Amstel Gold Race 2026, April 19

[Netserk]

I completely agree with this. I don't understand why he started, the team must have known he wasn't in good shape.

probably for the same reason people moaned last year how little vingegaard raced

 

[Sciatic]

Aside from the PCS f*ckup, this is actually such a ridiculous team for Amstel. I guess a few peoples shapes will be a questionmark but still, the depth of this team man...

Indeed, this is typically Cosnefroy’s “peak” performance week (including Brabaconne) of the season.

 

[Sciatic]

That doesn't make him the strongest. Remco got some help, and Pogi was 'tricked' by Ala to attack too early.

I’m struggling a bit to be understanding re: this topic recently—I have to assume for several posters (definitely not just you) the discussion of who was “strongest” has value or added meaning in their take on a race. For me that’s only relevant at the very end of a race, in the sense of “who has the most left in their legs” after a hard day. But as I said, I want to be tranquillo about other views

 

[Netserk]

I’m struggling a bit to be understanding te: this topic recently—I have to assume for several posters (definitely not just you) the discussion of who was “strongest” has value or added meaning in their take on a race. For me that’s relevant at the very end of a race, in the sense of “who has the most left” after a hard day. But as I said, I want to be tranquillo about other views

if one imagines that they had to do the race all over again and this time the two riders in question would have to make the exact same efforts , who would then have most left in the end ?

 

[Sciatic]

if one imagines that they had to do the race all over again and this time the two riders in question would have to make the exact same efforts , who would then have most left in the end ?

I probably think that way sometimes—usually if I’m disappointed in the outcome.

 

[Netserk]

I probably think that way sometimes—usually if I’m disappointed in the outcome.

it can also be useful for adjusting expectations for future races

 

[Ikke..]

Baudin is a dark horse, Gregoire and Schmidt are favos

 

[Ikke..]

So? Tour of Flanders, First time for Remco and 3th.

How people still underestimate him is crazy.

Btw Pidcock will not be participating i guess.

Pidcock sustained bone bruising to the tibia and fibula, including small stress fractures, alongside a suspected injury to the anterolateral with a small bone fragment pulled away at the attachment point.

 

[Berniece]

Btw Pidcock will not be participating i guess.

Pidcock sustained bone bruising to the tibia and fibula, including small stress fractures, alongside a suspected injury to the anterolateral with a small bone fragment pulled away at the attachment point.

Then why only say he isn’t riding Brabantse? Could’ve easily said he isn’t riding anything like Ayuso

 

[gavia88]

It’s probably not a trend that it’s a lesser startlist this year, but it doesn’t help Amstel recover the former cache the race had as the biggest classic outside the monuments. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone suggesting this could be considered the 6th monument (yes, that was tossed around in the distant past). My impression is that among fans and perhaps riders Strade Bianchi has gained added luster as the big one-day race outside the monuments, while AGR has lost some gravitas?

well, I think the "6th monument" is always changing a bit. It used to be Paris-Tours, but nowadays that race is barely at the level of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.

In general I think the combi Flanders and Roubaix has won a lot of prestige compared to the Ardennes racing and LBL specifically. In addition with the very popular Strade Bianche there is a kind of shift that gives the early spring races more impact. I don't think LBL is as important as it has been in the past neither.

 

[Rou]

My impression is that among fans and perhaps riders Strade Bianchi has gained added luster as the big one-day race outside the monuments, while AGR has lost some gravitas?

Strade Bianche is a glorified Clásica Jaen. I can give at least 5 non-Monument classics bigger than it.
The 6th Monument is a battle between Gent Wevelgem and AGR.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Strade Bianche is a glorified Clásica Jaen. I can give at least 5 non-Monument classics bigger than it.
The 6th Monument is a battle between Gent Wevelgem and AGR.

The 6th Monument is the WC. As for Strade, it became quite prestigious in a short time and absolutely the best one-day racers of the last two decades won it. Some (like Amstel) can have more prestige due to long history but Strade is among the best non-monuments already (due to the route and very strong line-ups) .

 

[Brullnux]

well, I think the "6th monument" is always changing a bit. It used to be Paris-Tours, but nowadays that race is barely at the level of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.

In general I think the combi Flanders and Roubaix has won a lot of prestige compared to the Ardennes racing and LBL specifically. In addition with the very popular Strade Bianche there is a kind of shift that gives the early spring races more impact. I don't think LBL is as important as it has been in the past neither.

I agree, and outside the monuments the races change prestige a lot based on who the riders even are.

When there's a lot of very good hilly classics riders at a similar level (2010s), Amstel 'feels' more prestigious as more of the highly rated riders target it. When there are two hill riders who are way beyond anyone else, if they ride it then it's just another race; if one of them doesn't ride it, it becomes less important; if neither ride it, it becomes a B race. Strade Bianche is about to run into this issue, too.

Gent-Wevelgem feels more prestigious at the moment partly bc it feels like it has more depth as the non-alien contenders are more highly rated.

 

[AlpRaid]

San Sebastián?

🤣😉

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Is Montreal also part of the Ardennes?

 

[canina82]

Startlist looks very underwhelming. Remco is gonna cruise against this competition.

 

[Sciatic]

Strade Bianche is a glorified Clásica Jaen. I can give at least 5 non-Monument classics bigger than it.
The 6th Monument is a battle between Gent Wevelgem and AGR.

That's what I always thought, but I don't see that mentioned anymore the way I used to read about it (decades ago).

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Remco and Seixas should have met in a race. I thought Remco was going to do Fleche.

 

[Bertram Wooster]

So no Pidcock. But also no Healy, Scaroni, Higuita.

 

[canina82]

Remco and Seixas should have met in a race. I thought Remco was going to do Fleche.

They will in LBL.

 

[Berniece]

Remco and Seixas should have met in a race. I thought Remco was going to do Fleche.

They want to keep suspension for first place in a monument

 

[Red Rick]

I agree, and outside the monuments the races change prestige a lot based on who the riders even are.

When there's a lot of very good hilly classics riders at a similar level (2010s), Amstel 'feels' more prestigious as more of the highly rated riders target it. When there are two hill riders who are way beyond anyone else, if they ride it then it's just another race; if one of them doesn't ride it, it becomes less important; if neither ride it, it becomes a B race. Strade Bianche is about to run into this issue, too.

Gent-Wevelgem feels more prestigious at the moment partly bc it feels like it has more depth as the non-alien contenders are more highly rated.

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.

 

[Netserk]

So no Pidcock. But also no Healy, Scaroni, Higuita.

surprised no healy . thought he looked like he was finding form in itzulia at just the right time

 

[canina82]

At this point the 6th monument is Amstel or SB. GW is not even close tbh.

 

[Berniece]

surprised no healy . thought he looked like he was finding form in itzulia at just the right time

I thought he looked really bad in Itzulia, don’t expect much from him this Ardennes week