Velominati Super Prestige: Amstel Gold 2015

The VSP must wearily pack its bags in Northern France and head over to the Netherlands. Hung over, you bet. After the Ronde and Paris-Roubaix, everyone is a little beat up. Those cobbles can wear a person down.

For those riders who can kill the short steep Limburg climbs, this is the beginning of their Spring Classics season. The profile of this race looks like a Japanese handsaw: if you are not going up, you are going down. This is the 50th edition of Amstel Gold and despite the race being named for a not entirely interesting beer, a lot of riders are keen for this.

Perhaps I point this out every year but a look at past winners of Amstel Gold makes it look like a race for the Pot Belge users of the peloton. Crank up every hill at maximum power and after thirty-something of them, gaps open up. When Stephan Schumacher won it in 2007 that should have been a tip off. Didn’t Lance do well in this race? Oh well, let’s not go down that rabbit hole.

Everyone knows the VSP deal: free entry and great prizes. No one has a commanding lead so everything is still up for the taking and bragging.

[vsp_results id=”32691″/]

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160 Replies to “Velominati Super Prestige: Amstel Gold 2015”

  1. Haven’t given the race much thought this week, so here’s a placeholder and oddsmaker insurance against consuming too much wine, Belgian ale, scallops, Brussel sprouts and bread for dinner tonight.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Alejandro Valverde
    3. Michael Matthews
    4. Michal Kwiatkowski
    5. Joaquim Rodriguez
  2. If @Steampunk picks PhilGil, it’s because Gilbert the Gator is still in Meredith’s good favor.  This is science and it’s a lock.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Valverde
    3. Kwiatkowski
    4. Rodriguez
    5. Matthews
  3. VSP PICKS:

    1. michal kwiatkowski
    2. dan martin
    3. philippe gilbert
    4. tom dumoulin
    5. vincenzo nibali
  4. @xyxax

    She’s outgrown the croc–or at least I didn’t plant him in the bed. I was basing the pick on the fact that it’s fun watching Gilbert go uphill fast and he did it reasonably well midweek. Sorry to drag you down with me…

  5. no idea what i’m doing here. These guys have all looked decent recently save Rodriguez, for whom I’m rooting just because [no good reason.  well, that and i do like the look of those Canyons]

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Michal Kwiatkowski
    3. Michael Matthews
    4. Joaquim Rodriguez
    5. Tony Gallopin
  6. VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Michael Matthews
    3. Alejandro Valverde
    4. Michal Kwiatkowski
    5. Joaquim Rodriguez
  7. it’ll seem strange not having krisstoff winning , shirley (sagan) choking and etixx looking at one another whilst someone breaks from the front

    VSP PICKS:

    1. kelderman
    2. rodriguez
    3. mollema
    4. gilbert
    5. kwiatkowski
  8. VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert, Philippe
    2. Valverde, Alejandro
    3. Kwiatkowski, Michal
    4. Rodriguez, Joaquin
    5. Mollema, Bauke
  9. VSP PICKS:

    1. M. Matthews
    2. P. Gilbert
    3. J. Bakelants
    4. T. Gallopin
    5. M. Kwiatkowski
  10. @Michael Heusdens

    Modification. Not sure Purito has the punch to challenge Phil. If it’s close at the top and Matthews is in it it’ll be his.

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Gilbert
    2. Valverde
    3. Rodriguez
    4. Kwiatkowski
    5. Matthews
  11. Beautiful, still day here in the Limburg. Seconding the concept of the lighter beer. Being exposed to so many Belgian beers, it is rewarding to occasionally drink a lighter Dutch beer at the turnaround point that doesn’t jeopardise the ride home

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Matthews
    2. Dan Martin
    3. Valverde
    4. Kwiatkowski
    5. Dumolin
  12. Never bet against Gilbert when he’s on form. I learned that the hard way a couple of years ago.

  13. VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Gilbert
    2. Michal Kwiatkowski
    3. Alejandro Valverde
    4. Tony Gallopin
    5. Joaquim Rodriguez
  14. VSP PICKS:

    1. Michal Kwiatkowski
    2. Philippe Gilbert
    3. Michael Matthews
    4. Tom Dumoulin
    5. Wolco Kelderman
  15. Need to check the spelling before hitting the button. Substitute Matthews for Weening. Home soil gives extra boost. (I hope)

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Michal Kwiatkowski
    2. Philippe Gilbert
    3. Peter Weening
    4. Tom Dumoulin
    5. Wilco Kelderman
  16. @Rockkk

    it’ll seem strange not having krisstoff winning , shirley (sagan) choking and etixx looking at one another whilst someone breaks from the front

    VSP PICKS:

    1. kelderman
    2. rodriguez
    3. mollema
    4. gilbert
    5. kwiatkowski

    I saw a quote renaming the Etixx team:  “Tactixx-Misstep”.  Clever.

  17. That sounded brilliant! Only was following the live feed… Can’t wait to watch it.

  18. My feed quit at the top of the Cauburg and jumped to Kwiat being wheeled to the podium.

    Cauberg interruptus.  Good on him, though.

  19. @frank

    I like that Gallopin kid. Actually, I like that whole squad from the kit to the kids they have riding in it. I hope they come good with a few good wins this year.

  20. @xyxax

    If I had a nickel for every time that happened to me. Of course, more often than not, it’s Cauberg DNS. Married nineteen years tomorrow.

  21. Grr, tipped Matthews, Kwiatkowski and Valverde in the top 5 but ended up with only 3 points.

    BUT what a ride by Matthews staying with Gilbert up the Cauburg, and then still having enough to sprint for 2nd. Maybe Kwiatkowski rode a bit smarter?

  22. @Steampunk

    @xyxax

    If I had a nickel for every time that happened to me. Of course, more often than not, it’s Cauberg DNS. Married nineteen years tomorrow.

    Happy anniversary to you and Janet on nearly 2 decades of wedded bliss.  When is her sainthood party?

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