Amstel Gold Race -18th April -257km

[theyoungest]

Valverde is in Maastricht.

How did he get there? Via Switzerland?

 

[sklein]

ivanov seems to be in madrid (was said yesterday anyhow) and waiting for a flight.
so i don´t think he´ll make it, by car its about 1700km....cancelled
kirchen and some russians are on the replace list...where is he now?

 

[Ferminal]

Amazing really...

I we going to see a two-tiered race, the fresh and the travel-weary?

 

[theyoungest]

For what it's worth, the Telegraaf says Valverde and L.L. Sanchez will not be at the AGR.

 

[Cosette]

Mother Nature most love the AGR with the ash cloud. Though the snow wasn't helping when riders were trying to get to Tirreno earlier this season, but that's not completely relevant right now...
It does force the teams and riders to be creative. Did I understand correctly that Pinotti caught a ride on the Liquigas bus?

I do wonder how it will affect the race... It will not have helped the riders who were delayed, but perhaps they are more motivated because they did make it in time?

Though I have to admit, it is quite nice not having any planes fly over the house all day... XD

 

[ak-zaaf]

For what it's worth, the Telegraaf says Valverde and L.L. Sanchez will not be at the AGR.

 

[sublimit]

I'm not bothered if Valverde rides or not, he cant be taken seriously.

Gilbert, Leukemans will be up there again i reckon.

 

[jaylew]

It will be a shame if the Caisse guys don't make it. I love watching Valverde in the Ardennes and Luis Leon was going to be my darkhorse pick.

Hopefully everyone is starting out early and we'll have a full field at Flèche.

 

[luckyboy]

Looks like Wiggins needs to get on those rice cakes again with that frame!

 

[tgsgirl]

. Did I understand correctly that Pinotti caught a ride on the Liquigas bus?

Yeah, the Liqui minivan stopped along the way to pick up Pinotti and Albasini, both HTC.

 

[Anonymous]

Wiggins is out. UK flights all down until 1am Sunday which rules out Sunday.

Brad wasnt in england, he is in spain.

 

[Zerak-Tul]

Yeah, the Liqui minivan stopped along the way to pick up Pinotti and Albasini, both HTC.

Class act from Liqui

 

[Cosette]

Yeah, the Liqui minivan stopped along the way to pick up Pinotti and Albasini, both HTC.

That's pure class. +1 for Liquigas.

 

[Big GMaC]

Class act from Liqui

They only did it to get some quality mobile phones and outdoors wear

 

[The Sheep]

Dutch sources are saying Valverde & LL Sanchez are stuck in Murcia.

 

[afpm90]

Dutch sources are saying Valverde & LL Sanchez are stuck in Murcia.

They won't race tomorrow according to Valverde's blog.

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=25318

 

[icefire]

Dutch sources are saying Valverde & LL Sanchez are stuck in Murcia.

If that is true, what a couple of bad-@rses! They have a direct train from Murcia to Montpellier. Taking a TGV from there to anywhere in northern France would have left them at 3 hours drive from Limburg. If they had moved yesterday they would have been on time

 

[luckyboy]

1. P.Gilbert
2. A.Schleck
3. R.Gesink

I'll be back tomorrow afternoon to gloat

 

[jonjungel]

What worries me the most is that there is a chance tv-helicopters won't be allowed. That would mean no live tv, and a disaster for the organisers.

I read it in cyclingnews, but that's all I've heard of it. Anyone else got info?

 

[Cosette]

What worries me the most is that there is a chance tv-helicopters won't be allowed. That would mean no live tv, and a disaster for the organisers.

I read it in cyclingnews, but that's all I've heard of it. Anyone else got info?

Can't find anything about that on the site of the AGR. I did find a clip on the NOS (Dutch Broadcast Company that will cover the race) website in which Leo van Vliet mentions he has been told no helicopters or airplanes can fly with the ash in the air.
Though the same website mentions that the KLM will be running testflights tonight at a lower altitude, following Lufthansa's succesfull example earlier today....

On another note. Does anyone have any idea about the whereabouts of the Euskatel riders? There are 7 of them on the definite startlist, but I thought they also got stuck in Spain somewhere...

 

[issoisso]

Someone call Captain Planet

Alternatively, Valverde could get there on a sled pulled by Piti

 

[Michele]

Here you go

 

[icefire]

Sastre and Wiggins will also miss the race. Joaquim Rodríguez has managed to get to Maastrich from Zurich by car.

UCI will allow teams to participate with as low as 3 riders.

 

[theyoungest]

What worries me the most is that there is a chance tv-helicopters won't be allowed. That would mean no live tv, and a disaster for the organisers.

I read it in cyclingnews, but that's all I've heard of it. Anyone else got info?

The Dutch Minister of Transport has allowed the television choppers to fly tomorrow. There will be live tv.

 

[The Sheep]

The Dutch minister of transport has given the broadcasters exemption to fly their helicopters.