Next up, Amstel Gold Race

pottssteve

Hoi, Dutchmen!

A shift to the Dutch Alps for next weekend's action with the 48th running of the Amstel Gold Race.

251km, 33 climbs and over 4000m of ascent, with one lap of the Worlds circuit and the new finish location in Vilt. Just about everyone is tipping Sagan to win it but Gilbert is also due to ride, and Voeckler must in with a chance.

Current weather forecast is good - warm and sunny with a moderate (F4) South-Westerly breeze that will be at their backs for most of the run in to the finish.

Bring it on!

FJS

Two significant changes

- 2kms of extra flat road after the Cauberg to the finish
- that extra loop isn't too hard, and the main impact I think is that the much harder Keuteberg is now much further from the finish; 30 kms rather than 10 kms.

Both make it a slightly 'easier' race, a little bit more suitable for some of the lesser climbers and makes Amstel more of a bridge between Flemish and Ardennes classics. Could make it more within reach of people like Boom, Langeveld, Roelandts, Degenkolb, Van Avermaet, etc. if still in good form

Richmond Racer

Steve, can we look forward to any photos from Fri/Sat when the pros are out and about?

EDIT: season to date has been so good I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks even more than usual

MrTapir

was it Gasparotto that won last year? Im trying to remember what the course is like. Or was it Rodriguez?

Cleat Eastwood

Am I mistaken or did this used to be a mid week race - I'm sure I can remember seeing it a pub one wednesday.

thomthom

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

Am I mistaken or did this used to be a mid week race - I'm sure I can remember seeing it a pub one wednesday.

That would have been Flèche Wallonne

FJS

ThomThom wrote:

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

Am I mistaken or did this used to be a mid week race - I'm sure I can remember seeing it a pub one wednesday.

That would have been Flèche Wallonne

Or Brabantse Pijl, which is tomorrow. Fleche Wallonne next week Wednesday. Amstel Gold has alsways been a weekend race. Gasparotto won last year

rick_chasey

Looking forward to the new route.

Think it's for the best.

Pross

Shows how bad my cycling knowledge and memory are - I always thought Amstel was the last of the Ardennes races :oops:

rick_chasey

It's a long distance for a race that strictly isn't a monument.

greasedscotsman

Pross wrote:

Shows how bad my cycling knowledge and memory are - I always thought Amstel was the last of the Ardennes races :oops:

It used to be. You would have Roubaix, then Fleche, Liege and Amstel. Can't remember which year they switch it, maybe 2003?

thomthom

Never been a fan of this race. I welcome that route change.

Pross

greasedscotsman wrote:

Pross wrote:

Shows how bad my cycling knowledge and memory are - I always thought Amstel was the last of the Ardennes races :oops:

It used to be. You would have Roubaix, then Fleche, Liege and Amstel. Can't remember which year they switch it, myabe 2003?

Thanks, I feel better now. I only started watching again in 2011 after the late 90s so most editions I've seen were that way around then.

dave milne

like this race, usually much better than fleche wallone in that it doesn't always end up with a bunch sprint up the final hill.

think the course change should it improve it too

Abdoujaparov

Wahey, I'm actually off to this at at the weekend - staying in Maastricht. Any tips from the good folk on here? Imagine the trains late morning from Maastricht to Valkenburg are busy, but still the best option? (No car)

And is there usually a big screen at the finish? I guess we can write off a spot on the Cauberg unless we get there early and stay all day...maybe finding a screen is the best option, then heading to the road when they're about to come past?

Cheers, any tips from those who have been would be great.

blazing_saddles

Ah, time for "the race of a thousand corners" again and Frank Schleck isn't around for his annual inspection of the tarmac.

pottssteve

Richmond Racer wrote:

Steve, can we look forward to any photos from Fri/Sat when the pros are out and about?

EDIT: season to date has been so good I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks even more than usual

Racer - Will see what I can do but work is very busy at the moment so might not get much chance to get out there before the race. Will ask a friend of mine who has a long lens to keep his eye out.....

Abdu - I guess you will be at the start and then making your way to Valkenburg for the finish. The trains will be busy but it's a good service. It's a good 3km walk from the station to the finish line. There are buses from outside the train station if you prefer. I take it you won't have a bike, but an energetic option would be to walk from Maastricht to Valkenburg. It's a nice 9km or so walk and you could probably see the riders pass at a couple of locations as the course is very winding. Have a look on the website for the timings.

There's usually a big screen by the finish, although the new location means I don't know exactly where. You could also consider the Bemelerberg - there was a screen there last year for the Worlds.

If you need any more info just ask.

Cheers,
Steve

FJS

Rick Chasey wrote:

It's a long distance for a race that strictly isn't a monument.

The old World Cup races, innit. Paris-Tours, Clasica San Sebastian, even a properly recent one such as Vattenfall, all have longer distances than the standard 200ish km

Abdoujaparov

pottssteve wrote:

Richmond Racer wrote:

Steve, can we look forward to any photos from Fri/Sat when the pros are out and about?

EDIT: season to date has been so good I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks even more than usual

Racer - Will see what I can do but work is very busy at the moment so might not get much chance to get out there before the race. Will ask a friend of mine who has a long lens to keep his eye out.....

Abdu - I guess you will be at the start and then making your way to Valkenburg for the finish. The trains will be busy but it's a good service. It's a good 3km walk from the station to the finish line. There are buses from outside the train station if you prefer. I take it you won't have a bike, but an energetic option would be to walk from Maastricht to Valkenburg. It's a nice 9km or so walk and you could probably see the riders pass at a couple of locations as the course is very winding. Have a look on the website for the timings.

There's usually a big screen by the finish, although the new location means I don't know exactly where. You could also consider the Bemelerberg - there was a screen there last year for the Worlds.

If you need any more info just ask.

Cheers,
Steve

Thanks Steve - think we'll get the train to Valkenburg then and walk to the finish. Looking forward to it!

On the question of long races, would be interesting to have a classic that was much shorter than the others - say, 120km. Could make for more animated racing as per most of the GT mountain stages that have been short in recent years.

chrisday

Abdoujaparov wrote:

Cheers, any tips from those who have been would be great.

First off, am jealous - it's not the best Classic, but it's easily the most fun to attend. Been a couple of times, and had a blast both times. Would echo advice already given - train from Maastricht to Valkenburg busy but not horribly so. Have watched sign-on and start in Maastricht, then had time for a leisurely coffee/beer, then off to station.
Have watched from the middle of Valkenburg rather than the finish both times - basically on the 3-way junction at the bottom of the Cauberg. Depends what you want - got to see the race 3 times (from differing directions into the junction), but the atmosphere there is insane: basically 1,000s of Dutch getting New-Years-Eve drunk If you want a feel of "beer festival through which some bikes accidentally pass", you can't beat it!
You will miss the finish, but all the bars will have TVs on. Oh, and always be on the side of the road opposite "Eetcafe des Amis", as the patrons there like drunken scuffles exactly 5 mins after the end of the race (only with each other, but nicer to observe wryly than have to skirt around). I'm maybe not selling this as well as I could, but it is quite something in terms of atmos.

Also, Maastricht itself is surprisingly lovely - some great bars and restaurants, and a nice old town section.

Enjoy!

EDIT: Spell 'Valkenburg' properly!

Abdoujaparov

chrisday wrote:

Abdoujaparov wrote:

Cheers, any tips from those who have been would be great.

First off, am jealous - it's not the best Classic, but it's easily the most fun to attend. Been a couple of times, and had a blast both times. Would echo advice already given - train from Maastricht to Valkenburg busy but not horribly so. Have watched sign-on and start in Maastricht, then had time for a leisurely coffee/beer, then off to station.
Have watched from the middle of Valkenburg rather than the finish both times - basically on the 3-way junction at the bottom of the Cauberg. Depends what you want - got to see the race 3 times (from differing directions into the junction), but the atmosphere there is insane: basically 1,000s of Dutch getting New-Years-Eve drunk If you want a feel of "beer festival through which some bikes accidentally pass", you can't beat it!
You will miss the finish, but all the bars will have TVs on. Oh, and always be on the side of the road opposite "Eetcafe des Amis", as the patrons there like drunken scuffles exactly 5 mins after the end of the race (only with each other, but nicer to observe wryly than have to skirt around). I'm maybe not selling this as well as I could, but it is quite something in terms of atmos.

Also, Maastricht itself is surprisingly lovely - some great bars and restaurants, and a nice old town section.

Enjoy!

EDIT: Spell 'Valkenburg' properly!

Sounds mental, mostly in a good way! Had heard it was a good one to go for - atmos, finishing loop, Maastricht being a nice city, chance of better weather - so thought we'd go for it. Early days, but the forecast is for sunny intervals and 19 degrees...could make for a great day.

pottssteve

Abdu - whereabouts are you staying? Some of the teams stay in Maastricht so if you are lucky you might be sleeping next to Bauke Mollema!

Steve

Abdoujaparov

pottssteve wrote:

Abdu - whereabouts are you staying? Some of the teams stay in Maastricht so if you are lucky you might be sleeping next to Bauke Mollema!

Steve

Ha, we're in a small boutique so unlikely the Blanco boys will be next door. Funnily enough I was considering a flutter on Mollema if he's long odds (would have thought he will be). Showing a little form and targeting Amstel as his main spring goal. Then again, the Dutch never win Amstel do they...(I won't be mentioning this on Sunday).

pottssteve

I doubt if Mollema will win; he's getting over a bout of 'flu and had to pull out of the Tour of the Basque country because of it. What are the odds on Voeckler?

Blanco will probably be staying in the Van der Valk on the outskirts of town - Rabobank have a deal with the chain, I think, as they stayed there last season and the Blanco bus was there a couple of weeks ago for the Volta Limburg. Sky and Lampre often stay there as well. Some of the teams stay for the whole week ahead of LBL. If you get time you could get the number 4 bus out of town - it stops outside the hotel - and have a drink in the lobby and do a little pro-cyclist spotting! I got Wiggo to sign my copy of The Rider there last year at the Worlds :-}

Steve

Abdoujaparov

pottssteve wrote:

I doubt if Mollema will win; he's getting over a bout of 'flu and had to pull out of the Tour of the Basque country because of it. What are the odds on Voeckler?

Blanco will probably be staying in the Van der Valk on the outskirts of town - Rabobank have a deal with the chain, I think, as they stayed there last season and the Blanco bus was there a couple of weeks ago for the Volta Limburg. Sky and Lampre often stay there as well. Some of the teams stay for the whole week ahead of LBL. If you get time you could get the number 4 bus out of town - it stops outside the hotel - and have a drink in the lobby and do a little pro-cyclist spotting! I got Wiggo to sign my copy of The Rider there last year at the Worlds :-}

Steve

Can't find any odds yet so not sure about Voeckler. He'll probably be third, fourth or fifth favourite though. Another Moser/Sagan combo like in Tuscany?

rick_chasey

pottssteve wrote:

I doubt if Mollema will win; he's getting over a bout of 'flu and had to pull out of the Tour of the Basque country because of it. What are the odds on Voeckler?

Blanco will probably be staying in the Van der Valk on the outskirts of town - Rabobank have a deal with the chain, I think, as they stayed there last season and the Blanco bus was there a couple of weeks ago for the Volta Limburg. Sky and Lampre often stay there as well. Some of the teams stay for the whole week ahead of LBL. If you get time you could get the number 4 bus out of town - it stops outside the hotel - and have a drink in the lobby and do a little pro-cyclist spotting! I got Wiggo to sign my copy of The Rider there last year at the Worlds :-}

Steve

Van der valk's aren't that bad.

rick_chasey

Sagan still a favourite? ??

iainf72

Rick Chasey wrote:

Sagan still a favourite? ??

Does Cancellera look like a cartoon horse?

RichN95.

iainf72 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Sagan still a favourite? ??

Does Cancellera look like a cartoon horse?

No he doesn't. He looks like Inspector Gadget.

knedlicky

FJS wrote:

ThomThom wrote:

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

Am I mistaken or did this used to be a mid week race

That would have been Flèche Wallonne

Or Brabantse Pijl, which is tomorrow.

Surprised this is being so skipped over here. It's pretty taxing with its accumulation of small climbs on the circuit in its second half and, if what I've read is correct, the field includes:
Chavanel (winner 2008), Gilbert (winner 2011), Van Avermaet, Sagan, Moreno Moser, Dan Martin, Spilak, De Gendt, Poels, Ciolek, Gallopin and oldie Rebellin.

DeadCalm

knedlicky wrote:

FJS wrote:

ThomThom wrote:

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

Am I mistaken or did this used to be a mid week race

That would have been Flèche Wallonne

Or Brabantse Pijl, which is tomorrow.

Surprised this is being so skipped over here. It's pretty taxing with its accumulation of small climbs on the circuit in its second half and, if what I've read is correct, the field includes:
Chavanel (winner 2008), Gilbert (winner 2011), Van Avermaet, Sagan, Moreno Moser, Dan Martin, Spilak, De Gendt, Poels, Ciolek, Gallopin and oldie Rebellin.

Plus the defending champion, Tommy Voeckler, who enlivened last year's race with some typically smart and aggressive riding. Anyone know if it will be broadcast live?