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2014 Amstel Gold Race
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 09:30
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Bot Agent
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| kubys |
Posted on 19-04-2014 09:15
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Domestique
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baseballlover312 wrote:
Kirchen_75 wrote:
baseballlover312 wrote:
I just laugh when people underrate Martin this bad. I mean, he's at least a two star. yes I'm fan boying buyout he fricking won LBL last year! How much more of a favorite can you get!
I mean look at guys with 2 stars: Thomas, EBH, Deveyns, Cunego, Hermans?
I can't seriously believe he is rated that bad even if he hasn't shown amazing form so far.
L-B-L is much more selective therefore it suits Dan Martin way more than Amstel Gold does where if youre not fast on the finish you will have to win it solo and it will be difficult.
I don't think he'll win but I certainly think he will place somewhere,
Right, he will, question is: where? 
Die hard fan of Tom Boonen and Quickstep since 2004.
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| Wilier |
Posted on 19-04-2014 12:06
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
baseballlover312 wrote:
I just laugh when people underrate Martin this bad. I mean, he's at least a two star. yes I'm fan boying buyout he fricking won LBL last year! How much more of a favorite can you get!
I mean look at guys with 2 stars: Thomas, EBH, Deveyns, Cunego, Hermans?
I can't seriously believe he is rated that bad even if he hasn't shown amazing form so far.
L-B-L is much more selective therefore it suits Dan Martin way more than Amstel Gold does where if youre not fast on the finish you will have to win it solo and it will be difficult.
And that's the reason why Kreuziger, Martin and others have 1 star on my list. That's the reason why the better climbing sprinters like Matthews, Swift, Coquard and Bozic are in my list. Other than that some have also shown to be in good shape in Pays Vasco and Brabantse Pijl.
I see my list has generated some debate here. So I'll try and defend my personal picks here 
Since a group sprint is a possibility, I rate guys with a good sprint more than the not so explosive types (with a few exceptions, like Poels and Bakelants who are in really good shape and have a strong team which increases their chances of getting away).
And I thinks Hermans, Devenyns EBH and Thomas can handle short climbs very well, and they have shown that in the past (Devenyns in Flanders, Thomas in P-N, Flanders, EBH in WC 2012) Well, maybe Hermans is slightly overrated and can drop back to 1 star on my list.
Edit: Also an interesting fact is that AGR is usually preparation for the real classic: LBL. So you have the hilly classic specialists who are looking for a chance to win without taking too many risks and a couple of cobbled classic specialists (AGR is basically Flanders without cobbles) without a result, trying to take their last chance of a classic win. And there's the Dutch riders, who are more motivated than anyone to get a result at home ground (even more than usual because of Terpstra's win).
Edited by Wilier on 19-04-2014 12:12
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| kubys |
Posted on 19-04-2014 12:25
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Domestique
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Well to be honest I don't think that Bakelants proved to be in great shape, as well as EBH. Yes Edvald have some history there, but it was only once and looking on the other results...well no, he can't be rated at same level as Swift, who smashed the opposition in Basque and get 3rd place in MSR. That's result which EBH had just in dreams last two years. (meaning 2013 and 2014)
Edited by kubys on 19-04-2014 12:28
Die hard fan of Tom Boonen and Quickstep since 2004.
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| ianrussell |
Posted on 19-04-2014 18:14
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3440
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baseballlover312 wrote:
Alakagom wrote:
baseballlover312 wrote:
Alakagom wrote:
Slagter is far better option for Garmin at Amstel.
Martin will lead at Fleche and LBL.
How so?
Martin never liked Amstel, he doesn't have any good results in Amstel, plus Amstel is not selective enough. It will come down too a small group sprint and Slagter clearly has the better sprint of the two. As well as, a very good shape at the moment which we are not sure yet about Martin.
True but when has Slagter ever proven himself in the Ardennes? He's placed a couple of smaller races but his best result in the Ardennes was 14th in Fleche. All of his good wins have been in stages of week longers, not long classics. Not sure he's proven he's a better option to make it into the final selection given the length of the race.
I guess we'll see come Sunday.
Strongly suspect Martin will use it as a warm up ahead of the real deal (for him) come FW and especially LBL, just like last years successful approach. Everyone needs their chance in a strong team and not everyone can be in shape for every race. Plus he is better suited to more climbing in the last 2 races. |
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| Jesleyh |
Posted on 20-04-2014 11:14
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Tour de France Champion
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Breakaway:
Pim Ligthart (LTB)
Pirmin Lang (IAM)
Alexey Lutsenko (AST)
James Vanlandschoot (WGG)
Nicola Boem (BAR)
Jaroslaw Marycz (CCC)
Preben Van Hecke (TSV)
Manuel Belletti (AND)
Matej Mohoric (CAN)
Christophe Riblon (ALM)
Notable: The last 2 U23 WC champions are in there
Feyenoord(football) and Kelderman fanboy
PCMdaily Awards: 12x nomination, 9x runner-up, 0x win.
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| NTTHRASH |
Posted on 20-04-2014 11:27
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Classics Specialist
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Seems like a fairly strong break. I know it's early, but I like how Poels looks in the saddle right now. I'm just getting an air of performance from him. Maybe it's just me.
"America. Show a nipple on television and the whole country goes ape-shit." -DubbelDekker
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| thechudude |
Posted on 20-04-2014 11:43
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Stagiare
Posts: 153
Joined: 25-03-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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I think Rodriguez is not suited for this stage in comparision to the guys like Gerrans, Valverde, Kwaitkoski
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| YvesStevens |
Posted on 20-04-2014 11:53
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Protected Rider
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Quite funny that top favourite Kwiatkowski was 30 seconds late for the start. Even tough he rode chilled to the start with Burghart |
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 20-04-2014 11:56
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Grand Tour Champion
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OMG PURITO CRASHED AND ABANDONED! RIP MY Velogames team. |
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| steve smink |
Posted on 20-04-2014 11:58
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Neo-Pro
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Yup Purito abandons
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 20-04-2014 11:58
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Grand Tour Champion
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 20-04-2014 11:58
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Oh god... Went for Valverde in the betting, but a few risky Head to Heads. Come on my boys!
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| ziga007 |
Posted on 20-04-2014 12:12
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 388
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No
Alberto Contador
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| thechudude |
Posted on 20-04-2014 12:35
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Stagiare
Posts: 153
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Face on keyboard hahaha
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| cio93 |
Posted on 20-04-2014 12:52
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World Champion
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Andy out as well, knee problems after a crash...
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| admirschleck |
Posted on 20-04-2014 13:03
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Team Leader
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cio93 wrote:
Andy out as well, knee problems after a crash...
Shit.
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| fickman |
Posted on 20-04-2014 13:09
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Sprinter
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Andy abandoning a race thats a shocker  |
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| Daggen |
Posted on 20-04-2014 13:42
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Sprinter
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Anything interesting going on at the moment? |
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 20-04-2014 13:43
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7702
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Daggen wrote:
Anything interesting going on at the moment?
Don't expect anything to happen maybe until 40's to go. This is why cobbled classics are better 
Dan Martin abandoned.
Edited by Kirchen_75 on 20-04-2014 13:44
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| Daggen |
Posted on 20-04-2014 13:45
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Sprinter
Posts: 1849
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
Daggen wrote:
Anything interesting going on at the moment?
Don't expect anything to happen maybe until 40's to go. This is why cobbled classics are better
Dan Martin abandoned.
How much of the race is left? |
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