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?