53rd Amstel Gold Race - 260km

[The Hegelian]

I think it's Alaphillipe's time for a big win.

He's in great form. Will be fresher than the cobbled folk. Can probably get rid of Matthews, Cobrelli and other climbing-sprinter types.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I think it's Alaphillipe's time for a big win.

He's in great form. Will be fresher than the cobbled folk. Can probably get rid of Matthews, Cobrelli and other climbing-sprinter types.

I wonder if that cold towards the end of PV will effect him at all?....

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

I think Fuglsang has been quietly preparing himself for this, and can surprise people on Sunday..... through my main favorites are Valverde and Martin.

What has Dan Martin done this year to make him your favorite?

Ardennes classics have really degraded if a rider like Dan Martin is a favorite.

An experienced rider with 2 monument wins and a top 10 in the Tour last year shouldn’t be among the favourites for a series of races where he picked up 2 2nd places last season?

Granted he hasn’t shown much so far in 2018, but you can’t dismiss him. I think he’s an outsider for this Sunday, but he’s definitely one of the men to beat next week.

His Lombardia win was kind of laughable, I still don't understand how Valverde **** that one up lol.

Devolder is also a two-time Monument winner, doesn't make him any less of a joke.

Someone like Dan Martin would've gotten destroyed in the Bartoli-Bettini era of cycling.

Are you such a critical person outside of cycling talk? Your posts are 90% negativity, always tearing things down. Riders, races, parcours...

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

I think Fuglsang has been quietly preparing himself for this, and can surprise people on Sunday..... through my main favorites are Valverde and Martin.

What has Dan Martin done this year to make him your favorite?

Ardennes classics have really degraded if a rider like Dan Martin is a favorite.

An experienced rider with 2 monument wins and a top 10 in the Tour last year shouldn’t be among the favourites for a series of races where he picked up 2 2nd places last season?

Granted he hasn’t shown much so far in 2018, but you can’t dismiss him. I think he’s an outsider for this Sunday, but he’s definitely one of the men to beat next week.

His Lombardia win was kind of laughable, I still don't understand how Valverde **** that one up lol.

Devolder is also a two-time Monument winner, doesn't make him any less of a joke.

Someone like Dan Martin would've gotten destroyed in the Bartoli-Bettini era of cycling.

Are you such a critical person outside of cycling talk? Your posts are 90% negativity, always tearing things down. Riders, races, parcours...

90% of everything is trash.

That sadly includes human beings as well.

Just fed up with the likes of Dan Martin, always using the same tactics and failing to adept to the situation at hand. For example, he knows he can't beat Valverde in an uphill sprint in FW and LBL yet he'll still put his entire team on the front to make sure everything remains together until the final KM. I can't respect a rider that willingly races for second place.

 

[WheelofGear]

One thing I don't get about Mur De Huy is why they don't try to turn it into a mini-mountain. Why aren't more of the climbers attacking in the bottom of the hill? It's better to give it a try than racing for 6th. Last person who did that was Igor Anton. Without success, but at least he tried.

 

[Robert5091]

Valverde of course ...

 

[Blanco]

Re:

I think it's Alaphillipe's time for a big win.

He's in great form. Will be fresher than the cobbled folk. Can probably get rid of Matthews, Cobrelli and other climbing-sprinter types.

But what about Kwiatkowski, Valverde, Gilbert...? Do you think he can get rid of them too, or that he will beat them in the sprint?

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

I think it's Alaphillipe's time for a big win.

He's in great form. Will be fresher than the cobbled folk. Can probably get rid of Matthews, Cobrelli and other climbing-sprinter types.

But what about Kwiatkowski, Valverde, Gilbert...? Do you think he can get rid of them too, or that he will beat them in the sprint?

Valverde has for some reason always struggled in AGR and Gilbert has the cobbles campaign in his legs.Kwiatkowski is very similar to him so it depends on shape who is stronger that day. Any of these riders has a shot at winning

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

I think it's Alaphillipe's time for a big win.

He's in great form. Will be fresher than the cobbled folk. Can probably get rid of Matthews, Cobrelli and other climbing-sprinter types.

But what about Kwiatkowski, Valverde, Gilbert...? Do you think he can get rid of them too, or that he will beat them in the sprint?

Valverde has for some reason always struggled in AGR and Gilbert has the cobbles campaign in his legs.Kwiatkowski is very similar to him so it depends on shape who is stronger that day. Any of these riders has a shot at winning

3 podiums is hardly a struggling, Gilbert is always Gilbert, particularly in this race, and Kwiatkowski is much better roleur than Ala, which will be of great importance if they emerge in the small group. I don't think Alaphilippe is without chances, but I would say he's the least of a favorite out of those I mentioned. Everything must fall into place for him to win this race. He must avoid faster guys and at the same time hold on with the stronger guys (and there are few in this particular terrain). The thing is, like in Valverde's case, this race is the least suitable for him out of Ardennes classics. The only way I see him winning is as a part of a tactical game where QS has a numbers advantage, and he escapes from the main group alone, or with some less strong guys.

 

[Velolover2]

Yeah, Martin and Alaphilippe are elite puncheurs but they have never proved that they are great rouleurs in the hills. Both have won breakaway stages but that is not the same as 50 km of hard classics racing with all of the best hilly riders present. Especially Ala will be struggling. They could at least have tried Strade Bianche to test their engine and hill endurance. As much some people in here like to criticize Matthews for being a wheelsucker, I think he has proven more than those two.

I think it's about the big 5 (GVA, Sagan, Gilbert, Kwia and Valverde) with the Wellens/Benoot duo as outsiders. Being a favorite for Strade will make you a favorite for a hard edition of Amstel.

 

[Poursuivant]

Benoot will win

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think Matthews will win. He looked really good in Pais Vasco even with that race being much too hard for him obviously.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Benoot and Wellens will murder everyone.

 

[Frankschleck]

I would like to see a sprint with Valverde vs Kwia vs Allaphillipe, Gilbert and Albasani. Who would win?

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

I would like to see a sprint with Valverde vs Kwia vs Allaphillipe, Gilbert and Albasani. Who would win?

If it's flat, Alaphilippe and Albasini is finish on the two last places. It's really hard to tell who is the fastest of the other three. I actually think Gilbert is.

 

[SKSemtex]

Re: Re:

I would like to see a sprint with Valverde vs Kwia vs Allaphillipe, Gilbert and Albasani. Who would win?

If it's flat, Alaphilippe and Albasini is finish on the two last places. It's really hard to tell who is the fastest of the other three. I actually think Gilbert is.

Lol. Really good question. Sprint after very hard hilly race. Contenders: Sagan, Kwiatko, Gilbert, Valverde, GVA.
Could be a fan. We can really have it tommorow.

 

[Kwibus]

Lot of rain this night, bit of rain in the morning, sunny/cloudy in the afternoon unfortunately.

Id love to see a wet AGR.

 

[markene2]

Sonny Colbrelli will win win this bike race

 

[Anderis]

Id love to see a wet AGR.

Why? It would kill any excitement if we already knew that Wellens would win.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

I would like to see a sprint with Valverde vs Kwia vs Allaphillipe, Gilbert and Albasani. Who would win?

If it's a hard classics racing in the last 30-40 km I would give the edge to Gilbert and Kwiat on this route, but if this same 5 men arrives together at the finishing straight in Ans I would backed Valverde, no doubt.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

I would like to see a sprint with Valverde vs Kwia vs Allaphillipe, Gilbert and Albasani. Who would win?

If it's a hard classics racing in the last 30-40 km I would give the edge to Gilbert and Kwiat on this route, but if this same 5 men arrives together at the finishing straight in Ans I would backed Valverde, no doubt.

If it's a really hard race and it's these 5 with the way this finish is laid out (very technical) I'd give the edge to Valverde, however it wouldn't shock me at all if Gilbert would end up winning.

 

[The Hegelian]

Re: Re:

I think it's Alaphillipe's time for a big win.

He's in great form. Will be fresher than the cobbled folk. Can probably get rid of Matthews, Cobrelli and other climbing-sprinter types.

But what about Kwiatkowski, Valverde, Gilbert...? Do you think he can get rid of them too, or that he will beat them in the sprint?

I don't think Gilbert or Kwia have the form of last year. Of course, both might well be there in the finale, but on form Alaphilippe looks the best of those three.

As for Valverde......well, this ageless wonder does look in super form, so I suppose I'm saying 'sooner or later Alaphilippe will beat him in a sprint and win a big race, maybe that time is now.'

 

[The Hegelian]

Re:

I think Matthews will win. He looked really good in Pais Vasco even with that race being much too hard for him obviously.

I'm kind of interested to see how he'll go. He really needs to open his account in big one day races......

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

I think it's Alaphillipe's time for a big win.

He's in great form. Will be fresher than the cobbled folk. Can probably get rid of Matthews, Cobrelli and other climbing-sprinter types.

But what about Kwiatkowski, Valverde, Gilbert...? Do you think he can get rid of them too, or that he will beat them in the sprint?

I don't think Gilbert or Kwia have the form of last year. Of course, both might well be there in the finale, but on form Alaphilippe looks the best of those three.

As for Valverde......well, this ageless wonder does look in super form, so I suppose I'm saying 'sooner or later Alaphilippe will beat him in a sprint and win a big race, maybe that time is now.'

Except Valverde already beat him at Abu Dhabi this year. If anyone has a chance it's Alaphilippe because he does have a good sprint AND because he appears to be one of the few who still believes he can eventually beat Valverde.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Hopefully Terpstra would win this as it would almost guarantee serious action from a distance methinks.