Amstel Gold Race: April 21st, 2019

[SHAD0W93]

If the three DD leaders have form, one of them could end up taking the win. I hope Kreuziger is able to get it off a solo again.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Can't wait, gonna be the race of the spring.

A few years ago this was the most boring race of the spring.

More boring than San Remo or Flèche wallonne?

When we knew with 95% certainty Gilbert would win and before Valverde won every Fleche.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

If the three DD leaders have form, one of them could end up taking the win. I hope Kreuziger is able to get it off a solo again.

I can't even begin to describe how anti-climactic that would be.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

If the three DD leaders have form, one of them could end up taking the win. I hope Kreuziger is able to get it off a solo again.

I can't even begin to describe how anti-climactic that would be.

We absolutely must 100% have the groups sprint to solve any 'who fastah in sprint' disagreements

 

[Valv.Piti]

Question: Are you a proper dutch cycling-fan if you're not present at the Amstel Gold, similar to Flanders?

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

If the three DD leaders have form, one of them could end up taking the win. I hope Kreuziger is able to get it off a solo again.

I can't even begin to describe how anti-climactic that would be.

We absolutely must 100% have the groups sprint to solve any 'who fastah in sprint' disagreements

No but a rider who is clearly not among the very best rider for a course like this soloing away from a disagreeing group of favourites is the thing I loathe the most about cycling. Even though Valgren is a compatriot of mine and he is a rider I actually like, I had a hard time watching the bickering between Sagan and Valverde behind him last year.

But as I have said previously: Schachmann is the key to this race. If Sagan has the day, Schachmann should ensure him a sprint.

 

[Valv.Piti]

That won't happen this year, toby. At least not Valgren, altho I think the route change leads to a lot of randomness (probably the most out of any of the major classics, maybe together with San Remo) after the last ascent of Cauberg since the rest of the race really isn't that hard.

 

[search]

Re: Re:

If the three DD leaders have form, one of them could end up taking the win. I hope Kreuziger is able to get it off a solo again.

I can't even begin to describe how anti-climactic that would be.

We absolutely must 100% have the groups sprint to solve any 'who fastah in sprint' disagreements

No but a rider who is clearly not among the very best rider for a course like this soloing away from a disagreeing group of favourites is the thing I loathe the most about cycling. Even though Valgren is a compatriot of mine and he is a rider I actually like, I had a hard time watching the bickering between Sagan and Valverde behind him last year.

But as I have said previously: Schachmann is the key to this race. If Sagan has the day, Schachmann should ensure him a sprint.

Schachmann surely has made a step up over the past year, but the distance could still very well be a problem. I'd be surprised to see him still there with the very best in the end.

 

[Akuryo]

Re: Re:

If the three DD leaders have form, one of them could end up taking the win. I hope Kreuziger is able to get it off a solo again.

I can't even begin to describe how anti-climactic that would be.

We absolutely must 100% have the groups sprint to solve any 'who fastah in sprint' disagreements

No but a rider who is clearly not among the very best rider for a course like this soloing away from a disagreeing group of favourites is the thing I loathe the most about cycling. Even though Valgren is a compatriot of mine and he is a rider I actually like, I had a hard time watching the bickering between Sagan and Valverde behind him last year.

But as I have said previously: Schachmann is the key to this race. If Sagan has the day, Schachmann should ensure him a sprint.

Schachmann surely has made a step up over the past year, but the distance could still very well be a problem. I'd be surprised to see him still there with the very best in the end.

Has he though? He won a sage in Catalunya, was 8th in Fleche Wallone after being in the breakaway and got a Giro stage. But last year he had Gilbert, Alaphilippe, Mas, Jungels, Stybar or on some days even Gaviria/Viviani on his team who were just higher in the pecking order for the same race scenarios he excels at. He is not better (at least by much), he just has more opportunities to ride for himself! Now he has only Sagan to worry about and not 5-7 different riders.

 

[topt]

Its a shame Roglic is not in this; I think he could do quite well

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

Can't wait, gonna be the race of the spring.

A few years ago this was the most boring race of the spring.

More boring than San Remo or Flèche wallonne?

Same level. the last editions on the cauberg were horrible, just waiting for the final climb. So thats just like F-W.

M-SR is better as it has the suspense after the final hill with the cat and mouse game between sprint, small group or solo. It also comes down to the final 10km, but those 10km can be one of the best kms there are.

 

[Salvarani]

Re: Re:

If the three DD leaders have form, one of them could end up taking the win. I hope Kreuziger is able to get it off a solo again.

I can't even begin to describe how anti-climactic that would be.

We absolutely must 100% have the groups sprint to solve any 'who fastah in sprint' disagreements

Then we will just get "he didnt do any work" arguments

 

[Anderis]

Re: Re:

No but a rider who is clearly not among the very best rider for a course like this soloing away from a disagreeing group of favourites is the thing I loathe the most about cycling.

On the other hand, I love when something like this happens.

Nothing gives me more joy when watching any sport discipline than an unexpected outcome. For me, there would be no reason to watch if the strongest always won. That's why I follow cycling and less tactical sports like athletics have never attracted me to watch them.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Question: Are you a proper dutch cycling-fan if you're not present at the Amstel Gold, similar to Flanders?

We've previously established that I really do hate cycling, so I couldn't give you the answer

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

No but a rider who is clearly not among the very best rider for a course like this soloing away from a disagreeing group of favourites is the thing I loathe the most about cycling.

On the other hand, I love when something like this happens.

Nothing gives me more joy when watching any sport discipline than an unexpected outcome. For me, there would be no reason to watch if the strongest always won. That's why I follow cycling and less tactical sports like athletics have never attracted me to watch them.

I agree with you, basically (love is a strong word, though), but in a situation where it finally looks like one of my two favourite riders can close an annoying gap in their palmares and they then just choose to sit and watch each other when a third rider rides away, it's difficult to see the charm in it.

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

No but a rider who is clearly not among the very best rider for a course like this soloing away from a disagreeing group of favourites is the thing I loathe the most about cycling.

On the other hand, I love when something like this happens.

Nothing gives me more joy when watching any sport discipline than an unexpected outcome. For me, there would be no reason to watch if the strongest always won. That's why I follow cycling and less tactical sports like athletics have never attracted me to watch them.

I agree with you, basically (love is a strong word, though), but in a situation where it finally looks like one of my two favourite riders can close an annoying gap in their palmares and they then just choose to sit and watch each other when a third rider rides away, it's difficult to see the charm in it.

Last year Sagan couldnt follow the attack and valverde was watching sagan, which is silly since valverde shouldve prefered not to finish with sagan.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

No but a rider who is clearly not among the very best rider for a course like this soloing away from a disagreeing group of favourites is the thing I loathe the most about cycling.

On the other hand, I love when something like this happens.

Nothing gives me more joy when watching any sport discipline than an unexpected outcome. For me, there would be no reason to watch if the strongest always won. That's why I follow cycling and less tactical sports like athletics have never attracted me to watch them.

I agree with you, basically (love is a strong word, though), but in a situation where it finally looks like one of my two favourite riders can close an annoying gap in their palmares and they then just choose to sit and watch each other when a third rider rides away, it's difficult to see the charm in it.

Last year Sagan couldnt follow the attack and valverde was watching sagan, which is silly since valverde shouldve prefered not to finish with sagan.

Okay, he could follow Valverde's killer attacks on the last hills and beat him comfortably in the sprint but he could not follow Valgren's attack on the flat, which Kreuziger could?

 

[Hellyea]

Re: Re:

No but a rider who is clearly not among the very best rider for a course like this soloing away from a disagreeing group of favourites is the thing I loathe the most about cycling.

On the other hand, I love when something like this happens.

Nothing gives me more joy when watching any sport discipline than an unexpected outcome. For me, there would be no reason to watch if the strongest always won. That's why I follow cycling and less tactical sports like athletics have never attracted me to watch them.

I agree with you, basically (love is a strong word, though), but in a situation where it finally looks like one of my two favourite riders can close an annoying gap in their palmares and they then just choose to sit and watch each other when a third rider rides away, it's difficult to see the charm in it.

Last year Sagan couldnt follow the attack and valverde was watching sagan, which is silly since valverde shouldve prefered not to finish with sagan.

Just because Sagan does not cover every attack, does not mean he did not have legs to close the gap.

 

[Bardamu]

Re:

Question: Are you a proper dutch cycling-fan if you're not present at the Amstel Gold, similar to Flanders?

Can't speak for others, but I try to watch the race at 3-4 places. Atmosphere at Fromberg is always great.

 

[Red Rick]

Dutch propaganda in full flight

"Van de Poels weak team is a benefit for him"

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

Dutch propaganda in full flight

"Van de Poels weak team is a benefit for him"

This is why i hate it when people laugh with <insert nationality> chauvinistic media. Because they ALL do it. It's natural and has little to do with nationality. NOS was listing the riders that MIGHT POSSIBLY be able to beat van der Poel. I mean, it seems he's already won it, but the other guys in the peloton still don't know it.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Hows the dutch media thinking about The Great Bauke Mollema chances? Dangerous outsider?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

Hows the dutch media thinking about The Great Bauke Mollema chances? Dangerous outsider?

In the journalistic masterpiece i just witnessed, he wasn't mentioned.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Van Gramberen interviewing Van Avermaet:

"Greg, did you have a good night's sleep?"
- "Yes, i'm well rested"
"Good, so you don't have to sleep during the race, like last week."

lol

 

[Mavic]

Re: Re:

Dutch propaganda in full flight

"Van de Poels weak team is a benefit for him"

This is why i hate it when people laugh with <insert nationality> chauvinistic media. Because they ALL do it. It's natural and has little to do with nationality. NOS was listing the riders that MIGHT POSSIBLY be able to beat van der Poel. I mean, it seems he's already won it, but the other guys in the peloton still don't know it.

This. They all do it. I've said this before as well, when someone mentioned that the Dutch media were saying that Mathieu is already more developed than Sagan, or something to that effect. It's hardly surprising though, all the attention Mathieu is getting. The Dutch haven't had a talent like this in... forever? So you can understand the level of excitement around him, especially starting in the Amstel Gold Race and wearing the Dutch tricolore. Cut them some slack.