53rd Amstel Gold Race - 260km

[Gigs_98]

Once again, great race. I think most riders were completely dead in the end. Otherwise sagan surely would have closed the gap and both wellens and ala would have attacked.
Deserved win by valgren and also happy to see the oldies kreuziger and gaspa got a podium

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Nice win by Valgren, wonderful. *The star* dissapointing.

 

[d-s3]

Re: Re:

Sagan rode like an idiot in the last 3K

Why?

That was the only time he should have chased like crazy. No way Valverde would have beaten him even with one leg left for Sagan

There were many attacks. He closed some (many). How should he know that this was THE one?
Should he chase it down, next attack would come which would be the one.

 

[Laplaz]

Great ride by Valgren! Is he also riding LBL? Would be great.

 

[DFA123]

I don't think it was terrible tactics by anyone at the end. If Valverde, Sagan, or whoever else, puts in the big effort to close that gap to Valgren then their race is over. No way they could win the sprint in that situation, even in the case where they don't get counter attacked immediately. You just have to wait and hope someone else closes the gap - it's a gamble which looks passive and frustating, but one the riders have to take.

And it's great, because it means guys like Kreuziger and Valgren have a real shot at winning, rather than the best sprinters just taking it all the time.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Cobbled classic specialists >>>>>>>>>>>>> hilly classic "specialists"

Since when Valgren is a cobbled classic specialist? You should really be banned by your trolling in last couple weeks

He rode Omloop het Nieuwsblad (which he won), Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Ronde van Vlaanderen (where he finished fourth).

How isn't he a cobbled classic specialist?

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

Excluding Paris-Roubaix from last year, the best final 25-30km I've seen in ages I think.

Yep, the perfect tonic to a terrible classics seasons. Lots of action and tension right the way to the line.

Wow! I so disagree. Yes, a lot f movement in the final 25-30km, but the last 3km...bummer for me. I would have loved a Valverde-Sagan-Alaf showdown.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

Cobbled classic specialists >>>>>>>>>>>>> hilly classic "specialists"

How do you figure from this race?

Top 10 had 2 cobbled riders of which 1 won, but you can argue about valgren being a cobbled specialist. Valgren was 2nd on a cauberg finish before.
If anything valgren is a very complete rider, which is perfect for this race.

 

[skippo12]

Always feels like Gasparotto is nowhere to be seen the whole year but somehow has one great week in april.

 

[bassano]

Re: Re:

valverde and alaphilippe such a loosers, nice win for valdgren
valverde simply do not know race, he can only suck wheels and wait for last km

Did you watch the race? He was the only one working along with Sagan.

he did few changes when pace was reagullar, but he did not chase anyone attack, just waited for others like he always does, that is not so much good for me

 

[WheelofGear]

They underestimated Valgren again.

Valgren is one of the few riders who can get away on the FLAT.

Omloop win, his 4th place in Ronde van Vlaanderen and this Amstel win. All from a late attack on the flat.

 

[SKSemtex]

Re:

Good racing today. What a great spring for Valgren.

Sagan and Valverde marked each other out.

No, Sagan was done. He cannot close down 50 percent of attacks alone. I wasexpecting much better performance from his team.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

Cobbled classic specialists >>>>>>>>>>>>> hilly classic "specialists"

Since when Valgren is a cobbled classic specialist? You should really be banned by your trolling in last couple weeks

He rode Omloop het Nieuwsblad (which he won), Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Ronde van Vlaanderen (where he finished fourth).

How isn't he a cobbled classic specialist?

For the first time if im not mistaken, that certainly makes him a cobble specialist

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Cobbled classic specialists >>>>>>>>>>>>> hilly classic "specialists"

How do you figure from this race?

Top 10 had 2 cobbled riders of which 1 won, but you can argue about valgren being a cobbled specialist. Valgren was 2nd on a cauberg finish before.
If anything valgren is a very complete rider, which is perfect for this race.

And how does that make cobbled classics specialists better than hilly classics specialists?

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

valverde and alaphilippe such a loosers, nice win for valdgren
valverde simply do not know race, he can only suck wheels and wait for last km

Did you watch the race? He was the only one working along with Sagan.

he did few changes when pace was reagullar, but he did not chase anyone attack, just waited for others like he always does, that is not so much good for me

You didn't watch the same race everyone else did because that is the most inaccurate statement in this thread. Either that or you just saw what you wanted to see.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Cobbled classic specialists >>>>>>>>>>>>> hilly classic "specialists"

How do you figure from this race?

Top 10 had 2 cobbled riders of which 1 won, but you can argue about valgren being a cobbled specialist. Valgren was 2nd on a cauberg finish before.
If anything valgren is a very complete rider, which is perfect for this race.

AGR is more similar to the Ronde (but without cobbles) than LBL.

Paris-Roubaix is a terrible prep for AGR though (just look at Gilbert), so Sagan was once again very impressive.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

valverde and alaphilippe such a loosers, nice win for valdgren
valverde simply do not know race, he can only suck wheels and wait for last km

Did you watch the race? He was the only one working along with Sagan.

he did few changes when pace was reagullar, but he did not chase anyone attack, just waited for others like he always does, that is not so much good for me

The climbs are too easy here for Valverde. He made a few selections, but can't drop everyone. And he's got a 10-15kg weight disadvantage on the flatter sections - of course he can't go solo from miles out.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Cobbled classic specialists >>>>>>>>>>>>> hilly classic "specialists"

Since when Valgren is a cobbled classic specialist? You should really be banned by your trolling in last couple weeks

He rode Omloop het Nieuwsblad (which he won), Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Ronde van Vlaanderen (where he finished fourth).

How isn't he a cobbled classic specialist?

For the first time if im not mistaken, that certainly makes him a cobble specialist

Guy just started sniffing to the cobbles last year - by no means a specialist. He likes the Ardennes better, altho he he better opportunities in the cobbles.

Valgren is just a classics rider. Not a hilly one, nor cobbled...

 

[LaFlorecita]

Very happy to see Valgren win!!

 

[Red Rick]

Competely stupid move by Sagan. You're on Kreuzigers wheel and bet all your chances on Valverde wasting his sprint for another rider.

Sure. Great idea Peter.

 

[Billie]

Thank you Vino

 

[WheelofGear]

Valgren is like GVA and Gilbert but without the sprint so he has to attack.

It's a great rider type.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

They underestimated Valgren again.

Valgren is one of the few riders who can get away on the FLAT.

Omloop win, his 4th place in Ronde van Vlaanderen and this Amstel win. All from a late attack on the flat.

Let's not undersell Fuglsang's role in it as well. His digs kept the front group clear and forced most of the other riders in the break to close a gap at least once, all the time while Valgren was sitting comfortably at the back.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Cobbled classic specialists >>>>>>>>>>>>> hilly classic "specialists"

How do you figure from this race?

Top 10 had 2 cobbled riders of which 1 won, but you can argue about valgren being a cobbled specialist. Valgren was 2nd on a cauberg finish before.
If anything valgren is a very complete rider, which is perfect for this race.

AGR is more similar to the Ronde (but without cobbles) than LBL.

Paris-Roubaix is a terrible prep for AGR though (just look at Gilbert), so Sagan was once again very impressive.

So terrible that Sagan probably was the strongest rider today (along with Valverde who was the best on the climbs).

Greg and Gilbert are just a bit under par. Thats obvious to everybody.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Cobbled classic specialists >>>>>>>>>>>>> hilly classic "specialists"

Since when Valgren is a cobbled classic specialist? You should really be banned by your trolling in last couple weeks

He rode Omloop het Nieuwsblad (which he won), Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Ronde van Vlaanderen (where he finished fourth).

How isn't he a cobbled classic specialist?

For the first time if im not mistaken, that certainly makes him a cobble specialist

Nope, he was 11th last year in the Ronde.