Yes it is a race named after a barely drinkable Dutch beer. I have enjoyed Amstel beer, brought to our table by a nice waitress, sitting outside in the Dutch spring. Atmosphere is everything. Do the Dutch brew awesome beer? I drank some good stuff in Amsterdam last spring but I’m pretty sure it was Belgian.
Now we begin the Ardennes three race-fest of Amstel, La Fléche Wallone and LBL. Peter Sagan has been resting up, Phil Gil is looking for his 2011 form (or his cortisone), Andy Schleck is suiting up for da ‘Shack. The big Spring Classic boys have moved on to the couch. They are not welcome here. Riding up to the start line now are the tough riders who can climb and climb again. Power to weight ratios must be honed to the razor’s edge to win these Ardennes races. Cancellara has talked of losing weight to be competitive in Liége-Bastogne-Liége. Just winning Ronde van Vlaanderen does not qualify you to win in the Ardennes races. Unless your first name was Edddy and last name Merckx.
Enjoy the start list. The betting window is open. Do not let Pedro Delgado sit on your couch.
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View Comments
True to my word I am excluding sky who's wheels appear to have come off their spring classics train. Saggy looks like a machine...van avermat has been awesomely consistent terpstra is looking strong. Aside from his diabolical tactical nouse, jrod loves the cauberg and I read somewhere that dan Martin fancied this one so why not give him a chance...let's just see...
VSP PICKS:
1. Saganster
2. Terpstra
3. Van avermart
4. Dan martin
5. Jrod
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Gilbert
3. Quintana
4. Eddy boss
5. Henao
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Gilbert
3. Gerrans
4. Rodriguez
5. Van Avermaet
I want to go back to the days where Fast Phil tore everyones' legs off up the final climb, but I think he's just not there yet - maybe come LBL??
VSP PICKS:
1. J-Rod
2. Sagan
3. Rainbow Stripes
4. Gerrans
5. Urano
@CanuckChuck
Although it seems stupid to bet against Sagan, your selection is safe now that I have chosen someone else. I will continue to bet against Sagan, if only for the bragging rights when (if) he finally drops one and I pick the right guy. Moser gets the joker's getaway win while all the players mark each other out of contention. We haven't seen Jelle in a while and he pulls out second. Sagan takes the small group sprint to round out the podium.
Did I mention that Andy Schleck abandons?
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Kessiakoff
3. Gilbert
4. Moser
5. Van Avermaet
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Gilbert
3. Purito Rodriguez
4. Gerrans
5. Voeckler
VSP PICKS:
1. Gilbert
2. Sagan
3. Rodriguez
4. Terpstra
5. van Avermaet
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Boassen Hagen
3. Gilbert
4. Valverde
5. Iglinsky
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Gilbert
3. Gerrans
4. Terpstra
5. Henao