Amstel picks

Pidcock doubles up, Roglic, GvA
Gaudu, Woods

Pidcock is a good choice given form and the more circuit race format. I wouldn’t pick him for a regular Amstel spaghetti bowl race, where it is really helpful to have some experience racing the course.

My top three are going to be Allaphilippe, Roglic Woods, mostly because DQS seems to have built the team for him and you never count them out in the classics. JV has the problem of picking a leader, but it has been the Wout show in the one day races so I expect him to be heavily marked and Roglic will be able to counter any Wout attack. Woods is just a sentimental pick.

My choice for WTF rides are Simon Carr and Vingegaard. I wouldn’t be surprised to see either one play an unexpected role.

I like your picks.
I'd love to see Roglic do it. Can see JV sending him up the road playing for a WvA sprint. Think Gaudu will do well in this Ardennes season. Obviously would love to see Rusty Woods do well (local dude), but see him more suited to Fleche Wallonne and think he's targeting LBL.

I'm wondering about a few guys... Hershey-bar, super low-key so far, but maybe he's 100% focused on the Ardennes and is going to be all-in, top form for these races? Similar with Fuglsang, nothing to show so far, but the next week is right up his alley.

Alaphillipe, WvA, Stuyven
Vanmarcke, Senechal


In other news, on the broadcast this morning they were saying Jai Hindley is set to leave DSM (I think for Trek?) Yet another young talent bailing from DSM, if true.

He would also be at a disadvantage for a normal length Amstel. But this one is slightly shorter and is probably within his capabilities at the moment.

The race is quite wide open, really.

I’m going the opposite direction and for the climbers to romp.
Roglic, Schachmann, Fuglesang
WvA, Pidcock

Alaphilipe
WvA
Hirschi

GvA
Bling

WvA Alaphilippe Pidcock
Trentin Roglic

WvA, Pidcock, Roglic
Trentin, Aranburru

There’s racing in Utah. Living vicariously through the kid. Came in 5/15 in the Women 4,5 today. 34 miles, 1,900 ft. Not bad for race age 16, with junior gearing!

Roglic, Pidcock, Ala
Gaudu, Higuita

 
wva/ala/rog

kwiato / valverde

Jungle Bob is not having much fun since leaving the Pack.

I didn't take Little Higgie this time but he's got some Purito in him and LBL should be in his wheelhouse.
An maybe today. He's always sticking his nose in there and racing.

Jungel Bob, lost in the woods.

Roglic looks like the cork in a champagne bottle that was just shaken.

Beastly. Looks like he's riding for Wout Wout.

The herd has not been culled. This thing could be won by a cunning sniper. Where's Phil Gil? We need a flyer.

Herd just got culled.....

Geeez, that was close. JV cleaning up today.

Holy shit, that’s another close sprint. I want to see how the finishline camera captured it. Rim width at most, i think.

Really happy that WvA got a mini redemption. No monuments this time around, but Gent and Amstel arent a bad haul.

With Dumoulin shouting instructions from the curb.

Fun week. Agree, happy for Wout.

And beating a 3-on-1 vs. Ineos. It was a little curious that Pidcock attacked so hard with WvA right on his wheel. But maybe Carapaz and Kwiat had nothing left.

Oh boy, looks essentially like dead even...

Clearly neither of them were sure. On that finish photo, though, you can clearly see the tip of Wout's wheel beyond the line. Great race.

Here's another photo-finish, found on the NOS (host broadcaster) website

Also, a bit bummed that WvA won't be doing LBL. Would have been nice to see if he could sneak in a surprise on the climbers, but he's earned his break.

Alaphilippe looks off-form, which is a bit odd for a race that isn't even as long and difficult as it usually is. Perhaps he'll spring a surprise next week?

Lastly, watching the finale of the women's race was a bit of WTF. Longo-Borghini had to just throw it all way and let it all come back. Maybe she's tired of getting second places, but a sprint is never a fait-accompali at the end of a hard classic. The vixen, of course, was all too happy to see this and really pounced.

Definitely WTF. I would take a 50/50 shot as 1st any day compared to that boneheaded finish.