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″/]

Gianni

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  • Although Sagandouche might feature as the nearly man once again

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Philippe Giblets
    2. Malmerde
    3. Michael Matthews
    4. Michal Kwiatkowski
    5. J-Rod
  • VSP PICKS:

    1. Michael Matthews
    2. Michal Kwiatkowski
    3. Philippe Gilbert
    4. Alejandro Valverde
    5. Bauke Mollema
  • Goin old-school dopers for this one...

    VSP PICKS:

    1. Cunego
    2. Rebellin
    3. Schleck
    4. Wegmann
    5. Schumacher
  • Much more fun picking the big guys for the earlier spring classics vs Ardennes. I have much more affinity for the pave' contenders. Oh well, I'll just toss up a bunch o' favorites to win according to the press. Good luck all...

    VSP PICKS:

    1. MATTHEWS Michael
    2. GILBERT Philippe
    3. VALVERDE Alejandro
    4. KWIATKOWSKI Michal
    5. DUMOULIN Tom
  • And for what it is worth... Amstel might not be a particularly interesting beer but I have to admit to being a fan. I believe is probably one of the lower alcohol content beers regularly available. As such, I frequently order one up when at a bar prior to a business dinner or such occasion that warrants a good beer but also staying relatively sober. It's not a bad beer. Maybe call it refreshing. Whatev... cheers

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