Armstrong in Amstel Gold - significance?

[filipo]

Dude, for reals as much as I loathe Armstrong, I would love to see him ride the classics -- as in focus on the classics -- at the expense of or even in addition to the Tour. He's such a canny dude; surely he should have won something greater than La Fleche by now.

 

[badboygolf16v]

Boogerd drafted Lance for the last 40km and then beat him in the sprint

Must be the only sprint in a major classic that Boogy won. If he'd had a bit more of a kick he'd have cleaned up..

 

[flicker]

thats what I'm talkin about,Willis

Lance, way to go. Love to see a rider of his caliber hitting the classics.

Gesink took 3rd last year. I think Lance is way older but he is hella tough and an excellent bike handler, better then Bob.

I know Rebellin won it at 37, why not Lance. Hopefully Lance riding the Amstel will spur the newbie American fans to take a look at what I consider the tough man races.

Lance won't race the Amstel for second!

 

[Martin318is]

you really need to watch that race again, lance was doing all the sitting on and boogard led out the sprint from the front, as a matter of fact if you watch ''the road to paris'' they even have a clip of bruyneel telling pharmstrong not to pull through and sit on till the sprint.........sorry buddy, just put the koolade down..........

Sorry but that is not correct. Armstrong was asking the car if they were going to ride because he was doing all the work. Boogard was the one being told to sit on to wait for... Dekker I think it was? in the chasing group.

As a result, Armstrong did about 80% of the riding on the front and when Boogard was on the front their pace dropped. It wasn't until the last km that Armstrong started to play sprint tactics but he didn't have the legs and Booey was fresher.

 

[Walshworld]

Real question? Will he drink the beer?

Lance signed a three year deal to promote Michelob Ultra beer. Me thinks he's contractually prohibited from downing a few frosty Amstels. Twisted Spoke
http://walshworld.wordpress.com/

 

[craig1985]

He wont win he will be lucky if he gets a top ten. Amstel will be one by schleck, evans, cunego, and maybe gilbert

I don't think Gilbert can win Amstel Gold, but I would put money on him winning L-B-L.

 

[tjwracer]

Maybe not but he'll beat lance and if he races it he will be there towards the end but your brobably right he wont win it

 

[craig1985]

Boogerd drafted Lance for the last 40km and then beat him in the sprint after Lance coudn't drop him up the Cauberg. Armstrong was the strongest rider that day and deserved to win.

Having said that, LA in 2010 is like Hincapie in his prime, and no discredit to Hincapie. LA can be a factor, he can be one of the strong men, but he can't win. No way. Amstel is too long, too hard, too hilly. Has some squirrelly bits, with tight bends and deep gutters, and Armstrong has always excelled at that. With its circuits style, it is like a spring world's. A way underrated race - one of if not the best. Suited to a guy like Frank Schleck.

you really need to watch that race again, lance was doing all the sitting on and boogard led out the sprint from the front, as a matter of fact if you watch ''the road to paris'' they even have a clip of bruyneel telling pharmstrong not to pull through and sit on till the sprint.........sorry buddy, just put the koolade down..........

Sorry but that is not correct. Armstrong was asking the car if they were going to ride because he was doing all the work. Boogard was the one being told to sit on to wait for... Dekker I think it was? in the chasing group.

As a result, Armstrong did about 80% of the riding on the front and when Boogard was on the front their pace dropped. It wasn't until the last km that Armstrong started to play sprint tactics but he didn't have the legs and Booey was fresher.

The winner told the press at the finish line: "It isn't my favourite style to ride in the wheel of Lance for 20 kilometers. Jan Raas came to me and yelled: 'Stay in his wheel, wait for Zberg and don't take over from Armstrong.' He yelled it several times. Not riding in front is nothing for me. But winning is the only thing that counts. It's great to win in your own country. It's great to see our tactics worked today. Four Rabo's in the top 10 and one of them taking the first spot. And about the accident? It's terrible for Zberg. I know he was the best sprinter of our group. He should have been the winner, I think. But it's a scandal with all the motorbikes. I understand they have to do their work. But today it was not no longer what you would call normal. I had motorbikes in front of me, beside me, behind me. I even hit one motorbike during the race. There were too many of them. I don't think the last word is spoken about this." Michael was very emotional when he met his wife, father and mother after the finish.

www.cyclingnews.com presents the 34th Amstel Gold Race 1999

 

[tjwracer]

Its sounds like Lance had to pull if Zberg was coming boogerd's job was to wait for him and ride on lance Lance got beat! sorry

 

[Ninety5rpm]

The winner told the press at the finish line: "It isn't my favourite style to ride in the wheel of Lance for 20 kilometers. Jan Raas came to me and yelled: 'Stay in his wheel, wait for Zberg and don't take over from Armstrong.' He yelled it several times. Not riding in front is nothing for me. But winning is the only thing that counts. It's great to win in your own country. It's great to see our tactics worked today.

www.cyclingnews.com presents the 34th Amstel Gold Race 1999

Well, that settles that!

 

[Ninety5rpm]

He wont win he will be lucky if he gets a top ten. Amstel will be one by schleck, evans, cunego, and maybe gilbert

Maybe not but he'll beat lance and if he races it he will be there towards the end but your brobably right he wont win it

Its sounds like Lance had to pull if Zberg was coming boogerd's job was to wait for him and ride on lance Lance got beat! sorry

Come on, man, this isn't twitter. A little more attention to grammar and punctuation would be appreciated because it would make your posts less difficult to read.

 

[erader]

I think it will be great to watch the transformation of a great GT rider into a great one-day classics rider.

I hope he does RvV and P-R. He'll probably give Boonen a run.

actually the transformation worked the other way around. the rap on armstrong pre cancer was that he would develop into a great classics rider but would never win the tour.

while i'm no armstrong fan -- anymore -- make no mistake about it he would have been great classics champion if that were his focus.

ed rader

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I don't think Gilbert can win Amstel Gold, but I would put money on him winning L-B-L.

Strange, I think it's just the opposite. The hills in LBL are too long, too hard for Gilbert, more suited for real climbers like Schleck. The amstel hills should be perfect for Gilbert...

 

[erader]

His comeback should have been about trying to win races he never has instead of focusing on those silly three weeks in July.

at first Lance did say his goal was to win the Giro, remember?

ed rader

 

[erader]

Sorry but that is not correct. Armstrong was asking the car if they were going to ride because he was doing all the work. Boogard was the one being told to sit on to wait for... Dekker I think it was? in the chasing group.

As a result, Armstrong did about 80% of the riding on the front and when Boogard was on the front their pace dropped. It wasn't until the last km that Armstrong started to play sprint tactics but he didn't have the legs and Booey was fresher.

you're right. boogerd sucked lance's wheel big time. i think anyone who followed bike racing back then knows that.

ed rader

 

[erader]

When has he entered a pre-Tour de France race to actually win it? I mean since he exclusively became a Tour de France rider (circa 1999)? It will be a training/publicity ride at best.

i think Lance will race to win. i thought lance would be lucky to place in the top 20 in the 2009 TDF. apparently he has more faith in his ability than i do.

ed rader

 

[Galic Ho]

The significance is that my man Cunego will crush him.

I will go out on a limb and make a prediction that an aggressive and fired up Evans will win Amstel or LBL.

Seconded.

Cunego, Gilbert, Evans, Valverde, or whoever. Only a fool would let Lance win Amstel. They know his history with the event. Cunego if his aim is the classics and Giro will have the form to crush Armstrong.

 

[sTTevie]

Strange, I think it's just the opposite. The hills in LBL are too long, too hard for Gilbert, more suited for real climbers like Schleck. The amstel hills should be perfect for Gilbert...

Gilbert can definitely win the Gold Race ... he proofed that last year when he came in fourth ... outsprinting Cunego among others ...

 

[racerralph]

Sorry but, LA couldn't win it when Dekker and Boogerd were there, he isn't going to win it now, when HIS legs aren't there.

 

[Anonymous]

Nah.. just a little irony. I though it to be a cute twist on the 'once a classics rider turned tour champ' line.

In all seriousness, between the cobbles and the hard men who actually race Paris Roubaix, LA would get beat like a drum.

Another stark contrast between men like Merckx, LeMond and LA. Kinda like NFL receivers who won't go across the middle.

Sigh. I miss the days when the riders also tried to win other races. It's not just about the Tour. I blame Big Mig for that.

 

[Anonymous]

Now that's a good post. Seriously. OK, I admit it; I LOVE the Classics.

Agreed. He could then pass off not winning the Tour as it wasn't a target, instead of it being a failure if/when he doesn't win it this year.

Surely more people would become aware of Cancer also if he made more effort in the multi-national classics than just three weeks in France?

 

[thehog]

Sigh. I miss the days when the riders also tried to win other races. It's not just about the Tour. I blame Big Mig for that.

No blame drug testing and Dr.Ferrari.

 

[Highlander]

I know Rebellin won it at 37, why not Lance. Hopefully Lance riding the Amstel will spur the newbie American fans to take a look at what I consider the tough man races.

Lance won't race the Amstel for second!

Rebellin was a classics rider, so it wasn't that surprising that he was able to win it even at 37. However, the bigger issue lies with Rebellin's ongoing problems and suspension for doping. That does make any win suspect. With all the rumors that have swirled around Armstrong for the past 10+ years, any good finish will simply fuel such talk.

 

[flicker]

Rebellin was a classics rider, so it wasn't that surprising that he was able to win it even at 37. However, the bigger issue lies with Rebellin's ongoing problems and suspension for doping.

All true. Thing is Lance seems to be able to achieve the goals. I could see 3rd in the tour wasn't good enough for him. He is also psycho and a great bike handler.

He is a better rider then Robert Gesink and Bob took 3rd in Amstel last year.

Lance is also miles ahead of Cunego and has a stronger team.

 

[Ferminal]

Rebellin was a classics rider, so it wasn't that surprising that he was able to win it even at 37. However, the bigger issue lies with Rebellin's ongoing problems and suspension for doping.

All true. Thing is Lance seems to be able to achieve the goals. I could see 3rd in the tour wasn't good enough for him. He is also psycho and a great bike handler.

He is a better rider then Robert Gesink and Bob took 3rd in Amstel last year.

Lance is also miles ahead of Cunego and has a stronger team.

Miles ahead of Cunego..?

2005

Fleche - 14th
LBL - 9th

2006

LBL - 3rd

2007

LBL - 7th

2008

Amstel - 1st
Fleche - 3rd
LBL - 30th

2009

Amstel - 5th
Fleche - 3rd
LBL - 7th

And of course his Lombardias.

No, I think Cunego is a better one day rider in recent times.