Amstel Gold Race -18th April -257km

[Sasquatch]

A Kroon and Ivanov top 2 is highly likely again. Hopefully, just hopefully, it's a different order.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Just imagine... If Kroon wins who is a dutchman who rides for BMC wins. The dutch cyclists supporters would be happy and I would be happy because bmc with evans' help would of helped him to win. That would be one peaceful day in the CN Forum.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Hmm as far as I hope that Gilbert does win the amstel (I'm belgian, don't shoot me), he probably won't. Ok his October 2009 was awesome, but this is April... Still fresh men, a lot more of competition, so probably just not this times again .

Last year he was 4th, and could have won (with a little more help in the chasing pack).

 

[theyoungest]

A Kroon and Ivanov top 2 is highly likely again. Hopefully, just hopefully, it's a different order.

From where comes your unshakable trust in Kroon? He did ok in the Brabantse Pijl, but nothing spectacular, and frankly I think last year was his one and only chance to win.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Kroon has shown nothing this year so far which indicates good form, indeed.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Kroon has shown nothing this year so far which indicates good form, indeed.

Did Schleck show much leading up into fleche last year where he got 1st or 2nd whatever way you look at it.

 

[theyoungest]

Did Schleck show much leading up into fleche last year where he got 1st or 2nd whatever way you look at it.

Yes he did, in the Amstel. Oh, and by the way: Schleck >>>> Kroon.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Yes he did, in the Amstel. Oh, and by the way: Schleck >>>> Kroon.

Come on, 10th Place!!!!

 

[theyoungest]

Come on, 10th Place!!!!

He made the pace and forced the selection, which allowed Kroon (and Gesink and Ivanov) to jump away, and then controlled the chase.

Look, last year Kroon posted decent results in Milan-San Remo, Flanders, the Brabantse Pijl... he had decent form for the entire spring. This year, nothing.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Did anyone read the classic feature by cyclingnews?

Funny how they mention Sammy Sanchez as one of the FW favorites while he isn't even participating, and naming Gerrans as one of the LBL favorites, while that race is the worst suited of the 3 for him

And naming Hesjedal and Barredo as dark horses.. while not even mentioning the name Gesink anywhere in the article.
Brilliant. You would think the number 3 of the Amstel 2009, 4th in FW 2008 and 6th in Lombardia 2009 would build up some sort of credit in these classics, but no

 

[theyoungest]

Did anyone read the classic feature by cyclingnews?

Funny how they mention Sammy Sanchez as one of the FW favorites while he isn't even participating, and naming Gerrans as one of the LBL favorites, while that race is the worst suited of the 3 for him

And naming Hesjedal and Barredo as dark horses.. while not even mentioning the name Gesink anywhere in the article.
Brilliant. You would think the number 3 of the Amstel 2009, 4th in FW 2008 and 6th in Lombardia 2009 would build up some sort of credit in these classics, but no

Yes, I read it, and while I did, I wondered why I bothered. Come on, Hesjedal, there's no chance in hell he'll win a classic.

 

[issoisso]

Yes, I read it, and while I did, I wondered why I bothered. Come on, Hesjedal, there's no chance in hell he'll win a classic.

Cyclingnews is a site aimed at anglophones. If they didn't put Gerrans and Hesjedal there, a lot of the casual fans would jump to velonews where they can read all about how americans are going to win every race.

It's always been like that. I don't see why it would suddenly become any different

 

[auscyclefan94]

Did anyone read the classic feature by cyclingnews?

Funny how they mention Sammy Sanchez as one of the FW favorites while he isn't even participating, and naming Gerrans as one of the LBL favorites, while that race is the worst suited of the 3 for him

And naming Hesjedal and Barredo as dark horses.. while not even mentioning the name Gesink anywhere in the article.
Brilliant. You would think the number 3 of the Amstel 2009, 4th in FW 2008 and 6th in Lombardia 2009 would build up some sort of credit in these classics, but no

, not mentioning gesink is terrible and having gerrans as a LBL fav is idiotic as riders usually win solo or in a small group and he doesn't have the strength on the climbs to get away.

Mr "I am an idiot" Tomolaris has tipped the podium to be gerrans, pozzato and t.martin in no particular order.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Cyclingnews is a site aimed at anglophones. If they didn't put Gerrans and Hesjedal there, a lot of the casual fans would jump to velonews where they can read all about how americans are going to win every race.

It's always been like that. I don't see why it would suddenly become any different

I just want the facts to be presented on a site like CN and to be not people pleasing to certain races.

 

[el_angliru]

Kroon is usually very good at Amstel: three top 10 results the last four years (#2, 4, & 9), which is quite impressive considering F.Schleck usually was the Team Captain and also managed to win one of those years! But I'm not sure about Kroon's present form although he looked good in Brabantse.

But I'd like to see him finally succeed in this race!

 

[issoisso]

I just want the facts to be presented on a site like CN and to be not people pleasing to certain races.

races?

surely you mean nationalities

Or are you accusing cyclingnews of being a part of the aryan brotherhood?

, not mentioning gesink is terrible and having gerrans as a LBL fav is idiotic as riders usually win solo or in a small group and he doesn't have the strength on the climbs to get away.

Mr "I am an idiot" Tomolaris has tipped the podium to be gerrans, pozzato and t.martin in no particular order.

Gerrans? Uhm. ok. Martin? lol. Pozzato? Who is this id...I mean uhhh...."interesting person"?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Fun fact, due to the giant ash cloud above Europe, many riders cannot fly to Amstel Gold Race and have to revert to car/train travel

 

[issoisso]

Fun fact, due to the giant ash cloud above Europe, many riders cannot fly to Amstel Gold Race and have to revert to car/train travel

So much for the Flying Dutchmen

 

[theyoungest]

Fun fact, due to the giant ash cloud above Europe, many riders cannot fly to Amstel Gold Race and have to revert to car/train travel

F#@k Iceland. They put you to sleep with ethereal music, steal your money right out of your purse, and when you've finally woken up and demand your money back they send a gigantic ash cloud your way

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah, can't we sink them with a giant heater?

 

[issoisso]

Yeah, can't we sink them with a giant heater?

Don't be so harsh. Remember to pity them. They live in iceland for god's sake. They have enough punishment as it is.

I've never even met an icelandic person online. Do they have internet there?
Heck, do they have computers, or do they use an abacus?

 

[theyoungest]

Don't be so harsh. Remember to pity them. They live in iceland for god's sake. They have enough punishment as it is.

I've never even met an icelandic person online. Do they have internet there?
Heck, do they have computers, or do they use an abacus?

Well, I know they have an amazing music scene, what with Björk, Sigur Ros, and Múm all coming from the same island of, what, 300.000 inhabitants? But I guess the only thing you can really do there is sit inside, jangling your guitar.

 

[Mongol_Waaijer]

By the way, Gesinks Amstel-training yesterday: 5,5 hours, 190 km, 308 watt average
That's pretty hard, considering Cancellara on 260km in Flanders was 260w or something average? (ofcourse, the average is lower because of the easy pedalling in the peloton)

As addition to Isso's post: Stage racers can win in Amstel though, if they place their attack well in the flat parts on top of the climbs in the final (plateau attacks, just after a climb, deadly!)

Considering his weight is 68kg that is sick.

4.5 w/kg for 5.5 hrs????

is he an alien?

 

[The Sheep]

Don't be so harsh. Remember to pity them. They live in iceland for god's sake. They have enough punishment as it is.

I've never even met an icelandic person online. Do they have internet there?
Heck, do they have computers, or do they use an abacus?

One of the biggest companies in iceland is a MMO game developer.

 

[theyoungest]

One of the biggest companies in iceland is a MMO game developer.

I thought the only reason they had internet was for you to be able to send your money to them, after which they fold their banking system and tell you to go f@#k yourself.