Amstel Gold Race 2026, April 19

[Red Rick]

Do you mean the Barcelona stage? I didn’t see that one, but there the race isn’t hard enough. So a lot of riders are more easily following your attack. If RBH is actually able to push everyone to their limit, I can see him getting away on the less steep final part, or the flat after it.

You are right that some teams might organise very quickly and he won’t even get 20s. Then it’ll be hard.

He isn’t winning the sprint with everyone, so nothing else to lose.

I think it's worth committing to either strategy, just to know for the future. If you want to try a long solo, it'd be worth a lot to bring a stronger team and bring Roglic who can go hard on the 2nd Muur, let Remco take a flyer and then terrorize the group behind. IMO if you really want to go nuts in Fleche you at least need to blow everything up on the 2nd Muur.

 

[Red Rick]

you could say that

but difference in legs and the lesson from last year still in fresh memory made it pretty hopeless for skjelmose to repeat

True.

The amount of terrorizing you need to have a serious shot is unrealistic because the chase group was so weak. But when they make mistakes like literally pulling 50/50 and taking turns into the final km and taking 1st wheel in the sprint, then I get legit annoyed.

 

[Netserk]

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

i do think jorge would normally finish 3rd here

 

[Berniece]

I think it's worth committing to either strategy, just to know for the future. If you want to try a long solo, it'd be worth a lot to bring a stronger team and bring Roglic who can go hard on the 2nd Muur, let Remco take a flyer and then terrorize the group behind. IMO if you really want to go nuts in Fleche you at least need to blow everything up on the 2nd Muur.

Martinez is riding it too, he can take that role. He was 5th once.

I just don’t see him win that sprint. We’ve seen him collapse on steep climbs a couple of times already, and it’s not like he’s at his peak climbing weight. Then again, if you can’t win that sprint how can you make it hard enough such that you can ride away 2nd time Mur…

 

[Netserk]

Remco has to turn in his Belgian card. Ridiculous display.

muslims dont drink

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I am beginning to worry that alaphilipe won't win liege

 

[Netserk]

I am beginning to worry that alaphilipe won't win liege

stop drinking and start believing

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I am beginning to worry that alaphilipe won't win liege

View: https://youtu.be/1k8craCGpgs?is=lRwcPsrWAKazFHSb

View: https://youtu.be/LKaXY4IdZ40?is=741tm9b-NB45mtNU

 

[Netserk]

A lot of teams will be chasing him then. Don't you think he has a shot at the Mur in Pogacar-less race?

he has a shot , if he rides it well even a good one

 

[canina82]

Good bike racing, good atmosphere on the roads and here in the forum. I bet a penny the atmosphere will not be the same next sunday.

 

[noob]

I am not defending Remco. He could come off as arrogant.. Sure but also he is fluent in a few languages doesn't mean he understands the subtleties of what he is saying. All that aside, these races are foundational for Remco, his mind is clogged with getting dropped on climbs, abandoning races, not winning. These types of performances will rebuild him, rebuild his confidence, his swagger. Once he feels good again will he go to a grand tour and be tossed into the catbox with others ? I hope not but he will anyway.

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DH1xseEb2Co&pp=ygUMdmFuIGRlciBwb2Vs

An example of perfect English and he doesn't substitute a word just because, he is trying to describe a feeling about Wout Van Aert, can't think of the word or doesn't know it, so he skips it..Remco will always explain even when he shouldn't..

So true and I love him for it as it makes things spicy

Remco has to turn in his Belgian card. Ridiculous display.

In a sport where several people has lost their lives due to drug addiction ... not drinking is bad?

 

[red_flanders]

In a sport where several people has lost their lives due to drug addiction ... not drinking is bad?

My bad for not putting an emoji next to my comment. Half serious, but based on my experience with the Belgian half of my family.

That said, I'm not sure a comment about taking a swig of a beer (or not) needs to be put in the same context as drug addiction? 😉

 

[proffate]

True.

The amount of terrorizing you need to have a serious shot is unrealistic because the chase group was so weak. But when they make mistakes like literally pulling 50/50 and taking turns into the final km and taking 1st wheel in the sprint, then I get legit annoyed.

Only skjellmose knew how his legs felt. He could have realized that there was no beating Remco. At that point you are trying to hang on for 2nd. And if you make a point of not working then Remco may either call your bluff and let the chasers catch up a bit (they were still fairly close until the point where Gregoire was dropped), or Remco gets mad and attacks you and then you have to survive on your own, or both. Plus you may burn a bridge with someone you later want to have a good relationship with. Why tick off your rival if you're gonna get 2nd anyway?

 

[Pippo_San]

Couldn't watch the race. Predictable outcome. Expected much more from Remco tho. Guess he was also lucky with the Jorgeson and Vauquelin fall.

Well beer for everyone at Bora I guess.

 

[Sciatic]

Shame. I expected something better.

The women’s podium showed them how!

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View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXUnEUUDHhc/?igsh=eTRveGN1eGZwd213

 

[AlpRaid]

Expected much more from Remco tho.

You do realize 3rd finished two minutes down. When did you last see that at Amstel?

 

[saunaking]

Cosnefroy clearly the best drinker of the podium trio

damn i missed it! But i saw the womens podium and i have a feeling they would be drinking the boys under the table

 

[saunaking]

I have a very serious question, did Evenepoel drank his beer?

In north america i cant get way from clickbait stories like 'Gen Z dont drink and are bankrupting breweries'

 

[saunaking]

Because he is by far the strongest rider of them all. We all know which riders are the second best. And yes, it's a problem with those, too.



That's exactly what teams like Quickstep have had as a tool in their race tactics. Attack and use the motorbike. Why the heck is this great for cycling? Why give the strongest teams and riders an extra advantage?



There are less motorbikes in front of the chasers, because the leaders are the ones that are most interesting to follow for the camera men and photographers. But even if there are motorbikes helping the other groups, it influences the race because it reduces the drag difference between the groups. If a group of five riders are chasing a group of two, it would normally be an advantage for the big group, but if the two-man-group have two motorbikes within a few seconds ahead of them, it's like they are sitting at the end of a peloton. This is probably one of the main reasons why we so rarely see favourites being caught in the last 20 kilometers of big races these days.

You are so delusional its not funny. Some rando gets a 15 second draft because RCS needs a slow-mo of their hair in the wind and you think they are motorpaced 50k to victory doing 180 watts.
Why do you watch cycling again???

 

[RealKwaremonster]

Meh edition. Reminds me a bit of Flanders 2020, where MvdP and WvA rode off with Alaphilippe and after Lulu crashed, it was just half an hour of waiting for the sprint. In this race the dynamic was a bit similar after Jorgenson and Vauquelins crash. The difference was ofcourse in Flanders that the prospect of WvA and MvdP sprinting for the victory for the first time was very exciting.

 

[proffate]

In north america i cant get way from clickbait stories like 'Gen Z dont drink and are bankrupting breweries'

soon this race will be rechristened Amstel Juul

 

[red_flanders]

Meh edition. Reminds me a bit of Flanders 2020, where MvdP and WvA rode off with Alaphilippe and after Lulu crashed, it was just half an hour of waiting for the sprint. In this race the dynamic was a bit similar after Jorgenson and Vauquelins crash. The difference was ofcourse in Flanders that the prospect of WvA and MvdP sprinting for the victory for the first time was very exciting.

I think that's fair.

 

[red_flanders]

In north america i cant get way from clickbait stories like 'Gen Z dont drink and are bankrupting breweries'

Maybe some weed outfit will sponsor a classic.

The Acapulco Gold Race? I'm all in on the podium celebration for that one....

 

[Sciatic]

damn i missed it! But i saw the womens podium and i have a feeling they would be drinking the boys under the table

For sure, all three of the women drained theirs!

 

[Oldman]

Because he is by far the strongest rider of them all. We all know which riders are the second best. And yes, it's a problem with those, too.



That's exactly what teams like Quickstep have had as a tool in their race tactics. Attack and use the motorbike. Why the heck is this great for cycling? Why give the strongest teams and riders an extra advantage?



There are less motorbikes in front of the chasers, because the leaders are the ones that are most interesting to follow for the camera men and photographers. But even if there are motorbikes helping the other groups, it influences the race because it reduces the drag difference between the groups. If a group of five riders are chasing a group of two, it would normally be an advantage for the big group, but if the two-man-group have two motorbikes within a few seconds ahead of them, it's like they are sitting at the end of a peloton. This is probably one of the main reasons why we so rarely see favourites being caught in the last 20 kilometers of big races these days.

Is this theoretical advantage that always exist? I mean; the instances at Strade and MSR that folks claimed motos impacted the race was clearly in error. They aren't dragging anyone up a 15% gravel climb raced at 17 km no matter who is rooting for them.
It's true the race leaders have a moto in front of them because that's the security for the lead riders. Most of the time the press is behind or alongside. If they are in front of a lead rider like Pogacar there is an official moto there as well. Today at Amstel the images were almost always from behind Remco's group in the last 50km.