52nd Amstel Gold Race - April 16 - 261km

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Was just thinking about what Valverde will do. You'd almost forget him here. Will he finally animate a big (1-day) race? no excuses not to.

He's never been THAT good in AGR, has he? Spaniards really aren't big fans of all them twists and turns.

Flèche and Liège suit him better for sure. If he doesn't like the twists and turns, the more reason to go from far out and avoid all the fighting for position

 

[PunchingRouleur]

Re:

12 man breakaway: Lars Boom (LottoNL-Jumbo), Stijn Vandenbergh (AG2R-La Mondiale), Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin), Tim Ariesen (Roompot), Nikita Stalnov (Astana), Michal Paluta (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Brendan Canty (Cannondale-Drapac), Johann Van Zyl (Dimension Data), Kenneth Van Rooy (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Pieter Van Speybrouck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Vincenzo Albanese (Bardiani-CSF), Fabien Grellier (Direct Energie).

hmm...
First opportunity to see new Sagan in the action in WT race. :razz:

 

[the asian]

Interesting that Albanese is in the breakaway.

He just seems to love it. despite his fast finish.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

Was just thinking about what Valverde will do. You'd almost forget him here. Will he finally animate a big (1-day) race? no excuses not to.

He's never been THAT good in AGR, has he? Spaniards really aren't big fans of all them twists and turns.

No rider likes the road furniture and crash chaos of Amstel. To Valverde's advantage, he is a splendid bike handler. But I don't think he's fast enough to win if it's going to be a reduced bunch sprint today. So yeah, he has to get rid of Colbrelli, Matthews etc.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

Was just thinking about what Valverde will do. You'd almost forget him here. Will he finally animate a big (1-day) race? no excuses not to.

Probably the same he does in MSR when he rides it.
Follow wheels and do nothing.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Re: Re:

Was just thinking about what Valverde will do. You'd almost forget him here. Will he finally animate a big (1-day) race? no excuses not to.

He's never been THAT good in AGR, has he? Spaniards really aren't big fans of all them twists and turns.

No rider likes the road furniture and crash chaos of Amstel. To Valverde's advantage, he is a splendid bike handler. But I don't think he's fast enough to win if it's going to be a reduced bunch sprint today. So yeah, he has to get rid of Colbrelli, Matthews etc.

If he rode a negative race and was fresh for the finish he'd probably be fast enough at the end of 260 km to finish on the podium at least. Plus it's likely to be a headwind sprint - easy to get it wrong even if you are the fastest

 

[craigmalone]

Re: Re:

12 man breakaway: Lars Boom (LottoNL-Jumbo), Stijn Vandenbergh (AG2R-La Mondiale), Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin), Tim Ariesen (Roompot), Nikita Stalnov (Astana), Michal Paluta (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Brendan Canty (Cannondale-Drapac), Johann Van Zyl (Dimension Data), Kenneth Van Rooy (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Pieter Van Speybrouck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Vincenzo Albanese (Bardiani-CSF), Fabien Grellier (Direct Energie).

hmm...
First opportunity to see new Sagan in the action in WT race. :razz:

Who's new Sagan?

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

12 man breakaway: Lars Boom (LottoNL-Jumbo), Stijn Vandenbergh (AG2R-La Mondiale), Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin), Tim Ariesen (Roompot), Nikita Stalnov (Astana), Michal Paluta (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Brendan Canty (Cannondale-Drapac), Johann Van Zyl (Dimension Data), Kenneth Van Rooy (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Pieter Van Speybrouck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Vincenzo Albanese (Bardiani-CSF), Fabien Grellier (Direct Energie).

hmm...
First opportunity to see new Sagan in the action in WT race. :razz:

Who's new Sagan?

Albanese. His win last year at Trofeo Matteotti was seriously impressive, and he was only 19. However he's been out of the early part of the season, where there were quite a few races that suited him, with a knee injury, and he isn't quite at his best yet. He'll hopefully be one to watch in the Autumn classics in Italy.

 

[DNP-Old]

Some serious clouds visible in the women's race. Rain seems inevitable for the men's race.

 

[DNP-Old]

This is just before the Cauberg.

 

[sir fly]

I was wondering what's the weather like.
Haven't seen the rain has been forecast.

 

[meat puppet]

Anna van der Breggen won the womens race.

 

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert already crashed, but back in the peloton. Hopefully nothing serious.

 

[sir fly]

This should be interesting.
Difficult to go from the distance in this wind.

 

[Campervan man]

Anyone got a link please? Thanks in advance

 

[meat puppet]

Tiz cycling stream works just fine.

 

[Samamba]

Betancur is alive

Easter miracle

 

[DFA123]

Anyone know when the first real chance of action starting between the contenders on this course? Kruisberg maybe, or will the flat after the Keutenberg kill any moves made before?

 

[El Pistolero]

Re:

Anyone know when the first real chance of action starting between the contenders on this course? Kruisberg maybe, or will the flat after the Keutenberg kill any moves made before?

It's an Ardennes classic, so probably at 150 m from the finish-line.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Anyone know when the first real chance of action starting between the contenders on this course? Kruisberg maybe, or will the flat after the Keutenberg kill any moves made before?

It's an Ardennes classic, so probably at 150 m from the finish-line.

:lol: Fair point. At least we might get a showy, but ultimately ill-fated, attack from Wellens somewhere towards the end.

 

[Orbit501]

Re:

Anyone know when the first real chance of action starting between the contenders on this course? Kruisberg maybe, or will the flat after the Keutenberg kill any moves made before?

Kruisberg/Eyserbosweg.

 

[Asero831]

Sam Oomen crashed.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Was just thinking about what Valverde will do. You'd almost forget him here. Will he finally animate a big (1-day) race? no excuses not to.

He said his only chance to win this race is by attacking from afar. But i don't think he will go mental at 50 km to go. He doesn't want to jeopardize his chances for FW and LBL in this race.

I think he will follow wheels and if there's a opportunity in the final (20 km), he will try.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Anyone know when the first real chance of action starting between the contenders on this course? Kruisberg maybe, or will the flat after the Keutenberg kill any moves made before?

Kruisberg/Eyserbosweg.

Yeah, they're the two places I was thinking looked promising. Steep enough for the better climbers to pull out a small gap, but I find it difficult to see a group of climbing puncheurs holding off the peloton after the Keutenberg - unless some strong rouleurs like Kwiatkowski and Gilbert can breakway into a very small group who go all-in.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Anyone know when the first real chance of action starting between the contenders on this course? Kruisberg maybe, or will the flat after the Keutenberg kill any moves made before?

Kruisberg/Eyserbosweg combo looks ideal as a launching pad. Froomberg and Keutenberg comes in quick succession after that. There's a 7-8km flat after until Cauberg, but if a strong group escapes with some of the main favorites, I think they can make it to the finish