Amstel Gold Race 2025, one day classic, April 20 (men's)

[QueenStagiaire]

What happened?

He hit a post truck and crashed last winter.

 

[Froome]

Nothing. It’s just that Remco is currently not at his best. He’s really good, just not at his best.

I thought something happened in the current race.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Wow incredible racing, such fierce competition, great drama, I don't think anyone saw THAT happening!

Is what I hope we will all be thinking in a few hours time at this years edition of the Amstel Gold Race. Hopefully that director who thinks he's the star of the show isn't in the car to asterisk the whole thing this time round.

 

[Kwaremonster]

Wow incredible racing, such fierce competition, great drama, I don't think anyone saw THAT happening!

Is what I hope we will all be thinking in a few hours time at this years edition of the Amstel Gold Race. Hopefully that director who thinks he's the star of the show isn't in the car to asterisk the whole thing this time round.

Well there a few things for Leo van Vliet here. 1. It's his last edition. 2. He received a signed shirt of Pogacar before the race. 3. He likes indeed to be the centre of attention. I think as soon as Pogacar is in the lead and Ben Healy is approaching, he will fire up the rocketship.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Mostly agree. I think I would swap AGR and SB, maybe even dropping SB below GW, but those are small details.

Personally I would as well, but from what I hear and read, most rate Strade higher nowadays.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Amstel as probably the biggest one day race after the monuments due to its distance.

 

[scribers]

I always struggle to take E3 seriously. Perhaps because it wasn't serious in Boonen's time, perhaps because of it's dumb name.

Gent-Wevelgem has more character in my opinion.

Strade Bianchi is naturally overrated while Amstel gets underrated imo, even though it also has a dumb name.

I feel an odd sense of agreement with everything here. I’d because I feel I shouldn’t.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

There's greater consensus for OGRR to be 1st than Strade 7th.

Definitely not. Whenever I read these kinds of discussions, many don't even have Olympics in their top 10. I never see anyone who doesn't have Strade in their top 10.

 

[pelotonIQ]

Everyone has a plan until Pogacar attacks.

 

[Extinction]

Strade is not a gimmick, Pogacar is just too good for it to be great these days.

Even if it were a gimmick, it's one in a positive sense. The course is stuningly beautiful on the countryside alone, plus it's actually quite hard, which is why Pog has been able to make such a grand difference. And the finish climbing up to Piazza del Campo in Siena is just spectacular. I only wish it were 260 km with more hills for proper attrition.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Everyone has a plan until Pogacar attacks.

That sounds like it should be part of your plan.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Even if it were a gimmick, it's one in a positive sense. The course is stuningly beautiful on the countryside alone, plus it's actually quite hard, which is why Pog has been able to make such a grand difference. And the finish climbing up to Piazza del Campo in Siena is just spectacular. I only wish it were 260 km with more hills for proper attrition.

Do you want Pogacar to win with a 5 minutes gap?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I think that Strade is very balanced race. In the last three years, classics riders like Laporte, Wellens, Veermersch, Mohoric (and Cort, though he's not really a classics rider) has battled for top 10 spots with puncheurs like Van Gils, Pidcock and Cosnefroy, and with climbers like Bilbao, Van Eetvelt and Martinez. There can't be too many races with such a diverse top 10.

 

[Extinction]

Do you want Pogacar to win with a 5 minutes gap?

No, but just for spectators to know how hard the terrain actually is.

 

[rallybanana]

The other iberian country

I don't intend on confusing Americans but Iberia was once an alternative name for Eastern Georgia (region around Tbilisi).

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Even if it were a gimmick, it's one in a positive sense. The course is stuningly beautiful on the countryside alone, plus it's actually quite hard, which is why Pog has been able to make such a grand difference. And the finish climbing up to Piazza del Campo in Siena is just spectacular. I only wish it were 260 km with more hills for proper attrition.

I think if they wanted to make it more monument-like they should actually make it 250 k with a similar amount or slightly fewer hills. 260 with more hills just sounds like it would be by far the hardest race on the calendar which would be silly.

 

[Medvind]

So will Pog's participation in P-R set him down a notch toda? And will Remco's form already be so good that he can perform strongly in 250k race? Yes in both cases and we might have a good battle waiting.

 

[Medvind]

Really curious to see how well Nys will ride today. According to himself he has never been in better shape. The hills should suit him well and the final also. Question is if he can handle the distance without fatiguing too much. Hoping for a top 10!

 

[tobydawq]

Even if it were a gimmick, it's one in a positive sense. The course is stuningly beautiful on the countryside alone, plus it's actually quite hard, which is why Pog has been able to make such a grand difference. And the finish climbing up to Piazza del Campo in Siena is just spectacular. I only wish it were 260 km with more hills for proper attrition.

It's probably the most attritional race on the calendar as it is...

 

[hayneplane]

Curious as to whether Remco will choose to initiate or just follow Pogacars back wheel and hope he can hang on when the launch is made.

 

[topcat]

When does coverage start?
When do we expect the rocket to be launched?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

When does coverage start?
When do we expect the rocket to be launched?

As soon as coverage starts, Masnada will start his solo.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

When does coverage start?
When do we expect the rocket to be launched?

Another half hour or so, if you're catching it on Tiz. (I have to check for some VPN alternatives because Tiz is so unreliable.)

Champoussin for the win!

Edit: just found out AGR will be on SBS in about 16mins, thank goodness I'll be spared of Tiz.

 

[Didinho]

Really curious to see how well Nys will ride today. According to himself he has never been in better shape. The hills should suit him well and the final also. Question is if he can handle the distance without fatiguing too much. Hoping for a top 10!

I expect more of him on Wednesday. But this suits him really well. Hope he can hang on or even show his insane uphill kick today. Always good to have other/new competitors for the final.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Remco, WVA and Nys crashed according to PCS