Amstel Gold

Pokerface

So.... who'd going to do it?


Will we see history and Cancellara take it (unlikely - but you want to bet against him if he's going for it?).

Will we see Omega Pharma's first win with Pip?

Or the Schlek's finally coming out to play.

Gesink? Others?

calvjones

I reckon this might be the weakest/most out of form (cleanest?) field for years.

There are so few riders who can really punch uphill, like a Bettini or a Rebellin. It's Valv's for the taking really.

Still not going to pick him for PTP tho, the swine :twisted:

greasedscotsman

Sammy Sanchez?

afx237vi

Or Rodriguez, although I'm not sure the Cauberg is steep enough for him. He only seems to like the 20% stuff :shock:

fastercyclist

This seems to be the start list? http://www.amstelgoldrace.nl/index.php?pageId=33

I think I'll try and watch this one with the schleck's there. Haven't seen either of them this year.

Pokerface

when will the PTP open for this one?

sonny73

fastercyclist wrote:

This seems to be the start list? http://www.amstelgoldrace.nl/index.php?pageId=33

I think I'll try and watch this one with the schleck's there. Haven't seen either of them this year.

Looks like last years list, bit odd they still have that up!?

pedro118118

No Cancellara.
I think he's probably earned his day off.

rick_chasey

Is Valvarde riding?


If so, he's the man to beat.

blazing_saddles

Looks as if the eruption is going to effect the field.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/amstel- ... allajokull

sonny73

No Wiggo for sure: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/8622315.stm

greasedscotsman

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Looks as if the eruption is going to effect the field.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/amstel- ... allajokull

So looks like Karsten Kroon is the hot favourite!

iainf72

Sastre won't be there

afx237vi

How come Froome is expected to drive from Tuscany but Wiggo gets the weekend off (from Girona)? Lightweight!

http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,,17546 ... 01DBC.html

Anyway, how come the Sky magic bus can't drive down and pick him up? It's like a 5 star hotel on wheels, or so I hear, so it's probably preferable to a first class air trip (on Easyjet).

stagehopper

Proof of Bradley's laziness:

Froome route: Quarrata - Maastricht
Time 11h36 of which 10h44 on motorways
Distance 1188 km

Wiggins route: Girona - Maastricht
Time 11h41 of which 11h10 on motorways
Distance 1264 km

unless of course he's in the UK in which case every ferry, train is booked so he'd be trapped.

iainf72

afx237vi wrote:

Anyway, how come the Sky magic bus can't drive down and pick him up? It's like a 5 star hotel on wheels, or so I hear, so it's probably preferable to a first class air trip (on Easyjet).

He probably leaves hair everywhere and insists on playing rubbish guitar music

afx237vi

It says in the link I posted that he's in Girona.

According to Manuel Quinziato's Twitter, he arrived in his hotel 24 hours after leaving his home in Italy.

I bet the team bus drivers / mechanics are having a sly chuckle at all this. They do this stuff all year round!

iainf72

Sometime poster here, Legaupe tweeted Robbie Hunter yesterday that it's like how cycling was before budget airlines.

iainf72

Valv.Piti and LL Sanchez out

gabriel959

according to some spanish people in marca, Valverde and LL Sanchez are in Maastrich right now so should be ok tomorrow.

gabriel959

Now confirmed by Spanish papers that they are out, J-Rod managed to get there by flying to Zurich and then driving with Pozzatto to Maastrich.

rick_chasey

Old skool.

Driving with teammates across Europe to the start lines.

Cool.

FJS

Apparently a group of Footon riders drove by car from Santander, 1400 km. Much further than Girona....

iainf72

Wonder if we'll get any race pictures tomorrow. If nothing can fly, they'll have a lot of difficulty getting pictures out.

andyp

Helicopters and turbo prop planes should be fine, it's whether they need a jet powered aircraft high up that'll decide that.

We'll see the finish for sure as they have static cameras on the Cauberg.

mididoctors

pah! they should ride there

blazing_saddles

UCI will now allow teams to ride with min of 3 riders.

iainf72 wrote:

Wonder if we'll get any race pictures tomorrow. If nothing can fly, they'll have a lot of difficulty getting pictures out.

Dutch transport minister Eurlings has OK'd the flying bit, but Kenny v H has tweeted that Eurosport will be showing Turkey live, cos no live AGR. :?

andyp wrote:

Helicopters and turbo prop planes should be fine, it's whether they need a jet powered aircraft high up that'll decide that.

We'll see the finish for sure as they have static cameras on the Cauberg.

With the ash cloud at +5000m, that's what I think, too.

mididoctors

Blazing Saddles wrote:

UCI will now allow teams to ride with min of 3 riders.

iainf72 wrote:

Wonder if we'll get any race pictures tomorrow. If nothing can fly, they'll have a lot of difficulty getting pictures out.

Dutch transport minister Eurlings has OK'd the flying bit, but Kenny v H has tweeted that Eurosport will be showing Turkey live, cos no live AGR. :?

andyp wrote:

Helicopters and turbo prop planes should be fine, it's whether they need a jet powered aircraft high up that'll decide that.

We'll see the finish for sure as they have static cameras on the Cauberg.

With the ash cloud at +5000m, that's what I think, too.

BBC just had news that particulate matter is now above essex at a mere 3000m and reached ground level in warwickshire overnight

mididoctors

if there is no tv coverage does this effectively mean the DS's in the following cars have no coverage either?

FJS

mididoctors wrote:

if there is no tv coverage does this effectively mean the DS's in the following cars have no coverage either?

Bring back the days of relying on 'radio tour' and the man with the chalkbord sign

greasedscotsman

So with 172 of the 198 riders expected to start, does that mean their taking entries on the line? How hard can it be?