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.

 

[Berniece]

See the post above you.

I think he means it should be 1.6 or something

 

[Krzysztof_O]

See the post above you.

She probably meant the odds for Remco should be shorter.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

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?

Yes, Rogla, Alejandro and Fisherman.
Godlike Alejandro beat Pogacar in a 3-week race and crushed everybody on 3-minute climbs. GOAT!

 

[Netserk]

* * * * * - mister muscles
* * * * -
* * * - gregoire , benwah , vauquelin
* * - jorge , schmid , simmons , skjelmose
* - kron , aranburu , champoussin , lapeira , laurance , kamp , laporte

dark horse : wellens

❤❤❤ laporte , simmons , tulett

 

[search]

here's what Belgian press thinks as well. From today's Het Nieuwsblad

***** Evenepoel
**** Jorgenson, Vauquelin
*** Skjelmose, Lapeira, Gregoire
** del Grosse, Scaroni, Schmid, Laporte
* Wellens, Bilbao, Qimmons, Godon, Aranburu

 

[Netserk]

here's what Belgian press thinks as well. From today's Het Nieuwsblad

***** Evenepoel
**** Jorgenson, Vauquelin
*** Skjelmose, Lapeira, Gregoire
** del Grosse, Scaroni, Schmid, Laporte
* Wellens, Bilbao, Qimmons, Godon, Aranburu

no cosnefroy ???

 

[ChasingPotatoes]

I'm struggling to find many who can come close to Evenepoel, but Evenepoel has struggled to drop e.g. Jorgenson in certain races.

Maybe Hermans, Johannesen and Van Wilder as 1 or 2 star outsiders? I rate some of those higher than e.g. Laporte and Godon in this race.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Yesterday I was asked why I quoted Schmid ( his intervention was decisive), but Jorgenson has only been at Asmtel once, 2 years ago, and finished 37th.

Remco solo.

 

[search]

Maybe Hermans, Johannesen and Van Wilder as 1 or 2 star outsiders?

THJ would probably have gotten a star (or three) if he was on the startlist, but so far he is not. He only mentioned Fleche and Liege as upcoming goals himself as well, so I don't think he is/was planed to race.

 

[Netserk]

how many crashes does bambi need to be involved in to no longer be the favourite ?

i think he was only involved in one last year

 

[search]

Qimmons was not intentional, by the way, but I kinda like it. Espeically with more brothers around now Who is Bambi, though?

 

[Netserk]

Qimmons was not intentional, by the way, but I kinda like it. Espeically with more brothers around now Who is Bambi, though?

 

[Netserk]

see here for first use : https://forum.cyclingnews.com/search/732843/?q=bambi&c[older_than]=2021-05-21&o=date

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

If it were someone else and not Remco, the favorite to win by a solo, people would already be saying the race will be boring.

Let's be realistic, with injuries and current form, Remco shouldn't have any rivals in this race.

 

[search]

yeah, will be tough to beat him. Healy was looking on track to have a shot, but now it probably needs a rather bad day from Evenepoel, and the race to somehow end up in a small sprint.

Gregoire could have a small chance to hang on, but I don't really see it either.

 

[LookProGoSlow]

If it were someone else and not Remco, the favorite to win by a solo, people would already be saying the race will be boring.

Let's be realistic, with injuries and current form, Remco shouldn't have any rivals in this race.

So boring!

 

[Brullnux]

If it were someone else and not Remco, the favorite to win by a solo, people would already be saying the race will be boring.

Let's be realistic, with injuries and current form, Remco shouldn't have any rivals in this race.

I don't think Evenepoel was impressive in Catalunya so I still have doubts over his climbing level, but in fairness the climbs in Amstel are short enough to mask any issues.

 

[Low is rhe new high]

If it were someone else and not Remco, the favorite to win by a solo, people would already be saying the race will be boring.

Let's be realistic, with injuries and current form, Remco shouldn't have any rivals in this race.

There is alway a chaos factor when Remco is racing he somehow manage to crasch on a flat road, or makeup a mechanical. It’s interesting because it’s not predictable.

 

[Red Rick]

Evenepoel could be full Fatco mode and still not be too heavy for Amstel

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

I don't think Evenepoel was impressive in Catalunya so I still have doubts over his climbing level, but in fairness the climbs in Amstel are short enough to mask any issues.

The climb in Amstel are more like those in RVV without the cobbles. I would say that last year in Romandie it looked worse uphill than how it looked this year in Catalunya, although by that time is form was probably already declining, and last year he was not super strong on the climb but still managed to hang on to fight for the win.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

I don't think Evenepoel was impressive in Catalunya so I still have doubts over his climbing level, but in fairness the climbs in Amstel are short enough to mask any issues.

Evenepoel never impresses in stage races. This race is different. He's the absolute favorite.