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

[TomasC]

I wonder what Sagan can do in FW. After seeing him climb up to Chieti in T-A, I don't rule out he could fight for the podium in FW also.

I think he'll misjudge the climb and struggle to finish top 10. I actually see his chances better in LBL.
But will he even start in both?

 

[Angliru]

Believe it or not, Samu won't do FW.

I think that's a good thing. With his current form LBL is winnable for him. I don't think he could win FW anyway.

 

[El Pistolero]

Sagan and Samu won't ride FW and LBL guys...

 

[Angliru]

You can't expect someone who was already good in the Tour Down Under to also be good in the Ardennes classics. I always knew he wasn't going to figure in the Ardennes classics.

That same logic doesn't apply to Valverde?

 

[Angliru]

No, he just did this race for the Worlds. He's following Evans' example. Few races during the year to peak for the Tour.

NOOOOOOO! He could win LBL.

 

[SantiBotero]

Finally ! Results

1 Enrico GASPAROTTO ITA AST 30 6:32:35
2 Jelle VANENDERT BEL LTB 27 +0
3 Peter SAGAN SVK LIQ 22 +2
4 Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ ESP KAT 36 +2
5 Thomas VOECKLER FRA EUC 33 +2
6 Philippe GILBERT BEL BMC 30 +2
7 Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ ESP EUS 34 +2
8 Fabian WEGMANN GER GRM 32 +4
9 Rinaldo NOCENTINI ITA ALM 35 +4
10 Bauke MOLLEMA NED RAB 26 +4
11 Maxim IGLINSKY KAZ AST 31 +4
12 Frank SCHLECK LUX RNT 32 +4
13 Elia FAVILLI ITA FAR 23 +4
14 Dries DEVENYNS BEL OPQ 29 +9
15 Ryder HESJEDAL CAN GRM 32 +9
16 Nicki SÖRENSEN DEN SAX 37 +12
17 Daniel MORENO FERNANDEZ ESP KAT 31 +12
18 Thomas DEKKER NED GRM 28 +12
19 Rui Alberto FARIA DA COSTA POR MOV 26 +12
20 Simon GERRANS AUS GEC 32 +19
21 Sergio Luis HENAO MONTOYA COL SKY 25 +19
22 Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE ESP MOV 32 +22
23 Karsten KROON NED SAX 36 +22
24 Joaquin RODRIGUEZ OLIVER ESP KAT 33 +22
25 Romain BARDET FRA ALM 22 +30
26 Giovanni VISCONTI ITA MOV 29 +36
27 Vasili KIRYIENKA BLR MOV 31 +36
28 Niki TERPSTRA NED OPQ 28 +36
29 Robert KISERLOVSKI CRO AST 26 +36
30 Alex HOWES USA GRM 24 +47
31 Damiano CUNEGO ITA LAM 31 +51
62 Edvald BOASSON HAGEN NOR SKY 25 +2:03
91 Andy SCHLECK LUX RNT 27 +5:39
104 Vincenzo NIBALI ITA LIQ 28 +7:00

 

[El Pistolero]

That same logic doesn't apply to Valverde?

Valverde is a bigger champion than Gerrans, so can hold his peak for longer. And I don't believe he was in top shape at the TDU anyway. Although I don't think he will win an Ardennes classic this year.

 

[roundabout]

Bardet did really well.

Same for Howes (to a slightly lesser extent).

Good on them. Maybe one day a morning break will make it due to the fear of the so called favorites to open the race up before the last climb.

 

[Arnout]

To clarify. Samu might do LBL if he feels he can still be good there. I think the chance of him starting there a bigger than before today. It is no certainty yet. What is certain (barring total surprises) is that he won't do FW.

 

[jens_attacks]

yep valverde was really disappointing...

at least we already know a real LBL contender for the win:

5. Thomas VOECKLER Team Europcar m.t.

 

[maltiv]

Nordhaug: "I was just about to attack when Cunego suddenly crashed into me. I felt absolutely incredible. I was 100% confident of a top result"

He also says that he will most likely miss F-W

 

[nvpacchi]

Antón is capable of picking up the points inFW that Sam would have garnered

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Favilli 13th!? :O

Edit: and hats off for Bardet. What a classy rider and huge talent.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Bardet finished 25th.

 

[roundabout]

Well there were 30 or so people left when they caught him.

 

[hatcher]

Nordhaug: "I was just about to attack when Cunego suddenly crashed into me. I felt absolutely incredible. I was 100% confident of a top result"

He also says that he will most likely miss F-W

Good news really.

FW for Uran + Henao
Liege for Uran + Nordhaug

 

[Parrulo]

91 Andy SCHLECK LUX RNT 27 +5:39
104 Vincenzo NIBALI ITA LIQ 28 +7:00

nibbles must be in real bad shape

16 Nicki SÖRENSEN DEN SAX 37 +12
17 Daniel MORENO FERNANDEZ ESP KAT 31 +12
18 Thomas DEKKER NED GRM 28 +12
19 Rui Alberto FARIA DA COSTA POR MOV 26 +12
20 Simon GERRANS AUS GEC 32 +19
21 Sergio Luis HENAO MONTOYA COL SKY 25 +19
22 Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE ESP MOV 32 +22
23 Karsten KROON NED SAX 36 +22
24 Joaquin RODRIGUEZ OLIVER ESP KAT 33 +22

bolded bad performances and underlined the decent performances on that group.

 

[hrotha]

62 Edvald BOASSON HAGEN NOR SKY 25 +2:03

I honestly thought he finally had it this once.

edit: also this
33 Paul MARTENS
GAH

 

[hatcher]

Dekker cruising past Henao with D_T and Ryo looking on.

 

[The Hitch]

I think that's a good thing. With his current form LBL is winnable for him. I don't think he could win FW anyway.

He podiumed last year and wasnt in half the form he is now.

And the guys who beat him- Pantani Gilbert and JRod. The latter didnt do too well today.

The former no longer exists.

 

[Gloin22]

Nordhaug: "I was just about to attack when Cunego suddenly crashed into me. I felt absolutely incredible. I was 100% confident of a top result"

He also says that he will most likely miss F-W

Makes me very sad

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Dekker cruising past Henao with D_T and Ryo looking on.

lol

 

[hatcher]

I honestly thought he finally had it this once.

Was a much, much better performance than I was expecting after Roubaix. Clearly that attack finished him completely.

 

[Arnout]

Dekker cruising past Henao with D_T and Ryo looking on.

Did you guys see the Colombian flag as well

 

[Angliru]

Valverde is a bigger champion than Gerrans, so can hold his peak for longer. And I don't believe he was in top shape at the TDU anyway. Although I don't think he will win an Ardennes classic this year.

I don't either. I think his injury put a stop of any chances of him coming into the Ardennes in ideal form. Although he actually did better than I aniticipated considering he doesn't usually ride particularly well here. I hold out a bit of hope for maybe an LBL surprise.