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Amstel Gold Race Discussion
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 19-11-2018 09:52
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It's finally here! The Ardennes week is back into the MG, as every year! All the puncheurs in the Pro Tour are getting ready for a big week with 3 big races, and the first of them is held tomorrow; the Amstel Gold Race
This race is a big endurance test, with over 250 kms of twisty bumpy roads. You never get any rest time during the race, as you always need to be focused on the road
| Favourites | HIL | ACC | STA | SPR | Contenders | HIL | ACC | STA | SPR |  Hagen | 85 | 79 | 81 | 73 |  Trofimov | 81 | 73 | 77 | 72 |  Ponzi | 84 | 80 | 77 | 76 |  Gastauer | 82 | 76 | 78 | 67 |  Bakelants | 84 | 78 | 81 | 73 |  Ginanni | 82 | 73 | 77 | 65 |  Van Garderen | 82 | 79 | 78 | 70 |  Claeys | 83 | 73 | 74 | 67 |  Sagan | 82 | 76 | 78 | 73 |  Boswell | 80 | 76 | 77 | 65 |  Skujins | 83 | 76 | 80 | 68 | Borges | 78 | 81 | 75 | 71 |  De Bie | 83 | 75 | 77 | 72 |  Vakoc | 80 | 74 | 75 | 71 |  Lutsenko | 81 | 81 | 76 | 72 |  Jensen | 78 | 76 | 77 | 66 |  Mohoric | 81 | 77 | 78 | 67 |  Prevar | 79 | 73 | 77 | 67 |  Kelderman | 82 | 72 | 80 | 67 | Slagter | 79 | 71 | 71 | 61 |  Koretzky | 80 | 79 | 77 | 71 |  Chernetskiy | 78 | 71 | 80 | 63 | | Van Stayen | 79 | 78 | 76 | 84 | Buchmann | 78 | 71 | 73 | 65 |
Last year's winner is obviously back, as Peter Sagan will be looking to get a second win in the race. He won it in 2017 being the most aggresive rider and then beating "everyone" in the sprint. Not the greatest season so far, not even close to his 2017 level, but he'll be hoping to be back at it this week
The big favourite is the two-times winner and big dominator of the season, Simone Ponzi. The Italian won the race in 2015 and 2016, before pulling out of 2017's race with a stomach issue. He's already won Tirreno and Strade this year, so he's clearly in form
Another two-times winner of the race is back after skipping 2017 race, with Edvald Boasson Hagen. His last win came in 2013, a long time ago, but he still has the level to fight for the win here
Jan Bakelants has never won this race, despite having finished twice second (back in 2011-2012), and his age, it's probably his final chance at it.
One step behind the big favourites, we have 3 riders who have both the hilly strenght and a great kick to follow the attacks. Tejay van Garderen, Toms Skujins and Sean de Bie. They will all compete for a podium place, as it's highly unlikely they'll beat all four riders ahead of them
Alexey Lutsenko, Matej Mohoric and Michael Van Stayen are three riders that have different weapons for a race like this, and if they use them wisely, they could get a big result here. Lutsenko with his massive acceleration, Skujins with his great downhill skills and Van Stayen with his sprint
Yuri Trofimov is the only other former winner in the startlist, being the 2014 winner. Last year he was narrowly beaten by Sagan in the finish, but it would be a huge surprise if he manages to fight again for the win this year
Other interesting riders for this race are Koretzky, Borges, Claeys, Kelderman, Gastauer and Ginanni
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| Vien |
Posted on 19-11-2018 11:10
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Got a wildcard for Lutsenko here. Hopefully it can give us some confidence for the PTHC races. If he wants to have an off-day however, I certainly hope it's going to be this one. |
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| fintas |
Posted on 19-11-2018 12:09
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Small Tour Specialist
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my team does not deserve even a reference in the preview, this does not promise anything good for us.
Top 15/20 for Vogt please
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| tastasol |
Posted on 19-11-2018 13:03
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Classics Specialist
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This is obviously a big one. Bakelants has been good so far this season, hopefully another podium here.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 03:19
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 19-11-2018 13:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
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Boasson Hagen has been quite hit or miss this season. Definitely need a hit here. |
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| ember |
Posted on 19-11-2018 14:20
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Vakoc with another chance to lead and get a decent result.
Though, judging by his attempt, or rather lack of, at a result in Luxembourg, I won't get my hopes up here. Fingers crossed we can send Trentin in the breakaway though, as he should have the abilities to survive deep into the final if he gets in it. |
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 19-11-2018 15:23
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Team Leader
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Here with my Bonnie and Clyde combo to try and steal some points from the traditional candidates.
Looking forward to it!
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 19-11-2018 15:33
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Directeur Sportif
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Watson apparently not willing to do anything in Bobridge's absence, so unfortunately we won't get anything from those one day classics. Just hoping for a breakaway appearance and maybe someone grabbing a Top-30 result somewhere..
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 19-11-2018 18:19
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Small Tour Specialist
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Sadly we don't have a victory contender in the hills anymore. Ginanni should fight for places 5 to 10 and we can hope that one of our other guys has a good day and sneaks into a nice position.
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| SotD |
Posted on 19-11-2018 19:09
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World Champion
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I don't trust Koretzky to do much in these races. He's simply not good enough. But one can always hope he'll be aggressive, and somehow get a gap. Out of the 3 races in the ardennes, this is probably the best chance to surprise.
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| Heine |
Posted on 20-11-2018 09:03
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Hoping for a good result here, need to turn it around after that dreadfull Giro
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| cio93 |
Posted on 20-11-2018 09:07
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World Champion
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As always, anything between 5th and 10th seems reasonable for Kelderman in the Ardennes.
I don't need another fluke win somewhere, first and foremost we need to avoid a bad race like LBL last season and just keep up a consistent points flow. Arndt and Felline are always dark horses for a surprise somewhere along the way.
Let's see who gets the first win of the week and gets to dream big at least for a couple of days!
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| roturn |
Posted on 20-11-2018 10:30
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That`s not good enough really from De Bie, needed him to step up his game but 9th is too less after training. Hope he is doing better in next classics.
Thanks for the report and congrats dev for the nice win. |
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| Vien |
Posted on 20-11-2018 11:22
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Small Tour Specialist
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Ehhh....
Whatever. |
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| fintas |
Posted on 20-11-2018 11:34
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Small Tour Specialist
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70 Mario Vogt Berg Cycles s.t.
I will not even comment
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| tastasol |
Posted on 20-11-2018 11:35
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Classics Specialist
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Congrats dev! Brilliant race by Ponzi.
Bakelants looked good for a long time, but just on a bit too weak on the day on Cauberg. A pity that he was left chasing alone, which probably made him lose out on the 3rd place, but at least he didn't crack totally.
The team looked good, with Gillett doing a good job responding to the first attack. Unfortunately no minor placements though, but kind of expected when the race didn't crack up (other than the front 10). Thanks for the report!
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 20-11-2018 12:43
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Directeur Sportif
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No, Yes, I dont know. We went for depth instead of a peak result, which turns out to be decent somehow I guess...
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 20-11-2018 13:29
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World Champion
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Harder for Boswell to perform in a full field so 13th is a pretty damn good result.
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| SotD |
Posted on 20-11-2018 14:53
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World Champion
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I wonder what causes these passive classics. Lack of crashes? Too many favorites?
Horrible race, and a pathetic show from us. Van der Hugenhaben as 25th is somewhat decent, but 20th from Koretzky is just retarded. Atleast I was correct in not trusting him as a leader.
Congrats on a good win!
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| Heine |
Posted on 20-11-2018 17:26
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Boring for most of the race, but well done by TvG in the end. Also great from Buchmann and Preidler to secure some extra points
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