WT - Amstel Gold Race - Sunday 14 April 2013

[Orbit501]

How is it Pais Vasco organisers can get all results up and confirmed almost in an instant yet here we have confused top tens and nothing more nearly an hour after the race has finished.

 

[jaylew]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfMVNJgxBZc

0:30 - 0:40 or so you can clearly see Valverde sitting at Phil's wheel.

...

No, you can't. Anyway, Valverde's problem was his position when Gilbert attacked. He wasn't in a position to go with him (not that he coud have).

Yes, Phil was racing for first. That means catching Kreuziger. Valverde was racing for second, that means saving energy for the final sprint. Phil didn't do that because why would he need a second place?

Phil raced for 1st until he knew it was pointless, then raced for 2nd. Valverde did the same. The difference is, Valverde knew he was racing for 2nd sooner. He could have picked up a 2nd much easier, by staying in the group on the Cauberg. That would have been truly saving energy for the final sprint. He simply couldn't go with Gilbert and had trouble getting onto Gerrans wheel.

Phil was quite a few rows behind at the beginning of the Cauberg. Yet he somehow won. While some of you are using the bad placement argument as a reason why Valverde didn't win.

No, he didn't win because Gilbert was simply better that day.

 

[JRanton]

How is it Pais Vasco organisers can get all results up and confirmed almost in an instant yet here we have confused top tens and nothing more nearly an hour after the race has finished.

It's absolutely pathetic. Take the World Tour status away from the Dutch. Make it a 1.1. Amateurs.

 

[Parrulo]

from the video it's clear that gilbert was riding away from gerrans and that is why valverde closed the gap himself

 

[Netserk]

from the video it's clear that gilbert was riding away from gerrans and that is why valverde closed the gap himself

And that if Valverde had been in Gerrans position, he would have been in the wheel of Gilbert immediately.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Finally a decent edition again.

Solid win by Kreuziger. Congrats to him.

Balaverde will be tough to beat on Sunday.

 

[Cavendash]

The reason why CF is going to win the tour relatively easily is because Alberto is far, far from top form. With both on top form Alberto wins. Top form is for example Tdf 2009 when he got the VAM record

Dont know how you can come to that conclusion as we haven't even seen Froomes top form yet.

 

[El Pistolero]

from the video it's clear that gilbert was riding away from gerrans and that is why valverde closed the gap himself

After wheelsucking yes he closed the small gap. Does that make him the strongest? Nope, Kreuziger was stronger for example.

Anyway, Gilbert said he lost too much energy after the crash, but he also didn't have super legs today, but had a good feeling. Then complimented Kreuziger.

 

[Netserk]

After wheelsucking yes he closed the small gap. Does that make him the strongest? Nope, Kreuziger was stronger for example.

Anyway, Gilbert said he lost too much energy after the crash, but he also didn't have super legs today, but had a good feeling. Then complimented Kreuziger.

If Kreuziger had been in the bunch, he wouldn't be able to follow Valverde. Kreuziger was the smartest. Valverde the strongest.

 

[argyllflyer]

Perhaps why henao didn't win:

http://instagram.com/p/YF0JgVQvrp/

From Uran, with the message: 2 falls but still top 10!

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

wow couldn't see the race today and I just came back to check the results, Kreuziger... didn't expect that!

Nice for Saxo to get some points though!

I had to leave just as Weening was in the attack, how far did his attack reach? because I see he still made it into the top 10! Also, what happened to Sagan?

 

[maltiv]

What a race by Nordhaug today. When he's in form, he's one of the most entertaining riders in the peloton. Always on the offensive.

Too bad he didn't pay attention when Kreuziger went, but he probably wouldn't have been able to keep up with him anyway.

 

[El Pistolero]

If Kreuziger had been in the bunch, he wouldn't be able to follow Valverde. Kreuziger was the smartest. Valverde the strongest.

Kreuziger was the strongest and smartest.

I fail to see why Valverde is the strongest. Because he won a sprint after letting Phil and Gerrans do most of the work? Please... Phil even started that sprint from the front.

 

[Afrank]

If Kreuziger had been in the bunch, he wouldn't be able to follow Valverde. Kreuziger was the smartest. Valverde the strongest.

The fact that he left the peloton and went with the break, then broke away from them and soloed in for a win makes Kreuziger the strongest and the smartest.

Valverde pretty much just was at the front when he attacked Gerrans and closed the gap to Gilbert and when he was sprinting in for 2nd. That doesn't make him the strongest. Gilbert did a monster attack and pulled a lot afterwards, plus he lead out the sprint, make him much stronger than valverde IMO.

 

[staubsauger]

For a single second I thought Gilbert would be winning this again. He's still the king of the Cauberg it seems. Looking forward to see him at the Fleche Wallone and Luik-Bastenaken-Luik. His shape looks better than last year. Maybe he even could've already been a factor in the cobbled classics without his cold.

Strong perfomance by Kreuziger. Obviously some guys critisized him to much last year.

 

[serfla]

wow couldn't see the race today and I just came back to check the results, Kreuziger... didn't expect that!

Nice for Saxo to get some points though!

I had to leave just as Weening was in the attack, how far did his attack reach? because I see he still made it into the top 10! Also, what happened to Sagan?

Stopped by to grab a but.

 

[The Hitch]

Really happy to see Roman pull that off.

After wheelsucking yes he closed the small gap. Does that make him the strongest?

According to you doesnt that make him "the smartest"? I mean when the very same Gerrans wheelsucked Cancellara for far longer, according to you that was brilliant tactics from Gerrans. So Valverde was also doing brilliant tactics today no?

 

[DominicDecoco]

I reckon a bit of confidence into that Saxo team can do some wonders for the following months.

 

[The Hitch]

what, Purito injured?

Nooooooooooo

 

[Netserk]

Perhaps why henao didn't win:

http://instagram.com/p/YF0JgVQvrp/

From Uran, with the message: 2 falls but still top 10!

 

[Gloin22]

Perhaps why henao didn't win:

http://instagram.com/p/YF0JgVQvrp/

From Uran, with the message: 2 falls but still top 10!

Ouchh..Great finish by him considering this then.

 

[El Pistolero]

Really happy to see Roman pull that off.



According to you doesnt that make him "the smartest"? I mean when the very same Gerrans wheelsucked Cancellara for far longer, according to you that was brilliant tactics from Gerrans. So Valverde was also doing brilliant tactics today no?

Gerrans won, Valverde did it for a second place.


So your analogy doesn't really work.

Besides, discussion is about the strongest, not the smartest.

 

[manafana]

The Kruz missle was in the house

 

[TANK91]

The reason why CF is going to win the tour relatively easily is because Alberto is far, far from top form. With both on top form Alberto wins. Top form is for example Tdf 2009 when he got the VAM record

Flor im well aware about 2009 and 2011, but this is the future not the past and currently on top form imho CF will win, Contador is a Legend in cycling that is in the book's im not doubting that. Contador is always gonna be their or their abouts. Im not a huge huge fan but if he won in his usual attacking style id be very happy. I defo think he will win GT'S, just not this years TDF. If it was all for Wiggo again id make Contador fav on this course.

 

[garyhoop1]

Videos

Watch videos from Amstel Gold including the race finish - http://bit.ly/16TVsxD