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Amstel Gold Race Discussion Thread
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| Heine |
Posted on 02-01-2026 13:32
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4544
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Welcome to Netherlands and the hills in Amstel Gold Race. 256.9 km going up and down, then some more up and down, before we end with going down and up
A staple of the man game since 2007 when Pozzatto won the first edition. Then legends like Samuel Sanchez, Boogerd, Schleck and Boasson Hagan continued. Boasson Hagen even managed to win twice1
The main man of this race however has been Simone Ponzi, 4 wins making him the only rider to have won it more than twice! A big legend here!
Last year Valter won and 2 years ago Gidich did it and 3 years ago Mohoric. Could any of them repeat?
| 2024 | Attila Valter (Aker - MOT) | | 2023 | Yevgeniy Gidich (King Power) | | 2022 | Matej Mohoric (Aker - MOT) | | 2021 | Sean De Bie (Aegon - Peroni) | | 2020 | Alexey Lutsenko (King Power) | | 2019 | Simone Ponzi (Fablok - Bank BGZ) | | 2018 | Simone Ponzi (Hugo Boss) | | 2017 | Peter Sagan (Moser - Sygic) | | 2016 | Simone Ponzi (Kenya Airways - Dimension Data) | | 2015 | Simone Ponzi (Good Energy) | | 2014 | Yuri Trofimov (Tinkoff Credit Systems Bank) | | 2013 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (Aker - MOT) | | 2012 | Philippe Gilbert (Pendleton's Twicer) | | 2011 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team B&O) | | 2010 | Frank Schleck (Accumalux-Huez) | | 2009 | Michael Boogerd (Philips - Hummel) | | 2008 | Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) | | 2007 | Filippo Pozzato (AG2R Prevoyance) |
| 1 | Attila Valter | Aker - MOT | 6h10'59 | | 2 | Alexey Lutsenko | Gazelle | s.t. | | 3 | Joseph Areruya | Xero Racing | s.t. | | 4 | Miguel Angel Lopez | Evonik - ELKO | s.t. | | 5 | Yevgeniy Gidich | King Power | s.t. | | 6 | Mauro Schmid | Jura GIANTS | s.t. | | 7 | Elie Gesbert | Assa Abloy | s.t. | | 8 | Davide Formolo | Rabobank | s.t. | | 9 | Matej Mohoric | EA Vesuvio | s.t. | | 10 | Sergio Higuita | Oxxo - Frisby | s.t. |
Last years winner  Valter is of course a big favorite and deserves to be mentioned first. He got a new friend in Romo, could that be good or bad?
While Valter deserves to be mentioned the biggest favorite is  Lopez. The Colombian is the best puncheur in the peloton. Might be time to show it? His biggest competitor might be 2023 champion  Gidich. He is another strong puncheur and should aim to win this.
Another former winner is  Mohoric, he's declining but still a great rider who can get a great result
Behind the biggest favorites we have a strong field,  Kinoshita and  Vansevenant are strong and right behind them, with the right form and flow they can steal this. Could  Aranburu and  Buchmann are other strong riders, but could their energy stat be their doom? While  Yates,  Higuita,  Bagioli, McCarthy and  Skujins are other strong riders who on a good day can beat everyone else, will this be the day?
Startlist
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| Heine |
Posted on 02-01-2026 13:33
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4544
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I hope to be able to race this tonight, been away for all xmas and are behind scheldue. Race most likely coming tomorrow or Sunday 
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| ember |
Posted on 02-01-2026 13:54
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Team Leader
Posts: 7112
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
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The Ardennes are upon us  
The season is flying, thank you to everyone contributing
With the few appearances by Valter so far this season not boosting confidence at all, I'm very nervous for this one. Feels like we really need a result here, to boost our chances and general scoring with the cobbles also being mixed at best for Anderberg. Add Groenewegen's poor Giro, and we're looking a bit dire for our leaders and points. Time to step forward and show you can do it again after last year's edition, Valter! 
Aside from the added pressure I kind of feel for a result, obviously also very interested in seeing how Romo+Valter can potentially work out, or not work out, together.
Thank you for the preview, Heine, looking forward to the report |
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| SotD |
Posted on 02-01-2026 14:24
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World Champion
Posts: 12706
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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It's going to be very interesting to see how Kinoshita can perform here. On paper he could be up high, but I have my doubts. Many riders are better overall, and it's a big questions mark how much the HI stat is in play here. I do hope his relatively high STA can make him fight for a top 10 here though. We have a solid team of helpers behind him. Vine and Vila would have been good in previous versions, but I tend to think we are going to look for Soulious as the main domestique this season, as Vines low STA will definately kill him off.
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| knockout |
Posted on 02-01-2026 14:44
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8291
Joined: 21-12-2010
PCM$: 500.00
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Not the very best Lopez Ardennes race but of course i still have high hopes for him. Hopefully he can work some magic here?
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 02-01-2026 14:58
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World Champion
Posts: 13619
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 400.00
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Hopefully we can get some depth here with Formolo, Kron and Remco
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 02-01-2026 19:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15062
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 11500.00
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Go De Plus, almost making the preview!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 02-01-2026 20:01
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16634
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 14238.70
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Well Aranburu, let's see what this year brings.
Thanks for the preview!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 03-01-2026 00:08
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 12758
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1961.50
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MVD is here in a stacked startlist. So, although he's been great so far this season, not getting our hopes up too much for this one. This month has been atrocious for us, this is our chance to end it on a better note.
Thanks for the preview.
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 03-01-2026 07:43
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4649
Joined: 05-10-2010
PCM$: 1000.00
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Not much going on here for us, have some decent attackers and that’s that. A surprising top-20 would be great but no real ambition here.
I hope we get a good Ardennes race series, and I hope a rider like Bagioli can step up here. The Parcours are perfect for him and his skill set and Polar have a great team. Thanks for the preview!
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 28-01-2026 11:52
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 03-01-2026 17:28
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2000
Joined: 07-02-2009
PCM$: 300.00
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Thanks for the race Heine and congrats to very for back to back wins by Valter!
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 03-01-2026 17:42
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15062
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 11500.00
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Yeah, we're really bad in the big races this year.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| SotD |
Posted on 03-01-2026 17:49
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World Champion
Posts: 12706
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
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We came with a Dream of a top 10, and came away with 11th. Still can’t be unhappy as Kinoshita clearly struggled to keep up with the group for quite a Long time. Yet he still managed to stay away from the other guys chasing behind.
Soulious shatter the record of best Ever greek rider in Amstel Gold Race, by taking a brilliant 19th adding some nice - and unexpected - depth points. Also great to see another two guys just narrowly holding on inside the top 50.
A good start to the ardennes campaign! But also the best race on paper. Let’s hope Fleche Can surprise in a positive Way aswell.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 03-01-2026 17:59
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16634
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 14238.70
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Wow, kI new Aranburu would be weaker in this version, especially in a very long race, but finishing in 52nd behind Per is crazy. It's not like Per has great stamina of his own or anything, and he literally has 68/70 mtn/hill compared to 77/80.
Luckily 71 hill Gregaard again came up super clutch to sneak into the top 15 after a quiet race for us, thanks to his own stamina. I guess I can't complain since if I swapped his and Aranburu's places, it would be closer to what I expected. Sucks that Aranburu is useless in PCM 24, but we thought that might be the case, and we'll deal with that in the offseason.
Thanks for the report!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 03-01-2026 18:21
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World Champion
Posts: 13619
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 400.00
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Was hoping Remco could maybe get a top 20, but 7th is absolutely amazing.
On the other side, Formolo and Kron big let down, finishing behind Tolhoek. Foromolo was quite active so that's good but in the end he spent just too much energey on those attacks.
Thanks for the reports and congrats to ember!
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| ember |
Posted on 03-01-2026 19:02
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Team Leader
Posts: 7112
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
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What a beautiful win! Was worried early on when Romo was the one being active, and Valter not really visible towards the front. Seemed like a perfectly executed tactic to save as much as possible as long as possible, and then go all in when he first decided the moment was there. Worried me for a second time when that first attack was caught, but apparently he was on a sensational day to go again, with no one able to follow. Super happy with this one!
Also, thank you for your congratulations And thank you for the report, Heine! |
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 03-01-2026 19:29
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 4000
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Congrats to Ember on a nice win, Valter with a dominant performance, got plenty of time to match Ponzi.
Thanks to Heine, report hit all the high points, as a supporter of all my former riders I do have to point out it was Bagioli not  Bagioli scoring that nice top ten.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 04-01-2026 00:07
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 12758
Joined: 27-07-2015
PCM$: 1961.50
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I guess PCM finally realized MVD rides for us. Woeful result. Defines our month.
Congrats to ember and thanks for the report!
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| redordead |
Posted on 05-01-2026 08:33
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Team Leader
Posts: 5568
Joined: 18-10-2017
PCM$: 200.00
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Couldn't even get a top 50. Move on.
"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 05-01-2026 08:50
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3876
Joined: 20-04-2020
PCM$: 425.00
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Thank you for both a great preview and report, Heine!
Higuita seems to love the (harder) hilly classics this year, with an amazing third place here in Holland. No depth, but I'm sure that Carcueva attack was there to set up Higuita as well, so in that regard, great domestique work
Congratulations on the win, ember!
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Amstel Gold Race 
