Amstel Gold Race: April 21st, 2019

[tobydawq]

Re:

I honestly find the name too corny to ever consider it a monument

A true PCM player knows that the real name is Maastricht-Valkenburg.

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

I'd bump Matthews in favor of Valverde or maybe Kwito, but other than that, it looks great.

I can't remember I have seen such a strong field in Amstel. Its pretty incredible. Its also interesting to see that all of the top favorites, apart from Alaphilippe, has done well in Flanders or some other of the flemish classics. And Im pure hed do pretty well if he decided to race them.

I think it almost always has an amazing field, prob the best of the year.

It feels like moving the finish away from the Cauberg has attracted a few of the Flanders-type classics riders, Sagan etc.

Having vdPoel in there this year is a bonus too.

 

[pink_jersey]

Actually, I will not mind a big group at the bottom of the Cauberg if Phil G goes balistic for a last time. Even if he doesn't have the acceleration he once had I still think that Cauberg is his living room and he can make everyone his b***h there. Him going balistic there and forming a group of 10 riders in the finale will be spectacular.

 

[RedheadDane]

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Incredible start list indeed. The route change did absolute wonders.

Gilbert always won with the Cauberg close to the finish, but it's not as if he can't handle a long final. Still Alaphilippe seems more likely as the leader for the hilly classics.

You forgot 2017

Honestly, the main think I remember from the 2017 AGR is the whole torn kidney thing.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Boels-Dolmans are going pink for Amstel Gold. I think this also gives away their team selection.

So Anna VDB is healthy, though obviously she won't be in the pink gear since she'll be Radiohead's seventh album. Chantal Blaak will obviously be there as she's the defending champion. Looks like Annika Langvad will be doing the Ardennes week races, having not raced road since her podium at Strade Bianche, and Amy Pieters will be on hand as well, having been very good here last year and having been top 10 at de Ronde and fourth at the HAT, so she's in good form. On the far left, we have Jippy, who looks like she's recovered fully from her horror crash in Flanders; she rode Healthy Ageing but was pack fodder as she ensured no lasting damage, and it looks to me like second from left is Katie Hall, who hasn't done much racing this season but is a specialist climber.

 

[Cookster15]

Sad that Valgren is in such ordinary form at DD, I became a fan after his win last year and his super strong ride in the worlds. If he had that form now you would see him in the list of favourites. But not now.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Nope, the Danes we have relied on this spring has been flat out horrible. Him and Søren Kragh (who I consider the rider with the superior talent) have been totally off. This race is probably the race that suits the both of them the most, but I still dont expect anything.

 

[The Hegelian]

What a classy field. WC level. Whoever wins it will have to be awesome.

Alaphilippe is on the form of his life......he's the thoroughbred with the most legitimate confidence. Obviously hard to look past MVDP too. To think that riders like Sagan, Kwia, Valverde, Matthews. GVA are kind of 'maybe if on a good day' is remarkable.

 

[toolittle]

Re:

What a classy field. WC level. Whoever wins it will have to be awesome.

Alaphilippe is on the form of his life......he's the thoroughbred with the most legitimate confidence. Obviously hard to look past MVDP too. To think that riders like Sagan, Kwia, Valverde, Matthews. GVA are kind of 'maybe if on a good day' is remarkable.

Team strength is very important for hilly classics.
Dimension and Astana have great team.
QS has 2 Aces on hand.
I bet winner will be from these 3 teams.

 

[Keram]

I think Bora has good team too. They mixed Sagans classic squad with Basque country squad. There is no way in hell that Schachmann with his current form will be dropped. They should be co-leaders with Sagan and if Konrad or McCarthy will support them in the end they could win. I can imagine scenario where Max eill win solo and Sagan will sprint for second from small group.

 

[Scarponi]

No love for 2x winner Gasparotto

 

[Akuryo]

No love for 2x winner Gasparotto

Cavendish has won 30 stages in the Tour and yet I would not predict he'll get another one anytime soon...

 

[tomorrow]

Re:

I think Bora has good team too. They mixed Sagans classic squad with Basque country squad. There is no way in hell that Schachmann with his current form will be dropped. They should be co-leaders with Sagan and if Konrad or McCarthy will support them in the end they could win. I can imagine scenario where Max eill win solo and Sagan will sprint for second from small group.

and it could exactly vice versa. If Sagan has really somewhat recovered already and the fact that the dropped weight might not be such a factor here, the only thing they need to do is make sure, they're both in the lead group after cauberg. From there, they can't start playing games in quickstep style. They should start attacking sooner, as that could backfire, unless Konrad and McCarthy are in super form too and then maybe, they should be the ones trying long range attacks.
Imaging duo Sagan and this year's Schachmann in last years finale, I don't think Valgren would have won.

 

[Scarponi]

No love for 2x winner Gasparotto

Cavendish has won 30 stages in the Tour and yet I would not predict he'll get another one anytime soon...

Gasp finished 7th on Wednesday where as cav can’t even hold the peloton but I get your point

 

[Bardamu]

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

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

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

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

Look how much a course change can do

 

[RedheadDane]

Fun fact: the Deceuninck-Quickstep lineup, and the Dimension Data lineup has the same number of wins.

 

[KZD]

Alaphillippe says that he isn't as strong as last year but after what he showed in Brabantse Pijl he should be in the mix. Schachmann is in current shape is a big threat he can win in a long range attack solo or in a small group.
The likes of GVA or Sagan will try to save their spring but they will need either a slower race or a super day. Valverde will try to win Amstel for the first time but it would be epic if MVDP wins in his first attempt with the Dutch champion jersey.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Re:

Alaphillippe says that he isn't as strong as last year but after what he showed in Brabantse Pijl he should be in the mix. Schachmann is in current shape is a big threat he can win in a long range attack solo or in a small group.
The likes of GVA or Sagan will try to save their spring but they will need either a slower race or a super day. Valverde will try to win Amstel for the first time but it would be epic if MVDP wins in his first attempt with the Dutch champion jersey.

I guess that Ala already peaked in March, so he shouldn't be in peak shape right now.
Bora will probably have Schachman working for Sagan, if he's feeling well.
Lutsenko is a dangerous outsider who could win this race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

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[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Alaphillippe says that he isn't as strong as last year but after what he showed in Brabantse Pijl he should be in the mix. Schachmann is in current shape is a big threat he can win in a long range attack solo or in a small group.
The likes of GVA or Sagan will try to save their spring but they will need either a slower race or a super day. Valverde will try to win Amstel for the first time but it would be epic if MVDP wins in his first attempt with the Dutch champion jersey.

I guess that Ala already peaked in March, so he shouldn't be in peak shape right now.
Bora will probably have Schachman working for Sagan, if he's feeling well.
Lutsenko is a dangerous outsider who could win this race.

It makes sense Ala wouldn't be in peak now if he was peaking for MSR which is what he said his big goal was this year. In that case it may make Fleche Wallone and LBL harder for him, esp if Valverde is closer to peak as the Ardennes are likely bigger goals for him than the Giro is. Plus the others who are here. However, Amstel likely goes to a non favorite.

 

[jflemaire]

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?

 

[sir fly]

Considering the way cobbled classics unfolded, an exciting edition can be expected.
It's even hard to predict whether it's going to be rouleurs' or puncheurs' race.

 

[Nirvana]

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The timetable on the official website list the lengh as 265,7 kms so there is something missing here.
https://www.amstel.nl/-/media/websites/amstel/agr-2019/routes-2019/heren/verkort-agr.ashx

 

[Nirvana]

No love for 2x winner Gasparotto

Cavendish has won 30 stages in the Tour and yet I would not predict he'll get another one anytime soon...

That guy is actually useless all year bar the ten days between Brabantse and Liege, excluding accidents/mechanicals i'm pretty sure will be upfront in the finale and very likely in the top ten. Anyway his year will be next one.