manchester city of cycling but a great 9men team will always destroy great 9 riders on their own.

you agree with me, right? the same can be said about radioshack. but hey, canc makes me forget it. however, by july, we will be talking more about them and less about BMC. even if they (bmc) fail as a team, evens will bring a nice result and we cannot demand a win like we would do about andy. after all, he only races the tour (andy).

 

[auscyclefan94]

i would agree with you, but i won't. why?

they have hard working guys, that race to win and are not making s+itty excuses. ballan and greg. amazing guys. (to another extent evens. he makes excuses, but boy.. he has a big heart and rides fueled by it). those cyclists, the ones saving the team, are being treated as 2nd rate at most.

their money wasn't for this riders and younger ones. there money were for gilbert's and hushovd's of this world.

they are the manchester city of cycling. a great 9men team will always destroy great 9 riders on their own.

you agree with me, right? the same can be said about radioshack. but hey, canc makes me forget it. however, by july, we will be talking more about them and less about BMC. even if they (bmc) fail as a team, evens will bring a nice result and we cannot demand a win like we would do about andy. after all, he only races the tour (andy).

I do agree with you mostly but I do think that the big wage was to secure guys like Thor and Phil for the future years so BMC can become a strong team in every race. If they wanted these guys they were going to have to spend big. They have also spent big on guys like Phinney, Van Garderen etc for future results. I think your point about the 9 riders proved itself in the tour last year with BMC. If that can again happen this year at the tour, well I'm not so sure.

 

[c&cfan]

I do agree with you mostly but I do think that the big wage was to secure guys like Thor and Phil for the future years so BMC can become a strong team in every race. If they wanted these guys they were going to have to spend big. They have also spent big on guys like Phinney, Van Garderen etc for future results. I think your point about the 9 riders proved itself in the tour last year with BMC. If that can again happen this year at the tour, well I'm not so sure.

but hushovd is past it and gilbert will never do anything close to 2011. he is marked by other riders and by anti-doping brigade. also, sagan is already kicking *ss, valverde will get better in the next 2 years, rodriguez just keeps getting more explosive, jelle is amazing, greg and ballan are too god for indians (they deserve and want more), etc.

if they wanted someone for the next years, there's golden boy sagan, boonen, canc, anton, nibali, EBH.. good alternatives. same price but better results and much more years left in them (as a double).

hushovd was really smart.

my point is, they are all f*cked up as a team.. if they kept the same riders they would've the same, if not better, results and more money to get better infrastructure. have you watched greg today? super strong. raced too much already.

 

[greenedge]

JROD and Valverde are older than Gilbert.

 

[c&cfan]

JROD and Valverde are older than Gilbert.

that wasn't my point. jROD is just getting stronger and most likely valverde will get better at least for 2 more great years.

it is highly unlikely that gil will have another 2011 like season in him. so he will never bigger competition in the next 2/3 years. after that? time for the younger generation to take over. time for sagan to take over.

that was my point.

 

[greenedge]

Wow! Rabobank not trying to control the race! They're going to win now, for sure!

lolololol

@c&cfan: ok. Even Gilbert however knew he would probably not have as good a season as last. I think his main goal now is the WC ( which would be great for any team ). And if he goes back to back in any of the other 2 classics- that would be impressive.

 

[karlboss]

that wasn't my point. jROD is just getting stronger and most likely valverde will get better at least for 2 more great years.

it is highly unlikely that gil will have another 2011 like season in him. so he will never bigger competition in the next 2/3 years. after that? time for the younger generation to take over. time for sagan to take over.

that was my point.

Gilbert's wage seems in line with other stars, and not based on him ever winning the triple again. Just being a contender for lots of classics, maybe winning one, and strong showing in tour stages etc, plus the talk generated by someone who has and hence could again win the triple.
Hushovd, i can't really see. To justify his reported wage, he'd need to perform in more races, he's being paid as a former world champion pretty much guaranteed to podium the 3 early season monuments. MSR is always a gamble and Hushovd's sprint is no longer bankable, I don't think Hushovd climbs well enough to feature at la ronde (his top finish is 14th in 2006 other than that often in the 50s), PR is only one race and bad luck is possible.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Race Radios

this is unfortunately the modern racing,no big risks,no one attacking from far away when they have race radios to plan practically every kilometer with the DS who is watching splits on Eurosport and that's how it will stay.

Fixed that for you.

 

[minessa]

did anyone see the colombian flag of Ryo?
Our whole group was there

Weird race. Thomas Dekker was good. So i'm happy. Nice win by Gasparotto

 

[airstream]

Wish me luck hearing crap about colombians all day

Does he reason about them absolutely serious or that's sort of laughter with tears?

 

[theyoungest]

Hey airstream, remember this one?

If Gasparotto was the 3rd, Hagen can even win. )

 

[airstream]

Hey airstream, remember this one?

........

 

[Kwibus]

Banned for what?

For being an highly annoying irrational trolling poster, but if that was the guide line a few more would be banned by now.