Amstel Gold Race: Pre-Race with Cunego and Friends

At the Lampre-Ngc camp they are busily preparing for tomorrow's big race day. Well, actually, they are probably all asleep by now. But anyways...

Damiano Cunego had this to say about tomorrow's race:

I have prepared very well and also in recent races I have felt good sensations that I hope to find again tomorrow during the race. I would like to show well at Amstel, taking into account, though, the subsequent appointments at Flèche-Wallone and above all Liège-Bastogne-Liège."

Do you think Cunego wants to win Liège? I do.

For the gearheads, here is what Cunego will ride in terms of bike, wheels, gearing, and whatnot. Especially the whatnot. He's riding a Wilier Cento1 frameset. If it's dry, the Italian will ride deep dish carbon wheels with 700x23c tubies. (They don't say what brand, by the way.) If it's wet, Cunego will swap out the carbon wheels in favor of alumninum rims. He'll also go to 700x25c tires with a rainy day tread pattern. Gearing? Cunego rocks a 53-35 on the front and a 11-25 for the Amstel Gold Race.

Davide Rebellin of Diquigiovanni-Androni, meanwhile, is worried about tomorrow's race. He says that he has good form, but hasn't race since early April at the Settimana Coppi e Bartali. He fears the lack of racing has left him a bit underdone for this week's adventures.

Over at Silence-Lotto, Thomas Dekker has suffered a rough early season. In particular, he cites crashes at Settimana Coppi e Bartali and Vuelta a País Vasco as the cause for his lack of results and spotty form. He is hoping to show himself in the Ardennes. "Amstel is the race where I'd like to show myself, but above all, I dream of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I know that it will be difficult, but the team is well-armed for this week," he said. "I am leaving a difficult period, after that, I hope to show my new jersey well, and return the confidence that Silence-Lotto has placed in me," he concluded.

Dekker's Silence-Lotto team-mate, Philippe Gilbert admitted that he suffered several days of illness after Ronde van Vlaanderen. Of the Amstel Gold Race, he said, "I know the roads by heart; I come often to train during the winter here, because it is always 3 or 4 degrees warmer than where I live. The côtes resemble those of the Ronde and the Cauberg, where the finish lies, should allow me to take advantage of my explosiveness, and yet, I have never done anything there." Gilbert considers the Mur du Huy too difficult for him, and expects to support Cadel Evans or Thomas Dekker during Wednesday's Flèche-Wallone.

Seen any other pre-race comments?