WT - Amstel Gold Race - Sunday 14 April 2013

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Matthews could probably do well here, but yeah, even if they don't make him ride for Gerrans, he'll probably have to do a leadout for Impey.

 

[jaylew]

I think the new course eliminates Purito as a winner. On the old course he actually had a chance.

Even after Lombardia?

 

[Netserk]

Even after Lombardia?

Yes. The differences will be much smaller on the top of Cauberg, and there won't be any downhill. Only flat road, where both Gilbert and Sagan will be able to close a gap.

 

[SafeBet]

Little Prince is ready for a bounce back. Watch out.

 

[the asian]

Little Prince is ready for a bounce back. Watch out.

Didn't he say he's desperate to win LBL? New course at AGR won't suit him much and having already won it, don't think he'll give too much of an effort.

 

[SafeBet]

Didn't he say he's desperate to win LBL? New course at AGR won't suit him much and having already won it, don't think he'll give too much of an effort.

I reckon going full gas in AGR won't do any harm to his LBL chances. He hasn't raced as much as last year to this point of the season. And Lampre can't really afford him taking it easy. They need results and points.

 

[Gloin22]

Gerrans has definitely 2nd best sprint of all the favourites imo.

If Gilbert attacks and Sagan burns a bit catching all the attacks, and Gerrams just follows them at right moments, Gerrans should stand a good chance of winning this.

If not, can't see how Sagan can loose this other than a crash.

 

[Roderick]

Gerrans has definitely 2nd best sprint of all the favourites imo.

If Gilbert attacks and Sagan burns a bit catching all the attacks, and Gerrams just follows them at right moments, Gerrans should stand a good chance of winning this.

If not, can't see how Sagan can loose this other than a crash.

Phil beats Gerrans in a sprint with his fingers in his nose

 

[Gloin22]

Phil beats Gerrans in a sprint with his fingers in his nose

Right. So far this season Gerrans is competing with supposedly sprinter's and if you watched Volta's stage, he looked like actual sprinter in fact on a flat sprint.

If he hangs on to Gilbert or Sagan, he can beat them both in the sprint. If he plays it well.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Right. So far this season Gerrans is competing with supposedly sprinter's and if you watched Volta's stage, he looked like actual sprinter in fact on a flat sprint.

If he hangs on to Gilbert or Sagan, he can beat them both in the sprint. If he plays it well.

Sagan beat Cavendish and friends in a flat sprint. No way that Gerrans even stands a remote chance of beating Sagan in a sprint.

 

[El Pistolero]

Phil beats Gerrans in a sprint with his fingers in his nose

In a hard race it depends on who's freshest, when they start their sprint and in which position they are in(hard to win when you're leading out).

 

[maltiv]

Sagan beat Cavendish and friends in a flat sprint. No way that Gerrans even stands a remote chance of beating Sagan in a sprint.

Maybe if Sagan gets overexcited and starts with 500 meters to go...

 

[Unkown]

It comes down to the situation, of course on paper Sagan is the superior sprinter to Gerrans, but after 250 KM of hills and attacking, it usually comes down to who has more left in the tank. Sagan has a great sprint but it is by no means unbeatable when up against guys like Gilbert, Gerrans, etc.

 

[pastronef]

Phil beats Gerrans in a sprint with his fingers in his nose

Sagan beats Phil in a sprint with Gerro's finger in his nose

 

[Afrank]

Maybe if Sagan gets overexcited and starts with 500 meters to go...

I'm not even sure they could beat him then.

 

[Roderick]

Sagan beats Phil in a sprint with Gerro's finger in his nose

Now that would be a way to celebrate his victories

 

[greenedge]

Gilbert or Sagan to win. Gerrans to also ride well.

Ponzi and EBH to top 5.

Can't help but feel that FDJ should send Demare over Bouhanni- he rode well in the Classics and i can see him having a more realistic chance of winning it in the future.

OGE, Movistar, Astana, Sky and OPQS have strong teams and should put BMC and Cannondale under pressure.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Gilbert or Sagan to win. Gerrans to also ride well.

Ponzi and EBH to top 5.

Can't help but feel that FDJ should send Demare over Bouhanni- he rode well in the Classics and i can see him having a more realistic chance of winning it in the future.

OGE, Movistar, Astana, Sky and OPQS have strong teams and should put BMC and Cannondale under pressure.

This race suits Bouhanni a lot more than Demare.

 

[Buffalo]

Will Routely... Solo victory.

 

[karlboss]

I'm just hoping for a tough that enough teams acknowledge their chances if Gilbert or Sagan get to the Cauberg in the front group are extremely limited and race aggressively.
I'll tip Albasini from a late break.

 

[movingtarget]

Phil beats Gerrans in a sprint with his fingers in his nose

Chavanel beat Gilbert in a sprint at Paris Nice. Wonderful sprinter Chavanel. Gilbert is not the sprinter he used to be. He wins alone or usually he does not win. Gerrans is very good in uphill sprints as he has shown before and even on the flat is pretty good. His only chance against Sagan would be in an uphill sprint. Gilbert outsprinted Rodriguez for a stage in the Vuelta but once again Rodriguez is not a sprinter on the flat but very strong on the hills and Gilbert was very strong that day hitting his peak for the World's last year.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

It comes down to the situation, of course on paper Sagan is the superior sprinter to Gerrans, but after 250 KM of hills and attacking, it usually comes down to who has more left in the tank and that is Sagan. Sagan has a great sprint and is unbeatable when up against guys like Gilbert, Gerrans, etc.

Surely this was what you meant right? I fail too imagine a scenario in which Sagan doesn't win. Other than him crashing, of course.

 

[Panda Claws]

Chavanel beat Gilbert in a sprint at Paris Nice. Wonderful sprinter Chavanel. Gilbert is not the sprinter he used to be. He wins alone or usually he does not win. Gerrans is very good in uphill sprints as he has shown before and even on the flat is pretty good. His only chance against Sagan would be in an uphill sprint. Gilbert outsprinted Rodriguez for a stage in the Vuelta but once again Rodriguez is not a sprinter on the flat but very strong on the hills and Gilbert was very strong that day hitting his peak for the World's last year.

Don't forget that until 'Brabantse Pijl' the general concensus on this forum was that Gilbert's forum was awful. Still, he managed to become 2nd.

It was no doubt a weird sprint, however, considering Gilbert did beat guys like Rojas.
From that I can deduce that Gilbert started his sprint too early and also that Chavanel was simply a lot less tired from the climbs than Gilbert, Rojas, etc. were.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Surely this was what you meant right? I fail too imagine a scenario in which Sagan doesn't win. Other than him crashing, of course.

Did you watch MSR?

Competition will be much stronger than at Brabantse Pijl. I don't think Gilbert is the biggest threat. He is not at 100% yet and Sagan almost rode him off his wheel after 1.5km long pull.

 

[trevim]

Freire This would be the year.