Amstel is Gold, Jerry, Gold! Men's Classic One-Day Race, April 14, 2024

[Dekker_Tifosi]

idk if VDP is tired after Roubaix, that is only his 5th race day

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Honest question. Why they don't bring back the world cup and his jersey? It was fantastic!! The winner should get a big prize due to being the best classicomano in the season.
I would included these races (different scoring system. Monuments would value 1.5 more)
Omloop
Strade
MSR
E3 Harelbeke
GW
TF
PR
AGR
FW
LBL
San Sebastian
Plouay
Hamburg
Lombardia

My brain didn't include Paris Tours but heart says yes...

There is a one-day ranking. Not only those races, but weighting of races is such that the top of the table probably wouldn't be different. The leader already has a jersey.

 

[red_flanders]

Welp. Remco certainly out. What a huge freaking shame.

 

[proffate]

Ok but we're going to need to see proof on both accounts.

What are you staking against it?

The proof will either come after an MRI or in the duration of his convalescence.

 

[staubsauger]

Van der Poel the new main favorite for the Amstel Gold Race!?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

no Pidcock (likely) or Evenepoel yeah.

There's still people like Healy tho. But yeah thats a different category

 

[staubsauger]

no Pidcock (likely) or Evenepoel yeah.

There's still people like Healy tho. But yeah thats a different category

Frankly, that's what Pidcock thought last year too!

I bet Mathieu takes Healy serious!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Bemelerberg is what happens when you order a nothingburger climb on Wish.

 

[staubsauger]

Bemelerberg is what happens when you order a nothingburger climb on Wish.

Yeah, but the Netherlands aren't exactly peppered with mountains.

Unless they move the Amstel Gold Race to Saba and make it a mtt up towards Mount Scenery!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yeah, but the Netherlands aren't exactly peppered with mountains.

Unless they move the Amstel Gold Race to Saba and make it a mtt up towards Mount Scenery!

Very true, but Bemelerberg is the most insignificant, miserable excuse for a climb even within the limitations provided by the Netherlands. Keutenberg forever!

 

[red_flanders]

no Pidcock (likely) or Evenepoel yeah.

There's still people like Healy tho. But yeah thats a different category

Just saw Pidcock has been added to PR for Ineos, so I assume he's in for AG.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

which would normally make him an instant top favorite imo

 

[Kwaremonster]

Very true, but Bemelerberg is the most insignificant, miserable excuse for a climb even within the limitations provided by the Netherlands. Keutenberg forever!

Why I understand you saying that, I saw a replay of Gilbert's 2017 win earlier this week (yeah I guess I have too much time on my hands) and he and Kwiatkowski rode away from the group on the final ascent of the Bemelerberg (even the commentators were somewhat surprised at the time, although they mentioned the attrition of it being the 35th climb) .

So although rarely, it sometimes contributes to the race.. #funfact

 

[red_flanders]

Anyone still think MVDP is tiring? Seems like this is going to be another slaughter. 😕

 

[rghysens]

Anyone still think MVDP is tiring? Seems like this is going to be another slaughter. 😕

80km solo with 4 minutes on the 2nd?

 

[Didinho]

Gonna be harder against new opponents. Will be good for the race. He will have to work for the win.

My bet for podium Dylan Teuns. Was really strong in the Ronde. Also UAE with cards to play.

 

[scribers]

Anyone still think MVDP is tiring? Seems like this is going to be another slaughter. 😕

I’ll eat another hat if he wins this race!

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

80km solo with 4 minutes on the 2nd?

He's still 20km short of Teddy, for longest solo this season...he's having to add in new challenges, because just winning is soooo 2019. So 82km solo. Book it!

EDIT: I wish Teddy was riding, because I can totally see them talking at the start, and going on a 2 man break from KM 0, just to f**k with everybody.

 

[tobydawq]

Bemelerberg is what happens when you order a nothingburger climb on Wish.

But the route is great now. I don't think it makes much sense to criticise the Bemelerberg. Do you think the Cauberg finish was better?

 

[Eshnar]

Ignore what he said. Love these early threads, there is time to discuss the race. The best thread of the year starts normally 2 weeks before the race and all due to our incredible @Eshnar !!!

Thanks, but this is awkward now...
In case you missed it

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But the route is great now. I don't think it makes much sense to criticise the Bemelerberg. Do you think the Cauberg finish was better?

I preferred the Cauberg finish before they added the miserable 2012 Worlds loop. That loop was improved by the addition of Geulhemmerweg but the long gap from there to re-climbing Cauberg (because Bemelerberg is such a nothing) really hurt the viability of escapes. The current men's route which doesn't re-do the Cauberg at the finish is absolutely fine - but the version with the added loop including Bemelerberg before returning to Cauberg was just dreadful, removing all relevancy for all of the other climbs in the route because the stretch from Geulhemmerweg to Bemelerberg was such a nothingburger, adding distance which both added no viable action, and moved the other climbs with viable action further from the finish.

The women still have the crappy version of the finish where the Bemelerberg neuters the race and encourages a final Cauberg shootout, though, and that needs fixing. If they want to insist on a Cauberg finish for the women, the 2012 loop needs removing to stop it being a less interesting Flèche, and the Bemelerberg can be consigned to the opening part of the race, long forgotten by the time the race is in its key moments, which is where it belongs in a Cauberg finale scenario.

Unfortunately, the women's race route is essentially a token nod to the good climbs of the area like Keutenberg, Eyserbosweg and Kruisberg, and then a load of laps of the 2012 circuit where Cauberg is the only area that ever generates or incentivises action.

 

[Netserk]

I preferred the Cauberg finish

Really?!

While I never saw any of the editions ending in Maastricht, I definitely think the current finish is much, much better than the old hilltop finish. Together with Ans and the evolution of Flèche to a mere punch-out, it has meant that the hilly classics have greatly suffered this century thus far.

 

[Didinho]

No Van Eetvelt these hilly races. Knee problems.
All in for Van Gils.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Overview:
The 58th edition of the Amstel Gold Race will be run on Sunday April 14. With narrow roads, dozens of hills and constant twisting and turning the race opens a trilogy of three Ardennes Classics. Founded in 1966, the Amstel Gold Race is the only Classic in the Netherlands.

Date: April 14th, 2024
Start: Maastricht
Finish: Valkenburg
Distance: 255.2 km

Streaming Info:
US: FloBikes - https://www.flobikes.com/events/11452333-2024-amstel-gold
Other: TBD, will update. Pls msg me if you have updates. Thanks!

Startlist:

Startlist for Amstel Gold Race 2024

Competing teams and riders for Amstel Gold Race 2024. Top competitors are Marc Hirschi, Mathieu van der Poel and Juan Ayuso.

www.procyclingstats.com

Route:

Profile:

Who ya got?
MVDP, Remco, Ayuso, Pidcock, Skjelmose, Teuns, Matthews, Cortina...Vino?

@Armchair cyclist pls sticky when appropriate. Thanks!

Please add "Who to win"-voting function for top 10 contenders

 

[Purito1991]

I like the current route. With the caubergfinish there was no action until the finish.