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Amstel Gold Race Discussion
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| roturn |
Posted on 16-12-2011 14:06
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It`s the first of the 3 Ardennes classics. Lots of small hills will decide over the winner. As expected the startlist is pretty awesome. Almost all great puncheurs are at the start line hoping for the big win.
Just two riders and former winners of an Ardennes Classic are missing. Damiano Cunego was not nominated by his Café de Colombia team, while Alejandro Valverde is riding in the Continental Tour in 2012. But still the challenge is extreme.
 Frank Schleck
Maybe the biggest favourite. He is the most successful Ardennes rider in the ManGame with 4 wins including all 3 of them. So he already proved how to win this race.
 Jan Bakelants
Some really intensive duels have been held between Schleck and the younger Bakelants this season. The Belgium still needs a Ardennes trophy but he was really close as 2nd in 2011 and surely wants to improve.
 Edvald Boasson Hagen
His season was not that great so far with some disappointments. But he showed in the last years that he is surely a favourite for this race and the Norwegian is the reigning champion of the Amstel Gold Race.
 Yuri Trofimov
The Russian was one of the most consistent riders of this season winning Paris Nice and 3rd in Murcia and Pais Vasco. He surely is also a good bet for an Amstel win.
 Stefan Schumacher
The German had some top 5 GC results this season and this is surely the area he wants to perform in the Amstel Gold Race. As one of the best puncheurs he must have this goal.
 Robert Gesink
Always a candidate for the win if staying on his bike. He already showed this season how to win and surely wants his first Ardennes win.
He is the biggest hope for the Netherlands to conquer the Cauberg first after Boogerd`s triumph in 2009.
 Riccardo Ricco
The Italian just need the Amstel Gold Race to climb on the same step with Schleck winning all three Ardennes classics. He is one of many Italian puncheurs but maybe the one with the best chances.
 Pozzato & Ulissi
Pozzato already won this race 5 years ago in 2007 and surely wants to repeat this. Ulissi proved with his Milan San Remo win, that he is also a rider to watch in the long classics. A great duo by Festina.
 Simone Spilak
Top 10 in all 3 Ardennes last year the Italian surely wants to get his first win. He is still pretty young but already one of the Italian stars.
That`s already a huge field but you mustn`t forget Tejay Van Garderen, Simone Ponzi, Phillipe Gilbert, Patrick Sinkewitz and Aleksandr Efimkin, who all are great puncheurs.
Still great riders but with obvious outsider chances Rodriguez, Kashechkin, López Garcia and Levarlet.
Also interesting to follow the wildcard team Bpost with Vanendert and Gautier, who surely will try to impress the PT teams.
Startlist
Spoiler Vesuvio
1. F. Schleck
2. C. Betancourt
3. S. Einsle
4. B. Gastauer
5. J. Hoogerland
6. D. Mehr-Wenige
7. M. Paterski
8. J. Wallays
Pearl
11. J. Bakelants
12. W. De Vocht
13. T. Kangert
14. J. Mendes
15. P. Panayotov
16. B. Samoilev
17. J. Vastaranta
18. W. Walker
UBS
21. S. Schumacher
22. M. Albasini
23. S. Barrio
24. R. Bertogliati
25. D. Lelay
26. F. Stalder
27. D. Vorontsov
28. S. Zahner
B&O
31. E. Hagen
32. J. Drucker
33. R. Guldhammer
34. M. Hacecký
35. C. Jørgensen
36. D. Klemme
37. K. Nielsen
38. A. Steensen
Sony
41. Y. Trofimov
42. S. Anza
43. A. Ballan
44. K. Fouquet
45. D. Muravjev
46. M. Reihs
47. A. Wetterhall
48. R. van der Hugenhaben
Festina
51. D. Ulissi
52. D. Drapac
53. J. Ljungblad
54. F. Pozzato
55. V. Reynès
56. R. RodrÃguez Segarra
57. G. Steurs
58. P. Voss
Pendleton's
61. P. Gilbert
62. R. Downing
63. S. Duret
64. M. Ladagnous
65. R. Margaliot
66. J. McEvoy
67. P. Mertens
68. A. Moletta
Bacardi
71. R. Ricco
72. S. Kondrotas
73. A. Kruopis
74. S. Mancuso
75. M. Mugerli
76. M. Perget
77. E. Sokolov
78. F. Terciado
Wiggle
81. S. Ponzi
82. L. Bertagnolli
83. D. Caruso
84. D. Cataldo
85. T. Diggle
86. R. Nocentini
87. M. Pavarin
88. T. Zaini
Jack Wolfskin
91. R. Gesink
92. S. Chavanel
93. X. Florencio
94. B. Giling
95. P. Martens
96. W. Poels
97. L. Ten Dam
98. D. Van Winden
Warner Bros
101. S. Spilak
102. G. De Winde
103. A. Giraldo
104. C. Le Mével
105. I. Mayo
106. J. Redondo
107. C. Rojas Villegas
108. Y. Talabardon
Spyker
111. P. Sinkewitz
112. N. Edet
113. J. Fuglsang
114. V. Gusev
115. M. Reimer
116. M. Schreurs
117. D. Teklehaimanot
118. E. Weiss
Wikipedia
121. T. Van Garderen
122. D. Atapuma
123. R. Cleaver
124. J. Decouttere
125. E. King
126. G. Lejman
127. T. Pinot
128. A. Semple
Milka
131. A. Efimkin
132. A. Delaplace
133. A. Honkisz
134. L. König
135. Y. Nepomnyachsniy
136. R. Porte
137. T. Rohregger
138. M. Vysna
Nestlé
141. J. Rodriguez Oliver
142. H. Broco
143. D. Di Luca
144. P. Fédrigo
145. D. Loosli
146. J. Maillet
147. N. Portal
148. D. Vitoria
Bpost
151. J. Vanendert
152. F. De Greef
153. C. Gautier
154. M. La Lavandier
155. M. La Lavandier
156. J. Stallaert
157. T. Stubbe
158. J. Vansummeren
Webeffect
161. A. Kashechkin
162. R. Bourdouxhe
163. S. Ghisalberti
164. B. Khalilikhosroshani
165. L. Mas
166. C. Schmieg
167. F. Silvestre
168. R. Zingle
Santander
171. D. López Garcia
172. D. Allonca
173. A. Durán
174. A. Galdos
175. A. Hernández Gutierrez
176. D. Ortega
177. J. Rienda Segura
178. R. Serrano
Carmeuse
181. G. Levarlet
182. A. Aulas
183. B. Curfs
184. R. Di Gregorio
185. J. El Fares
186. M. Kneisky
187. J. Libert
188. S. Vandousselaere
Colombia
191. J. Baños Ballester
192. A. Ardila Cano
193. S. Ivars
194. S. Joly
195. H. Machado
196. W. RodrÃguez Parra
197. C. Sarmiento
198. J. Tendero |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 16-12-2011 14:12
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Grand Tour Champion
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Brilliant preview. Looking forward to an exciting race.
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| Kami |
Posted on 16-12-2011 14:23
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3386
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First race of Ricco, although i doubt he can actually win it. I hope for a top 5, preferably in all 3 Ardennes.
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| p3druh |
Posted on 16-12-2011 14:40
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Should be Bakelants weakest race given he has the national bonus in Wallone and Liége. Still hoping for a top-5 although these races are highly unpredictable.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 16-12-2011 15:32
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Top 10 please.
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| Heine |
Posted on 16-12-2011 20:02
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Is Spilak Italian?
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| Kami |
Posted on 16-12-2011 20:03
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Classics Specialist
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Heine wrote:
Is Spilak Italian?
Slovakian. He's also called Simon Spilak instead of Simone. 
I guess a little mix up with Ponzi?
Nontheless, great preview.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 16-12-2011 20:09
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Kami wrote:
Heine wrote:
Is Spilak Italian?
Slovakian. He's also called Simon Spilak instead of Simone.
Or perhaps, Slovenian? 
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| Kami |
Posted on 16-12-2011 20:22
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Classics Specialist
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SportingNonsense wrote:
Kami wrote:
Heine wrote:
Is Spilak Italian?
Slovakian. He's also called Simon Spilak instead of Simone.
Or perhaps, Slovenian?
Details .
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 07:52
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 16-12-2011 22:43
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Kami wrote:
SportingNonsense wrote:
Kami wrote:
Heine wrote:
Is Spilak Italian?
Slovakian. He's also called Simon Spilak instead of Simone.
Or perhaps, Slovenian?
Details .
How could you make such a mistake roturn?  Not knowing from which country the great Simon Spilak is?
Bakelandts for the win here I think but the Festina duo of Pozzato and Ulissi is also very strong in these long classics, shown in San Remo.
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| roturn |
Posted on 16-12-2011 23:39
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Shame on me. How could I call Spilak an Italian? Great mistake by me. Ignore this. :-)
Report sometime tomorrow. :-) |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 17-12-2011 12:32
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And that's another goal failed. It's always tricky with the one day races 
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| Kami |
Posted on 17-12-2011 12:37
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Classics Specialist
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Not bad, starting to get some points atleast.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 17-12-2011 12:38
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Gilbert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Edit: very nice reporting as well
Edited by wackojackohighcliffe on 17-12-2011 12:40
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 17-12-2011 12:38
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Tour de France Champion
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Oh well. If you spend all your energy chasing various main groups, you won't have much energy left for the final sprint.
In the end, another so-so result for Spyker. |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 17-12-2011 12:40
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Again a very well reported race, roturn.
And great day for Pendleton's. Didn't think Gilbert had that capacity, but he really proved me wrong there. Well deserved victory.
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| roturn |
Posted on 17-12-2011 12:49
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I changed the format a bit to avoid these "small sized wide-screen" pictures I normally use. Makes it look better imo.
The race was really interesting to play/report. Vesuvio seems to struggle a bit at the moment. Controlling the whole race but then missing the final moment. Bad luck. the sprint showed that Schleck could have been the winner.
Gilbert took advantage of his strong team after the split and never spent too much energy like most others. So not undeserved. Congrats. |
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| CountArach |
Posted on 17-12-2011 13:22
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I'm completely happy with Gautier's result and activity throughout the day.
Great report roturn!
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 17-12-2011 14:20
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Nice win that for Gilbert. Good to see a one of the true puncheurs win this one.
Don't envy having to report on that - so much happening.... |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 17-12-2011 19:54
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Rubbish race for me, still, plenty of flatter hilly routes for Ponzi to shine on... I hope.
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