With its 31 hills and uphill finish on the Cauberg, the Amstel Gold Race came off true to form yesterday. A select group of nine--including Damiano "The Kid" Cunego, Frank Schleck, Alejandro Valverde, Davide Rebellin, and Thomas Dekker--approached the final climb to battle it out amongst themselves. Knowing he couldn't take them in a final sprint, Schleck launched first attack. He was able to shake everyone but Cunego, who powered by and took the win. Impressive. He's skipping the Giro to concentrate on the Tour this year. Should be fun to watch. Full results, reports, and photos available at CN, VN and, my favourite, Pez.The final km:
Over in the FGBC Pool, Team F*ck Sympathy is putting together another late season surge. With Cunego and Dekker in the top 5, as well as Freire and (Nobody F*cks With the) Jesus Del Noro also picking up top 30 points, they collect 670 points on the day. Uli Kunkel Powered by Karl Hungus is putting on a bit of a late season show as well. They have another good day and are now siting all the way up in 6th place. Finally, don't look now, but Shut the F*ck up Jonny took home a solid 480 points yesterday. They now move well beyond the 1000 point barrier that had proved so elusive for the first 11 races of the season. They're not even in last place any more. That distinction would go to Rachel's That Good Sasparilla. Her strategy of picking riders whose names and stylistic preferences place them on the more feminine side of the spectrum that is the peloton clearly did not work out so well this time around. What happened Kim Kirchen? Filippo Pozzato, you clearly have more prettiness than one body can handle. It's starting to work against you. Tone it down a notch or two, and things just might come together for you. Gabrieles Balducci and Bosioso and Lucas Solari and Paolini, what have I done to offend thee? Let's go girls. It's never too late.
Not to be missed is the fact that we have a new overall leader. I told Andy on Saturday that I expected him to take the lead on Sunday. He has Rebellin, who usually dominates these last three races. My team is more of a cobbles team, and the cobbled races are done. Andy said he didn't think he'd win, that he thought my team was strong enough to hold on, but he was clearly just being polite. No need to be polite, Andy. You're the kind of the cycling pool. The professor now has a 150 point lead and should add to that over the next couple of races. Impressive.
Up next: Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday.
The top 30:
1 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - 6.35.29 (39.051 km/h)
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - s.t.
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne - 0.02
4 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner - s.t.
5 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank - 0.06
6 Christian Pfannberger (Aut) Barloworld - 0.14
7 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Astana - 0.18
8 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne - 0.23
9 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC - 0.27
10 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom - 0.45
11 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner - s.t.
12 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole - s.t.
13 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2r - La Mondiale - s.t.
14 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0.51
15 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner - s.t.
16 Kjell Carlström (Fin) Liquigas - s.t.
17 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Silence - Lotto - 0.56
18 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2r - La Mondiale - s.t.
19 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank - s.t.
20 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team High Road - 1.00
21 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank - 1.19
22 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux - 1.27
23 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram - s.t.
24 Jesús Del Nero (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott - s.t.
25 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto - s.t.
26 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole - 1.36
27 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank - 1.47
28 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone - 1.55
29 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux - s.t.
30 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom s.t.
Yesterday's Results:
F*ck Sympathy (David S) 670
Uli Kunkel powered by Karl Hungus (Adam) 525
Shut the F*ck Up Jonny (Jonny B) 480
Vee Vant Ze Money (Andy) 435
You're Out of Your Element, Jonny (Jonny G) 400
New Shit (Matt) 400
Shomer F*cking Shabbas (Donna) 350
That Rug Really Tied the Room Together (Tomek) 340
Little Lebowski Urban Achievers (Ian) 280
These Men Are Cowards (Paddy) 230
Is This Your Homework, Larry? (Arlene) 205
Creedence Tapes (Chris) 120
A Roadie for Metallica (Bill) 110
Bunny Lebowski's Toe (Dallas) 110
Nice Marmot (Hal) 70
That Good Sasparilla (Rachel) 55
White Russians (Victor) 20
Obviously You're Not a Golfer (Charlene) 0
Overall Standings:
Vee Vant Ze Money (Andy) - 5670
Creedence Tapes (Chris) - 5520
Is This Your Homework, Larry? (Arlene) - 4360
Little Lebowski Urban Achievers (Ian) - 3790
New Shit (Matt) - 3405
Uli Kunkel powered by Karl Hungus (Adam) - 2655
These Men Are Cowards (Paddy) - 2610
A Roadie for Metallica (Bill) - 2550
Obviously You're Not a Golfer (Charlene) - 2145
You're Out of Your Element, Jonny (Jonny G) - 2120
White Russians (Victor) - 2080
Nice Marmot (Hal) - 2000
F*ck Sympathy (David S) - 1975
That Rug Really Tied the Room Together (Tomek) - 1830
Bunny Lebowski's Toe (Dallas) - 1590
Shomer F*cking Shabbas (Donna) - 1430
Shut the F*ck Up Jonny (Jonny B) - 1295
That Good Sasparilla (Rachel) - 1290
OTT: Tapes 'n Tapes, Le Ruse
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