Amstel Gold Race 2026, April 19

[AlpRaid]

This. I am not a cycling historian, but the way I have always interpreted them from across the pond is:

1. World Championship RR

2. Paris-Roubaix

3. RVV

4. Milan San Remo
5. LBL
6. IL

7. SB
8. AGR
9. FW

10. GW
11. E3

Or something like that. I'm sure you guys will tell me I'm very wrong. I didn't even know one-day racing existing growing up as an American in the Lance era...

This looks good to me in general. There was a time when LBL and IL were higher, I think.

FW is a gimmick race since it has ended on Huy. I don't even rate it any more. I frankly feel much the same with MSR, but I know I am contrarian there, so I accept the general consensus on that one.

All joking aside, did you purposely omit San Sebastián? At very least, I would place that 9th instead of FW -- definitely in that group though. Probably a more prestigious winner list than ADR, frankly, and harder too.

My 2 cents.

 

[tobydawq]

I'm never one to overrate Amstel but if we're gonna rate a race that can't even get it's own name straight I may have to start digging into this argument for the lack of Nibali vs Valverde trench warfare lately (@tobydawq)

Gent-Wevelgem isn't even the biggest race of the weekend.

I'm quite drunk right now, but I'm likely going to say Valverde!

Did you know he once beat Pogacar in a Grand Tour as just one in three people in history?

 

[gavia88]

This. I am not a cycling historian, but the way I have always interpreted them from across the pond is:

1. World Championship RR

2. Paris-Roubaix

3. RVV

4. Milan San Remo
5. LBL
6. IL

7. SB
8. AGR
9. FW

10. GW
11. E3

Or something like that. I'm sure you guys will tell me I'm very wrong. I didn't even know one-day racing existing growing up as an American in the Lance era...

I think it represent quit well the current status of the races. I would say 30 years ago LBL would have been third before RVV and Milano - San Remo. And Omloop het Volk definitely was more important than E3. Parijs Tours probably would have been on spot 7/8, around AGR. And the Züri-Metzgete would have been in the top 10 as well.

 

[Sciatic]

I think it represent quit well the current status of the races. I would say 30 years ago LBL would have been third before RVV and Milano - San Remo. And Omloop het Volk definitely was more important than E3. Parijs Tours probably would have been on spot 7/8, around AGR. And the Züri-Metzgete would have been in the top 10 as well.

Yes, when I started following cycling more closely in the early ‘90s the Championships of Zurich was definitely a major classic.