49th Amstel Gold Race, 20 April 2014 (WT) 251km

[hrotha]

I have never understood it with Valverde. He is such a good sprinter that most of the time he will win the sprint anyway unless he is a up against the best sprinters. They all looked tired at the finish but Valverde is always the first one to start looking around. Gerrans is pretty much the same. Definitely the same type of rider but maybe a bit smarter which would not be hard.

Oh, Gerrans is actually very astute. Valverde has the tactical acumen of a half-rotten pumpkin.

 

[classicomano]

vetooo ‏@ammattipyoraily 25m

#AGR2014, Cauberg (770 m). Philippe Gilbert: 1 min 23 sec (new record) | prov.

 

[dlwssonic]

Wonder if Valverve, Gerrans and Kwia underestimated Gilbert a bit? Valverde jumped on Kwia who jumped on Samu, and then Gerrans went. None of them marked Gilbert and when he attacked they where all a bit cooked, making it impossible to follow him. Or was it just a tactical error by Valverde, Gerrans and Kwia?

If you didn't see. Gilbert was quite far back when samu attacked. He really clawed his way back to make the attack and they were probably caught a bit by surprise

 

[SafeBet]

You missed Kwiat throwing Tony Martin off the road. Also you missed Lampre as a whole; Cunego and Ulissi nowhere to be seen.

You're the one to blame if you believed Ulissi had any chance here. Can't handle the distance, can't ride at the front of the peloton on such a difficult course.
Fleche is the only Ardenne classic where he stands a chance.

Cunego was disappointing indeed.

 

[jens_attacks]

http://www.climbing-records.com/2014/04/apocalyptic-speed-gilbert-sets-new.html

phil beats his own record up the cauberg. can't see anyone beating him in fleche and liege with this kind of form. a true beast like back in 2011 today. everyone else was doomed to fail.

 

[dlwssonic]

vetooo ‏@ammattipyoraily 25m

#AGR2014, Cauberg (770 m). Philippe Gilbert: 1 min 23 sec (new record) | prov.

it felt so much slower to me

 

[dlwssonic]

http://www.climbing-records.com/2014/04/apocalyptic-speed-gilbert-sets-new.html

phil beats his own record up the cauberg. can't see anyone beating him in fleche and liege with this kind of form. a true beast like back in 2011 today. everyone else was doomed to fail.

LOL Gilbert literally owns the cauberg. There was a strong tailwind today though.
In fleche wallonne Im not sure the climb doesn't really suit him that well and im not sure if he has the engine to win LBL. he failed last two years.

 

[SafeBet]

Kwia made a mistake reacting to Samu's attack. It was clear from the get go he was setting up something for Phil.

 

[Pentacycle]

http://www.climbing-records.com/2014/04/apocalyptic-speed-gilbert-sets-new.html

phil beats his own record up the cauberg. can't see anyone beating him in fleche and liege with this kind of form. a true beast like back in 2011 today. everyone else was doomed to fail.

Weren't you the one doubting Phil about his 'best winter since 2011' statements?

Fleche will be easy to control and it's his to lose, but I think LBL will be hard now that you don't have a team like Leopard, that rides no matter what.

 

[SafeBet]

After the race Phil stated he doesn't feel as good as in 2011. Maybe just playing mind games.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Hahaha, how does this work? Happy that Valverde the wheelsucker lost to Gerrans, of all people?

I don't mind Gerrans plus at least he tried to go after Phil but couldn't, Valverde just did his usual wheelsuck trying to get a podium on the line, glad he lost 3rd. Just my opinion

 

[jens_attacks]

thought it was his usual blabla about the winter. looks like both him and contador proved me wrong lol
huy should be fun

 

[dlwssonic]

Weren't you the one doubting Phil about his 'best winter since 2011' statements?

Fleche will be easy to control and it's his to lose, but I think LBL will be hard now that you don't have a team like Leopard, that rides no matter what.

not having the manpower won't be the problem for BMC as seen from today.

 

[Pentacycle]

not having the manpower won't be the problem for BMC as seen from today.

They'll lack GVA from now on, but Samu was superb today. I guess he'll be the first lieutenant for Phil, finally a role that suits him in the Ardennes.

Still, it will be hard to control LBL, unless some teams have blind confidence in their leader dropping Gilbert.

 

[dlwssonic]

They'll lack GVA from now on, but Samu was superb today. I guess he'll be the first lieutenant for Phil, finally a role that suits him in the Ardennes.

Still, it will be hard to control LBL, unless some teams have blind confidence in their leader dropping Gilbert.

There are teams like that, movistar.......
They will have tejay and he is an incredibly good domestique in lbl like in 2012.
Im worried too just hope they can keep things together till the st nicholas at least.

 

[Jelantik]

kwiat and valverde looked spent to me. Burn their matches too quickly maybe to follow sanchez just to see him, swing off the side. BMC played nicely, set up samu to do early attack then gilbert slowly catched up and passed them. It does looks slow motion but seeing from the top.. geez..he got big gap already. Too bad I can't see Purito, as soon as I tuned it, I heard purito was crashed out.

 

[dlwssonic]

After the race Phil stated he doesn't feel as good as in 2011. Maybe just playing mind games.

of course not, he was incredible in 2011

 

[Kwibus]

Samu was awesome, finally BMC is able to do something as a team

Indeed. Great team performance by BMC.

Allthough they missed the early break, but Schar did beastwork again.
Van Avermaet in the subtop breakaway, Sanchez hitting the Cauberg hard and the other favourites totally fell for it. Gilbert finished it off like only he can do it on the Cauberg.

Pretty poor race though. The group with Weening, Fuglsang, Voeckler etc. had a ****ty coorperation. If they worked together it certainly could've been an interesting race.

 

[doperhopper]

http://www.climbing-records.com/2014/04/apocalyptic-speed-gilbert-sets-new.html

phil beats his own record up the cauberg. can't see anyone beating him in fleche and liege with this kind of form. a true beast like back in 2011 today. everyone else was doomed to fail.

the power of getting out of the rainbow curse

 

[Kwibus]

Best rider(Valverde) to have in a group chasing you.

Unless you are Rodriguez.

lol. So true!

 

[Kwibus]

http://www.climbing-records.com/2014/04/apocalyptic-speed-gilbert-sets-new.html

phil beats his own record up the cauberg. can't see anyone beating him in fleche and liege with this kind of form. a true beast like back in 2011 today. everyone else was doomed to fail.

Oh really? Well that's too bad. I prefer a bit more interesting racing.

 

[Bushman]

Oh really? Well that's too bad. I prefer a bit more interesting racing.

Well, you can't just look at the climbing time isolated. Maybe the pace was faster in the bottom of the climb this year, maybe Gilbert attacked earlier to get as big a gap as possible, where in 2011 he "just" had to be in front at the top of Cauberg.
Nonetheless it was a very good performance by Gilbert, though I dont think he is at 2011 level.

 

[Volderke]

Stating Gilbert is at a lower level is something only Gilbert can tell.
Stating Gilbert is at a higher level is something only Gilbert can tell.
Stating Gilbert is at the same level is nonsense.

Stating Gilbert is not at 2011 level actually makes sense, but this is true for every rider in the peloton. How on earth could you say that someone is at the same level? I couldn't even say for myself. Pointless discussion!

But consider he has the fastest climbing time ever on the Cauberg in 2014, so the few indicators we have, tell us that he is at least on a very high level.

 

[Carols]

I just finished watching the recording. Really could have skipped the first 2.5hrs and just watched the last 30 mins

Phil is Back!!!! Go Phil!!! Awesome job by BMC.

Will read the thread to find news on Purito Hopefully he is ok for FW and LBL.

 

[Afrank]

I just finished watching the recording. Really could have skipped the first 2.5hrs and just watched the last 30 mins

Phil is Back!!!! Go Phil!!! Awesome job by BMC.

Will read the thread to find news on Purito Hopefully he is ok for FW and LBL.

Purito is okay, no fractures. Haematomes/contusions at breast level (ribs), so will still be able to race.