I can't see any downside to Contador having a look at the stages and finding the best spots for him to launch his attacks on Froome.
First part of the season has gone well, that win for Degenkolb is great for the teams classics campaign. Hopefully RVV or Paris Roubaix will net a further podium finish for either him or Stuyven before Mollema gets his chance to shine on the hills.
It will be interesting to see who gets to lead the Giro and who is going to have to keep fresh legs to help Bertie in Le Tour.
The first Sunday of April is sacred in Flanders. The region has been the epicentre of the cycling world over the past couple of weeks but it has all been geared towards this day: Ronde Van Vlaanderen day. This isn't any old day but neither is it any old Ronde; it's Tom Boonen's final Tour of Flanders. The handkerchiefs are on hand, the newspapers have been stuffed with 'Tommeke' features and pull-outs and Flanders is ready to bid farewell to its favourite son.
The climbs: Oude Kwaremont (115 km)
Kortekeer (126 km), Eikenberg (133 km)
Wolvenberg (136 km)
Leberg (145 km)
Berendries (149 km)
Tenbosse (154 km)
Muur van Geraardsbergen (165 km)
Pottelberg (183 km)
Kanarieberg (189 km)
Oude Kwaremont (205 km)
Paterberg (209 km) Koppenberg (215 km)
Steenbeekdries (220 km)
Taaienberg (223 km)
Kruisberg (233 km)
Oude Kwaremont (243 km)
Paterberg (247 km)
The cobbled sectors:
Lippenhovestraat (84 km)
Paddestraat (86 km)
Holleweg (136 km)
Haaghoek (142 km)
Mariaborrestraat (219km)
Of the final nine, first comes the Kanarieberg, then the first Kwaremont-Paterberg double, followed just over 6km later by the spectacular Koppenberg, short but brutally steep, cobbled, and narrow. The flat cobbled sector of the Mariaborrestraat gives way to the Steenbeekdries climb and the Taainberg, also known as 'Boonen-berg' thanks to the Belgian's penchant for accelerating away there. After that the Kruisberg comes in the middle of an otherwise benign 20km stretch, and then it's time for the second installment of the Oude-Kwaremont-Paterberg combo, where the race will explode once more ahead of the finely-poised run to Oudenaarde.
Experts:
Peter Sagan bludgeoned his way clear on the Paterberg last year, making Sep Vanmarcke look like he was going backwards, and the world champion is the bookmakers' favourite, though not a clear one. Indeed Van Avermaet, once the nearly man of Belgian cycling, carries the hottest form into De Ronde.
Sagan and Van Avermaet are the clear top two, as Quick-Step DS Wilfried Peeters conceded, though for many the top bracket does extend to a third rider. Quick-Step's Philippe Gilbert has returned to the cobbles after being forced to ride the Ardennes while at BMC, and has looked even more impressive than when he rode these races in the early phase of his career, when he twice finished on the Flanders podium. Second – behind a teammate – at Dwars door Vlaanderen, second at E3-Harelbeke, and utterly dominant on the opening stage of the Three Days of De Panne, which included two ascents of the Muur, he has probably emerged as Quick-Step's greatest hope.
And perhaps having a clear figure at the top of the pecking order is exactly what Quick-Step need. They always have remarkable strength in depth that's the envy of all other teams but it can sometimes also be a hindrance: With so many options available it's not always easy to settle on the right one. So Gilbert leads Quick-Step but they also have Niki Terpstra and Zdenek Stybar as big attacking threats, while Matteo Trentin packs a fast finish. And we haven't even got round to Boonen. He says his chances of a fourth Ronde title aren't as great as a fifth Roubaix next week, but what a storyline that would be. In any case, simply seeing him on the front foot, animating the race, attacking on his final time up the Taaienberg, will be perfectly sufficient for the Belgian public.
I can't see any downside to Contador having a look at the stages and finding the best spots for him to launch his attacks on Froome.
First part of the season has gone well, that win for Degenkolb is great for the teams classics campaign. Hopefully RVV or Paris Roubaix will net a further podium finish for either him or Stuyven before Mollema gets his chance to shine on the hills.
It will be interesting to see who gets to lead the Giro and who is going to have to keep fresh legs to help Bertie in Le Tour.
For sure! Like the said in the meeting, both have pro's and con's. Time will tell.
That is a descion that needs to be made soon aswell, who we take to the Giro!
What do you think of the format of the story? Anything you would like to see differently?
I like it so far, got to say I mainly just read the updates and don't always watch the video's straight away as I'm sometimes reading on my phone.
When I do watch the video's on my computer I don't have any issues with the embedder like others do so for me it's a good thing you are embedding it and not just posting the link which others have to use.
Antonio Cabello - Coach Giovanni Ellena - Coach Alberto Elli - Coach Greg Lemond - Coach
Greg Lemond: "A great start to the season gentleman, what a ride in Catalunya Antionio. Great job!
This makes the plan for Alberto clear, we'll go all in for him in the Tour de France. Wich leads us to this. How should he spend the time leading up to the Tour. Should we send him and some helpers to do recon, or should he focus on training only?"
Giovanni took the lead
Giovanni Ellena: "My position on this is simple, he needs to keep working without any disturbances."
Alberto quickly countered
Alberto Elli: "I have to respectfully disagree with you Giovanni. Im a strong supporter of knowing what to expect. Theirfor i rather have him doing recon"
Greg looked towards Antonio and gave him a look and a nod, with a "well?" look on his face
Antonio Cabello: "Both has it's pro's and con's to be honest. Being with Alberto in Catalunya, it's a hard choice. He will be good with whatever we choose to do."
Greg Lemond: "Well, then my conclusion is simple...."
Choiches:
[Send Contador to Recon] X1
[Let Contador train in peace]
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"Ronde von Vlaanderen, the third of the WT cobble classics. After rocking and rolling in Gent - Wevelgem with John Degenkolb we would have more eyes on us today. Naturaly.
During the team meeting i went over the tactic for the race. Stay in the front, watch out for the likes of Sagan, and attack like crazy in the end.
As the flagged dropped a group of four went of the front, amongst them Adam Blythe. And to everybodies suprise, nobody chased and the group got away with ease. And before hitting the first cobble section, the break had a lead of over 6 minutes.
Then the peleton chasing behind hit the cobbles, and the pace got turned up. When the race hit Oude-Kwaremont for the first time the gap was shrinking and numerous groups was forming at a high rate.
When the peleton hit Eikenberg the pace at the front was murderus, and over the top of Eikenberg the time gaps was starting to become large. And i told the team to go hard, make it hurt to bridge the gap. Considering the challanges coming right after Eikenberg.
As the leading group hit Wolvenberg, Holleweg, Haaghoek and Leberg the break got caught without any problems.
Now the race was in it's most important phase. The remaning peleton went over Pottelberg, Kanarieberg and Oude-Kwaremont for the second time without any attacks. The pace we was riding at, nobody had a chance to try. For some, the race was still within the grasp of winning. For others, it was damage controll at best.
Taaienberg was next, the place where Boonen made his decisive move in four of his five wins in the E3 Harelbeke and often the place where he accelerated in the Ronde von Vlaanderen. Sagan knew and tried himself. Everbody knew the history and the importance of the hill. Nothing came of the attack and the group got back together, mostly because of Koen De Kort's work in the front.
The penultimate cobble section, Kruisberg (Oudestraat), Degenkolb went - with Sagan and Van Avermaet on his wheel. Stuyven, Vanmarcke and Naesen missed out on the attack. Mostly because of Stuyven's efforts of blocking the road.
Over Oude-Kwaremont, Sagan and Van Avermaet attacked, catching Degenkolb sleeping a bit. But the German managed to come back to the group.
Behind the trio in front, Vanmarcke and Naesen worked hard trying to bridge across, getting no help from Stuyven - who got a free ride in the hunt.
With 10KM to go, the trio in front stopped working as nobody wanted to do any efforts. Ant the trio behind got ever closer, despite working hard to get to the front. As the group got in sight, Stuyven jumped across solo, leaving Vanmarcke and Naesen alone. Stuyven had no problem bridging, and we now had two riders in the decisive break.
Stuyven was feeling fresh, getting a free ride to the front. As Van Avermaet, Sagan and Degenkolb marked each other. Stuyven went for it. Sagan started the chase, looked to Van Avermaet for help, without any luck. Some swear words was exchanged and they sat up. Both Avermaet and Sagan tried to get away solo. But Degenkolb was on their wheel everytime. As the trio behind Stuyven couldn't agree on anything, the gap grew.
The original Tour of the Basque Country had a troubled history, with 8 editions contested between 1924 and 1935, before the civil war seemingly wiped it out for good. In spite of its short tenure, it is mentioned and described in Ernest Hemingway's novel The Sun Also Rises.
In 1952, the Eibar Cycling Club (erstwhile backers of Spain's first national stage race, the pre-Vuelta a España Gran Premio República) launched a new 3-day event called Gran Premio de la Bicicleta Eibarresa to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Former French national champion Louis Caput took the inaugural edition.
In 1969, organizers opted to promote the race (by then 5 stages long) as IX Vuelta al País Vasco - XVIII Bicicleta Eibarresa, effectively merging the Bicicleta Eibarresa into a reborn Tour of the Basque Country. However, the palmares of the Bicicleta Eibarresa (featuring Vuelta a España winners Jesús Loroño and Rolf Wolfshohl) is not recognized as part of the Tour of the Basque Country's history. The Eibar Cycling Club would relinquish control of the competition following the 1973 edition, while retaining the rights to the Bicicleta Eibarresa name, which has sporadically been reactivated to help promote other, lower ranked events.
The first winner of the Tour of the Basque Country was Francis Pélissier from France, while the first winner of the 'modern' Tour (1969) was Jacques Anquetil, also of France. The most successful riders in the history of the Tour are Spain's José Antonio González, who won the race four times in 1972, 1975, 1977 and 1978, and Spain's Alberto Contador, who also won the race four times in 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2016.
The winner traditionally dons a basque beret on the podium.
Although the Classics stars will look to recover their strength in the six days that separate the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, WorldTour racing will be in full-swing a few hundred miles to the south-west in the Basque Country. Always a popular target for Grand Tour stars and Ardennes specialists alike, the six-day Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco is set to feature as strong a start list as ever.
Defending champion Alberto Contador and a host of other big names will square off on the region's famously undulating terrain. The scene of Nairo Quintana first WorldTour GC victory and Joaquím Rodríguez's last, País Vasco is a coveted spring prize that favours well-rounded talents.
The non-stop up-and-down makes the Basque Country a climber's paradise, but this is not a race of long Alpine slogs. País Vasco is all about short, punchy ascents—and given the rainy climate, descending skills for the often-slick downhills that follow the climbs come in handy as well.
The race kicks off with a stage likely to suit the fast finishers, with a profile that is surprisingly tame in the final 50 kilometres. Things get punchier from there on out. The finales of stages 2, 3 and 4 all follow a similar playbook: a late climb followed by a fast descent to the line.
Stage 5 is set to be the queen stage of the race. Over the short distance of 139.8km, the peloton will take on six categorised climbs, with the first-category Usartzako ascent closing out the action. Expect a fast, brutal day of racing. There won't be any rest for the GC contenders after stage 5, however, as the sixth and final stage will be a decisive individual time trial. 27.7km in and around Eibar, the TT kicks off with a climb and a technical downhill before a flat second half. A closing TT has played a critical role in the overall GC battle for several editions in a row, and all signs point to the 2017 race playing out the same way.
"The first day of the tour, a day for the sprinters. With the likes of Matthews and Nizzolo in the field, their respective teams would be likely to chase down any breakaways that might try their luck.
The stage went of like it was scripted, the break went - going for KOM points and tv coverage, then the peleton chased them down. In the mix of all that, a group of riders hit the tarmac, resulting in Alaphilippe ending the stage in the back of the team car.
The stage ended in a fast sprint finish, with Matthews beating out Valverde to the line."
"Second day, same s***. My message to the team during our team meeting, the same as the day before. Save energy and let Nizzolo loose in the finish.
A new possible duel between Matthews and Nizzolo was on the menu, a flat stage with a fast finish. A tricky final 20 KM, with some elevation before it goes downhill to the finish.
Mori, the current King of the Mountain, was in the morning breakaway trying to defend his jersey. He did it with ease, even though Lindeman was able to collect 9 points troughout the stage.
The peleton caught the break, and it was time for a bunch sprint. Nizzolo jumped from wheel to wheel, and got to the line first. A briliant win for us today, as he claimed the stage and the leaders jersey."
"Stage three to Donostia is our first chance to make some noise in this race. After five categorized climbs, the race hits the last categorized climb of Puerto de Mendizorrotz. A hard day in the saddle awaits us, and if El Pistelero got the legs, the attacks will come.
The break went early, with a bunch of KOM points to collect and tv coverage to get. Besides the fight for the points, nothing much happend. Execpt a huge crash in the middle of the peleton, wich unfortunetly included both Nizzolo and Stetina from our squad. Nizzolo was in to much pain to finish the stage, while Stetina tried his best, but had to give in after he went down for a second time while chasing after the peleton.
After a bit of pacing and smaller attacks, Alberto went for it as Rolland tried his luck. Nothing came of it, as all the main GC riders was waiting for it.
The stage ended in a bunch sprint, where Valverde took it on the line in front of Froome and Roche."
"Stage four to Bilbao is the set up for the hilltop finish tomorrow. During the team meeting the team agreed to try and save as much energy as possible. Hernandez got the free role to try and get into the break. While the rest had one job, protect Contador.
The breakaway got away without any problems as all the bigger teams wanted to relax as much as possible, while the smaller teams all had a man in the break.
Nothing more happend on the stage, as the breakaway riders fought it out on every climb, the spanish Cofidis rider Maté broke clear over Puerto de Vivero and quickly got a gap as the others didn't want to work together. And with 5 KM left, he looked invinsible.
"The day to make a move, the fifth stage to Eibar with a hard finish up Puerto de Usartza. During the team meeting, Haimar got the nod to try and get away with the morning breakaway. While the rest got instructed to stay around Alberto and deliver him at the end.
The breakaway went, with Haimar in it. And the fight for King of the Mountain points was truely on, as this was the last day to claim the jersey. It would prove to be hard, as Conti managed to sneak into the break to defend his jersey.
When the peleton hits Puerto de Usartza, the break was caught, and Mollema was the only one left to be around Contador. And with 5 KM left, he started going hard at the front.
The pace set by Mollema was super hard, and nobody felt they could get away, and the select group would make up between themselfs on who would start last on tomorrows time trail. Alberto went first, and caught everybody off guard. And took the stage in style!"
"The time trail in Eibar, the final stage and last chance to claim glory on the carbon horse. The clear favourite for the stage was the dutch Tom Dumoulin and a close second had to be Chris Froome. It would be hard for El Pistelero to defend his lead.
Dumoulin started first, so Alberto would have time gaps to go by on his ear. And Valverde as his 2 minute man in front.
Contador cleary started slow, as the first time check proved. It also proved that the fight for the overal lead, would be between Froome and Alberto.
As the second time check came along, Froome was the virtual leader by 6' seconds to Alberto. The fight was on. Mollema at the same time was falling out of the podium, as Valverde had turned up the pace aswell.
Contador got the message loud and clear, "if you want to win, you have to die on your bike right now!". Alberto rode in, to not just win the race, but also the stage!
He rode like a true champion on the last part of the time trail, getting back 32' seconds on Froome. Amazing. On the other hand, Mollema fell out of the podium. Wich made it bitter sweet in a way. It would've been a great reward for him, as he bleed for five days straight for his captain."
Welcome to The Hell of the North: 257km of racing, with 55 kilometres of cobbles divided across 29 bone-rattling sectors that will test riders' bike handling ability and fitness like no other race.
This year's edition of Paris-Roubaix, the 115th, will be extra special and will be tinged with celebration as it brings down the curtain on Tom Boonen's remarkable career.
The Quick-Step Floors rider has lifted the winner's cobblestone trophy four times and would set a record if he manages to do it one final time before hanging up his wheels.
Whoever emerges first from the Arenberg earns bragging rights and lets out a sigh of relief. All the survivors grab a bidon and food after the sharp left turn back onto the main road. It is a moment to take stock, hear via radio who has crashed and the position of rivals. A decision could be made to push on with a selection or wait for reinforcements.
Seven further sectors continue the whittling-down process ahead of the next notorious flashpoint of the race at Mons-en-Pévèle (sector 11) after 208km of racing. It is the second of the five-star sectors and the longest at a leg-destroying 3km. It marks the start of the finale of the race, when the strongest and eventual contenders emerge. Two corners are key points, with fans and photographers gathering in the hope of witnessing a dramatic moment in the race.
The following sectors see riders lose contact due to fatigue, crashes and punctures. The 2.1km Carrefour de l'Arbre (sector 4) comes with just 17km to go. It comes soon after the 1.8km Camphin-en-Pévèle sector and is followed by sector 3 at Gruson, forming a testing triple whammy of pain. The attacks to shake out the front group often come here, with the strongest going on to fight for victory in the velodrome.
Section
Kilometres
Place
Length
29
97
Troisvilles to Inchy
2,2
28
103,5
Viesly to Quiévy
1,8
27
106
Quiévy to Saint-Python
3,7
26
112,5
Viesly to Briastre
3
25
116
Briastre à Solesmes
0,8
24
124,5
Vertain to Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon
2,3
23
134,5
Verchain-Maugré to Quérénaing
1,6
22
137,5
Quérénaing to Maing
2,5
21
140,5
Maing to Monchaux-sur-Écaillon
1,6
20
153,5
Haveluy to Wallers
2,5
19
161,5
Trouée d'Arenberg
2,4
18
168
Wallers to Hélesmes
1,6
17
174,5
Hornaing to Wandignies
3,7
16
182
Warlaing to Brillon
2,4
15
185,5
Tilloy to Sars-et-Rosières
2,4
14
192
Beuvry-la-Forêt to Orchies
1,4
13
197
Orchies
1,7
12
203
Auchy-lez-Orchies to Bersée
2,7
11
208,5
Mons-en-Pévèle
3
10
214,5
Mérignies to Avelin
0,7
9
218
Pont-Thibaut to Ennevelin
1,4
8
224
Templeuve (Moulin-de-Vertain)
0,5
7
230,5
Cysoing to Bourghelles
1,3
6
233
Bourghelles to Wannehain
1,1
5
237,5
Camphin-en-Pévèle
1,8
4
240
Carrefour de l’Arbre
2,1
3
242,5
Gruson
1,1
2
249
Willems to Hem
1,4
1
256
Roubaix (Espace Crupelandt)
0,3
TOTAL
...
...
55 km
Experts:
The 2017 Paris-Roubaix will be an evocative race because Tom Boonen makes his farewell appearance. It's a fitting way for the four-time winner to go out, but even Boonen has little time for the emotions of his final race, preferring to stay focused on the goal of winning one final time and becoming the only rider to win Paris-Roubaix five times.
Boonen and his powerful Quick-Step Floors team will be the central hub of the race, with everyone else's chances probably depending on how they attack or control the race. Of course, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe), John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Ian Stannard (Team Sky), and many other riders and teams all want their say in the race.
Boonen was not at his best early in the Classics and sacrificed his chances to help Fernando Gaviria at Milan-San Remo and then Gilbert in Flanders. However, the Quick-Step Floors team will be built around him this time, with Gilbert saved for the Ardennes Classics. A perfect scenario for Boonen would be a solo attack late in the race so he can finish alone in the velodrome. It will be interesting to see if he can surge away as he has in the past and if his rivals will have the ability and courage to go after him.
Peter Sagan is likely to be Boonen's biggest rival. He has the bike skills to dominate on the pavé and the speed to win any sprint in the velodrome, but lacks a strong team to help in any tactical battle.
"The hell in the north, a lecture in pain and suffering. And the last cobble classic of the season. During the team meeting prior to the race, everybody looked relaxed and focused, only one change to the team who rode the other cobble classics. Van Poppel out, Irizar in. So everybody knew what was expected of them. Race in front, and protect Degenkolb at all cost. At this point we all knew who to look out for.
At the flag drop the pace was high, very high. As a bunch of riders wanted to try their luck. And after a attack driven first part of the race, a 17 man break got away.
As the race hit the first out of tweenty-nine cobble section of the race, Troisvilles to Inchy. The gap was five minutes and 19 seconds. And Quick-Step was leading the chase behind.
The next part of the race was very much controlled, and riders got spatt out the back. As the peleton had been trough fifthen sections of cobbles, the race was split up into several groups. And with Warlaing to Brillon next, the race was getting into the crucial part. We had several riders left in the main group, and we started pushing the pace.
As Theuns was finished pulling at the front, Sep Vanmarcke made his move. Degenkolb, Sagan and Roelandts quickly went on his wheel. It got brought back together, mainly by the efforts of Quick-Step.
The next parts of cobbles, the attacks came often. Nobody managed to get away. As the pace dropped a bit heading into Bourghelles to Wannehain, John turned the heat up, and went of the front. Nobody responded, could this be the move? That was the thought of everybody in the team car.
As Degenkolb rode out of the Camphin-en-Pévèle section he had managed to build a gap pf 45' seconds.
Entering Gruson Sep Vanmarcke and Van Avermaet had gotten away from the rest, and was chasing after Degenkolb. But the efforts fell short, as Van Avermaet refused to help the bridging. As John entered Willems to Hem the gap had risen again.
With only Roubaix (Espace Crupelandt) left, nothing could be done about John, he would win his second Paris - Roubaix, in a commanding way.
What a race for us, what a race! We claim our second classic victory of the season, and can now ride the Ardennes classics without any pressure."
Antonio Cabello - Coach Giovanni Ellena - Coach Alberto Elli - Coach Greg Lemond - Coach
Greg Lemond: "Welcome gentleman. First of all, congratulations on a great start to the season. But let's talk about the future, the Ardennes classic's are coming up. And the Giro right after.
Mollema is our guy in the classics, so that's a done deal. What i want your input on however, is the Giro. We have buildt the team around Nizzolo, as we want the best climbers fresh to help Alberto in the Tour. We do however, want to send Bernard. Should we let him ride the Giro with a free role with the help of Stetina, going for the KOM Jersey. Or should Nizzolo get the whole team around him? Giovanni and Alberto, you are the leaders of this race for us. What do you think?"
Alberto Elli: "Well Greg, we think it would be best to..."
Giacomo Nizzolo
Julien Bernard
Choices:
[Concentrate only on Nizzolo]
[Let Bernard get a free role]
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
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11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Just a week after what is perhaps the flattest major Classic on the calendar, Sunday's Amstel Gold Race brings punchier riders to the fore as the first of three so-called 'Ardennes Classics'.
The official count of 35 total ascents includes many repeats, with three visits to the short but iconic Cauberg and its stretches of double-digit gradients. The climbers will look forward to a chance to put their skills on display particularly in the final 40 kilometres, with climbs of the Eyserbosweg, Fromberg, Keutenberg, Cauberg, Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg on tap. However, the organisers have cut a fourth climb of the Cauberg out of the finale in the hopes of shaking up a race that had gotten predictable, with the main contenders typically waiting for a showdown on the last climb.
It remains to be seen how the race will play out with the Bemelerberg, which has served as the penultimate challenge for years, as the last official climb on the parcours now. After the climb comes a descent, a short uphill and the finishing straight.
Experts:
Taking the Cauberg out of the closing kilometres might spur riders to go on the attack from further out this Sunday, but it also would seem to boost the chances of a sprint, reduced or otherwise. Even if an attack does get clear, it won't be easy for a strong escapee to leave any hangers-on behind without the proving ground of the Cauberg. In other words, a fast finish could very likely come in handy at the Amstel Gold Race no matter how it plays out.
Bahrain-Merida bring both the defending champion – two-time winner Enrico Gasparotto – and last year's third-place finisher Sonny Colbrelli. It's unclear what they team plan to do with their wealth of options, but these are two riders that complement each other well. In any case, both are top options this year.
Movistar's Alejandro Valverde has never won Amstel, but he has the perfectly tailored skillset for a long, lumpy one-day that favours fast finishers. Given the excellent form he's proven across the early season, Valverde will deserve all the attention the peloton is sure to give him as a top contender.
Speaking of excellent form, Philippe Gilbert has been in great shape throughout the whole Classics season, and is only just now reaching the terrain that he has been most comfortable on over the course of his career. Amstel is the Ardennes race that suits him the most, and as a three-time winner – who also won a world title atop the Cauberg – Gilbert belongs in the favourites conversation. Quick-Step will be without Julian Alaphilippe, who is still recovering from a injury, but Dan Martin will provide other viable options.
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"The first of Ardennes was on the menu, with Gilbert chasing the record books and his fourth victory. With the likes of the punchy Alejandro Valverde, Daniel Martin, Diego Rosa and the fast men Peter Sagan and Sonny Colbrelli wanting to ruin his day
During the team meeting the plan became clear and repetative, stay in front and protect the leader, Mollema. The important part today is to follow the right attacks.
A group of five got away from the peleton as the flagged dropped. The race was dull until the last part, the peleton controlling and the break getting slowly reeled in.
As the race hit the Cauberg for the third and final time, Felline felt it was time to make move. Strategicly perfect. Making the others chase, as Mollema could try to relax and stay out of the wind. At the same time the pace would be high.
Matthias Brändle started the party early, making a late surge for the line, catching everybody by suprise as Gilbert made the move to close the gap. Valverde and Colbrelli tried to overtake, but nothing could be done. Gilbert makes history, and takes his fourth Amstel Gold Race victory!"
Peter Sagan
Niki Terpstra
John Degenkolb
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Ian Stannard
Trek - Segafredo:
Fabio Felline
Grégory Rast
Mads Pedersen
Antonio Cabello - Coach
Greg Lemond - Coach
Zdenek Stybar
Arnaud Démare
Mathew Hayman
Nairo Quintana
Daniel Martin
Bob Jungels
Simon Spilak
Maxim Belkov
Tanel Kangert
Daniel Martin
Matthias Brändle
