Amstel Gold Race 2026, April 19

[jono]

Nice result for Verstrynge. In good form to possibly improve on last year's 14th at LBL.

 

[Sciatic]

Visma not even in this peloton in their home race? Oof...

true, but doesn't help when their leader gets taken out in a corner!

 

[Heston]

Big ups to Frigo, getting a top 10 from the morning break

 

[Brullnux]

If you are that cooked by the end I don't think you that much margin to attack on the climbs. The other tactical possibility for Skjelmose/Gregoire was to not pull, and maybe be brought back by the group behind, were they both had a teammates, but also many opponents.

Yeah, I don't think he played it that badly. I think he was less cooked than last year but Evenepoel's sprint was a lot better and he played it well. What I more meant is that Skjelmose was only winning that solo (unlikely anyway).

 

[jono]

I don't want to remember what was said about Pidcock in San Remo, being faster than Skjelmose and having better sprinters behind him than Gregoire and Cosnefroy.

Haha. "Never pull" is basically the sum total of tactical advice on these forums in the year 2026. Perhaps with a sprinkling of derisiveness about 'G2 syndrome" where people never pull.

 

[peterfin]

Clever, composed, great sprint. If anything it shows that Remco has it in him to win a lot more oneday races without the need to attack 50 km from the finish. He should do more of them. I hope he does all monuments next year.

 

[Bertram Wooster]

We should stop televising races except by drone and have no support vehicles.

Wonder what people will find to complain about then? Drone noise?

We must reduce the number of motorcycles in the race and establish rules based on scientific evidence.

• Zero motorcycles for guests, photographers, or radio personnel.
• Strict distance rules for television motorcycles: they must remain at least 15 meters behind or 40 meters in front of the riders at all times."
• Drones, static cameras and strict rules for motorcycles will be a solution.

Scientific wind tunnel tests show that:

• Following a motor: A rider positioned 2.5 meters behind a motorcycle experiences a 48% reduction in air resistance. Even at 30, 40 or 50 meters, there is still a measurable advantage. This means winning seconds per minute.
• Leading a motor: a motorcycle driving closely behind a rider can push them forward by reducing the low-pressure zone behind the cyclist, cutting drag by up to 9%.

 

[ice&fire]

Wasn't it San Sebastian until today?

FW and Ghent historically >>>>>>>>>>>>> Amstel.

Why should we care what a race was like many years ago to assess how races are today?

That Whatever - Wevelgem In Flanders Fields race (Ghent is no longer in the race name) is only the second best race that weekend, and Fleche has become a funny joke

 

[Sciatic]

Wasn't it San Sebastian until today?

FW and Ghent historically >>>>>>>>>>>>> Amstel.

ah, have a laugh about it--it's pretty hilarious that after all the discussion in this thread (ranking the classics) this week that Remco happened to mention that Maybe he was listening in

 

[Red Rick]

Haha. "Never pull" is basically the sum total of tactical advice on these forums in the year 2026. Perhaps with a sprinkling of derisiveness about 'G2 syndrome" where people never pull.

Becuase they keep *** it up.

But I have a lot more tolerance for G2 syndrome than digging your own grave in G1.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

Roman Gregfour finishes 4th in Strade, Brabantse and Amstel

 

[Bertram Wooster]

Sure, Wooster. Now, do you think that motorcycles are 1 m behind the riders?

Sometimes they are just behind, most of the time they are further. But as said, till 15m, they give an advantage.
And if there are more than one (I just saw 3 motors just behind the riders) the advantage is bigger.

So take away that advantage and give everyone the same conditions.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Alexander Kamp 61st, the world is ending

 

[Sciatic]

A tragedy that Frigo only came 10th

He tried the Freire at WCs surprise-them-on-the-other-side-of-the-road sprint!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Alexander Kamp 61st, the world is ending

Here's a joke for RhD's eyes only: It was too Frigo for Kamp's hands.

 

[jono]

Becuase they keep *** it up.

But I have a lot more tolerance for G2 syndrome than digging your own grave in G1.

Skjelmose didn't lose today from doing 20% of the pulls in the lead group.

 

[canina82]

"I'm one of the guys that wins a lot" - Evenepoel quote. If his legs were as greats as his mouth, this guy would have a better palmares than Merckx.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Why should we care what a race was like many years ago to assess how races are today?

That Whatever - Wevelgem In Flanders Fields race (Ghent is no longer in the race name) is only the second best race that weekend, and Fleche has become a funny joke

Because the debate started with a forum member saying that for him, the sixth Monument is Strade Bianche, and here they responded that Monuments are historycal races. So, by that same argument, Amstel Gold Race is in no way more important than FW and Ghent.

You can't criticize a forum member for what they say about Strade Bianche and then apply that same logic to another race like Amstel over more historical races.

 

[RedheadDane]

TBF, would Skjelmose even have deserved the win? What with his horrid attempt at beer-drinking last year.

 

[Potomac]

What is the biggest whine? The moto engine or the moto complainers?

 

[red_flanders]

We must reduce the number of motorcycles in the race and establish rules based on scientific evidence.

• Zero motorcycles for guests, photographers, or radio personnel.
• Strict distance rules for television motorcycles: they must remain at least 15 meters behind or 40 meters in front of the riders at all times."
• Drones, static cameras and strict rules for motorcycles will be a solution.

Scientific wind tunnel tests show that:

• Following a motor: A rider positioned 2.5 meters behind a motorcycle experiences a 48% reduction in air resistance. Even at 30, 40 or 50 meters, there is still a measurable advantage. This means winning seconds per minute.
• Leading a motor: a motorcycle driving closely behind a rider can push them forward by reducing the low-pressure zone behind the cyclist, cutting drag by up to 9%.

That all sounds fun. "We" must also implement automatic driving cars which never violate these rules, even on Amstel/Flanders goat tracks.

Or we could just watch bike races and enjoy them. Or short of that, just recognize that attacking confers some minor advantages.

 

[Jagartrott]

Sometimes they are just behind, most of the time they are further. But as said, till 15m, they give an advantage.
And if there are more than one (I just saw 3 motors just behind the riders) the advantage is bigger.

So take away that advantage and give everyone the same conditions.

At 1 m, the advantage, as you pointed out, is a reduction in air resistance of 1.8%. Motorcycles are never 1 m behind riders, and as the relationship is exponential, the reduced drag from having cars or motorcycles behind you in a race is actually negligible.

You suggest you take a scientific stance, but you actually do not. (I am a scientist, by the way)

 

[Samu Cuenca]

TBF, would Skjelmose even have deserved the win? What with his horrid attempt at beer-drinking last year.

He was the strongest rider in the race according to Nicki Bille.

 

[Sciatic]

"I'm one of the guys that wins a lot" - Evenepoel quote. If his legs were as greats as his mouth, this guy would have a better palmares than Merckx.

That's not how that came out at all. Just being straitforward. So much better than false humility.

 

[Sciatic]

Cosnefroy clearly the best drinker of the podium trio