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Maastricht - Valkenberg, 248.7 km, The Netherlands

Enrico Gasparotto gets his second Amstel Gold Race

The Race: Here's the organizer's telling of the race's events.

Enrico Gasparotto has won the 51st Amstel Gold Race. The Wanty-rider beat Michael Valgren (Tinkoff) at the finish after a wild ascent of the Cauberg. Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani) took third place, 3 seconds behind the winner.

For Gasparotto it's his second victory in the Amstel Gold Race. The Italian rider managed to win in 2012.

After several crusades on cobblestones, the stage changed dramatically: the Dutch hills brings forth a completely different type of winner. The Amstel Gold Race being the first chance for the likes of Philippe Gilbert, Michael Kwiatkowski and Michael Matthews to take a classic crown.

Lot's of speculation in the hours before the 51st Amstel Gold Race starts in Maastricht. Would the riders surprise us a the did during the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix? Or was it going to be a traditional race; all the big names in front, anticipating a tour de force on the Cauberg?

Well, there was a surprise. Fabio Felline (Trek-Segafredo) tumbled and quit before the official start. Tiesj Benoot (Lotto-Soudal) was out after just 35 kilometers.

After an hour still no breakaway. Until eleven riders had enough. De Vreese (Astana), Devriendt (Wanty), Didier (Trek), Howes (Cannondale), Montaguti (AG2R), Bono (Lampre), Reza (FDJ), Warbasse (IAM), Cerny (CCC), Grellier (Direct Energie) en Berlato (Nippo) took a lead close to 5 minutes.

A bit of a shock for the Dutch crowd at the climb of Camerig. The peloton showed many breaks and local favorite Tom Dumoulin was way in the back. In the days prior to the Amstel Gold Race Dumoulin talked about the finish. ,,We should change the place of arrival. AGR is a tough race but could be really spectacular if the finish was further away from the Cauberg.” His hometown Maastricht is an option, the Giant-Alpecin-rider concluded.

Team Sky managed to keep the breakaway within shooting distance. The dark force in front of the peloton seemed to draw a similar color clouds. Rain would be an unwelcome guest . The hills and wind being a tough enough challenge.

With 60 kilometers to go a horrible crash took place. Stef Clement (iAm) and Grega Bole (Nippo) seemed to be in a bad state.

Van der Sande, Meersman, Bonifazio and Thurau tried to bridge the gap but fell 1.30 short. At the Gulpenerberg the rain caught up with the riders. More and more of them having trouble to follow. Joaquin Rodriguez, who crashed, one of them. Also Philippe Gilbert, three-time winner, seemed to be in trouble.

On the Eyserbosweg Michael Matthews (Orica) decided to send his  luitenant Michael Albasini to the front. The breakaway shattered into fragments.

Bob Jungels and Enrico Battaglin were the first to get in front after a speedy ascent of the Cauberg. Michael Kwiatkowski decided he'd seen enough. No reprisal of his victory last year.

About 60 riders gathered for the last 10 kilometers. Roman Kreuziger jumped, but was caught by Tim Wellens. Sepp Vanmarcke tried to bridge but was unsuccessful.

With 10 seconds to spare, Tim Wellens took on the Cauberg for the last time. He was caught bij Enrico Gasparotto and Michael Valgren.

They managed to stay ahead until the finish line. Gasparotto being a clear winner in the sprint.

Complete Results:

Race photos

248.7 kilometers raced at an average speed of 39.471 km/hr

1	Enrico Gasparotto	Wanty-Groupe Gobert	6hr 18min 2sec
2	Michael Valgren	Tinkoff	s.t.
3	Sonny Colbrelli	Bardiani CSF	@ 4sec
4	Bryan Coquard	Direct Énergie	s.t.
5	Michael Matthews	Orica-GreenEdge	s.t.
6	Julian Alaphilippe	Etixx-Quick Step	s.t.
7	Diego Ulissi	Lampre-Merida	s.t.
8	Giovanni Visconti	Movistar	s.t.
9	Loïc Vliegen	BMC	s.t.
10	Tim Wellens	Lotto-Soudal	s.t.
11	Simon Gerrans	Orica-GreenEdge	s.t.
12	Roman Kreuziger	Tinkoff	s.t.
13	Jan Bakelants	Ag2r	s.t.
14	Bauke Mollema	Trek-Segafredo	s.t.
15	Warren Barguil	Giant-Alpecin	s.t.
16	Maurits Lammertink	Roompot Oranje Peloton	s.t.
17	Rui Costa	Lampre-Merida	s.t.
18	Dylan Teuns	BMC	s.t.
19	Arthur Vichot	FDJ	s.t.
20	Daniel Moreno	Movistar	s.t.
21	Floris De Tier	Topsport Vlaanderen	s.t.
22	Diego Rosa	Astana	s.t.
23	Robert Gesink	LottoNL-Jumbo	s.t.
24	Jon Izagirre	Movistar	s.t.
25	Tony Gallopin	Lotto-Soudal	s.t.
26	Jelle Vanendert	Lotto-Soudal	s.t.
27	Samuel Sánchez	BMC	s.t.
28	Sergio Henao	Sky	s.t.
29	Lars Petter Nordhaug	Sky	s.t.
30	Wilco Kelderman	LottoNL-Jumbo	s.t.
31	Petr Vakoc	Etixx-Quick Step	+8''
32	Alex Howes	Cannondale	+34''
33	Serge Pauwels	Dimension Data	s.t.
34	Ben Hermans	BMC	s.t.
35	Oliver Naesen	IAM Cycling	+41''
36	Giulio Ciccone	Bardiani CSF	s.t.
37	Alberto Bettiol	Cannondale	s.t.
38	Georg Preidler	Giant-Alpecin	s.t.
39	Daryl Impey	Orica-GreenEdge	s.t.
40	Manuele Mori	Lampre-Merida	s.t.
41	Wout Poels	Sky	s.t.
42	Simon Geschke	Giant-Alpecin	s.t.
43	Bob Jungels	Etixx-Quick Step	s.t.
44	Larry Warbasse	IAM Cycling	s.t.
45	Luis León Sánchez	Astana	s.t.
46	Pieter Weening	Roompot Oranje Peloton	s.t.
47	Simon Clarke	Cannondale	s.t.
48	Laurens De Vreese	Astana	+1' 01''
49	Sep Vanmarcke	LottoNL-Jumbo	s.t.
50	Cyril Gautier	Ag2r	s.t.
51	Andriy Grivko	Astana	s.t.
52	Sebastián Henao	Sky	s.t.
53	Pieter Serry	Etixx-Quick Step	+1' 36''
54	Enrico Battaglin	LottoNL-Jumbo	s.t.
55	Alexey Lutsenko	Astana	+2' 05''
56	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Dimension Data	+2' 07''
57	Michael Albasini	Orica-GreenEdge	+2' 12''
58	Matteo Trentin	Etixx-Quick Step	+3' 20''
59	Bert-Jan Lindeman	LottoNL-Jumbo	+3' 37''
60	Tom-Jelte Slagter	Cannondale	+4' 18''
61	Jaco Venter	Dimension Data	+4' 33''
62	Kristian Sbaragli	Dimension Data	s.t.
63	Lorenzo Rota	Bardiani CSF	s.t.
64	Mário Costa	Lampre-Merida	s.t.
65	Alexey Tsatevich	Katusha	s.t.
66	Huub Duyn	Roompot Oranje Peloton	s.t.
67	Toms Skujinš	Cannondale	s.t.
68	Jan Polanc	Lampre-Merida	s.t.
69	Robert Kišerlovski	Tinkoff	s.t.
70	Alberto Losada	Katusha	s.t.
71	Angelo Tulik	Direct Énergie	s.t.
72	Marcus Burghardt	BMC	s.t.
73	Matteo Montaguti	Ag2r	s.t.
74	Gorka Izagirre	Movistar	s.t.
75	Matteo Bono	Lampre-Merida	s.t.
76	Vegard Laengen	IAM Cycling	s.t.
77	Paul Martens	LottoNL-Jumbo	s.t.
78	Michal Golas	Sky	s.t.
79	Anthony Roux	FDJ	s.t.
80	Davide Rebellin	CCC Sprandi Polkowice	s.t.
81	Philippe Gilbert	BMC	s.t.
82	Sergey Chernetsky	Katusha	s.t.
83	David Tanner	IAM Cycling	s.t.
84	Mathew Hayman	Orica-GreenEdge	s.t.
85	Tiago Machado	Katusha	s.t.
86	Silvan Dillier	BMC	s.t.
87	Ben Gastauer	Ag2r	s.t.
88	Gianni Meersman	Etixx-Quick Step	s.t.
89	Michel Kreder	Roompot Oranje Peloton	s.t.
90	Jurgen Van den Broeck	Katusha	s.t.
91	Tom Dumoulin	Giant-Alpecin	s.t.
92	Tosh Van der Sande	Lotto-Soudal	s.t.
93	Christopher Juul-Jensen	Orica-GreenEdge	s.t.
94	Benoît Vaugrenard	FDJ	s.t.
95	Maciej Paterski	CCC Sprandi Polkowice	+5' 39''
96	Jürgen Roelandts	Lotto-Soudal	+5' 56''
97	Ángel Vicioso	Katusha	+6' 19''
98	Björn Thurau	Wanty-Groupe Gobert	+7' 35''
99	Matej Mohoric	Lampre-Merida	+8' 03''
100	Preben Van Hecke	Topsport Vlaanderen	+8' 03''
101	Sven Erik Bystrøm	Katusha	+8' 49''
102	Roy Curvers	Giant-Alpecin	s.t.
103	Benjamin King	Cannondale	s.t.
104	Kristjan Koren	Cannondale	s.t.
105	Gijs Van Hoecke	Topsport Vlaanderen	s.t.
106	Lukasz Owsian	CCC	s.t.
107	Antwan Tolhoek	Roompot Oranje Peloton	s.t.
108	Berden de Vries	Roompot Oranje Peloton	s.t.
109	Valerio Conti	Lampre-Merida	s.t.
110	Antoine Duchesne	Direct Énergie	s.t.
111	Juan José Lobato	Movistar	s.t.
112	Jesper Hansen	Tinkoff	s.t.
113	Daniele Colli	Nippo	s.t.
114	Imanol Erviti	Movistar	s.t.
115	Pierpaolo De Negri	Nippo	s.t.
116	Pavel Brutt	Tinkoff	s.t.
117	Alessandro De Marchi	BMC	+9' 11''
118	Chad Haga	Giant-Alpecin	+11' 24''
119	Marco Minnaard	Wanty-Groupe Gobert	+15' 49''
120	Otto Vergaerde	Topsport Vlaanderen	+17' 16''

2016 Amstel Gold Race map:

2016 Amstel Gold Race photos by Fotoreporter Sirotti:

Laurent Didier alone on the Gulperberg ascent

Ryder Hesjedal

Peloton on the Gulperberg

Michal Golas leading on the Gulperberg

Tim Wellens on a break

I don't know if this is Wellens being caught or escaping on the Cauberg

Alberto Losada on the Keutenberg

The obligatory Amstel Gold Race racing picture with a windmill. It does look beautiful out in the Dutch countryside.

On the Bemelerberg

There are lots of road hazards on Dutch roads

Enrico Gasparotto wins

Gasparotto right after the race

The podium, from left: Michael Valgren (2nd), Enrico Gasparotto and Sonny Colbrelli (3rd)

Start list with back numbers, April 16, 2016:

	SKY
1	KWIATKOWSKI Michal
2	HENAO Sergio
3	KENNAUGH Peter
4	GOLAS Michal
5	NORDHAUG Lars Petter
6	POELS Wouter
7	SWIFT Ben
8	VAN POPPEL Danny
	ETIXX-QUICK STEP
11	ALAPHILIPPE Julian
12	MARTIN Tony
13	TRENTIN Matteo
14	JUNGELS Bob
15	MEERSMAN Gianni
16	SERRY Pieter
17	VAKOC Petr
18	VERMOTE Julien
	MOVISTAR
21	ERVITI Imanol
22	FERNANDEZ Rubén
23	HERRADA Jesús
24	IZAGUIRRE Gorka
25	IZAGUIRRE Jon
26	LOBATO Juan Jose
27	MORENO Daniel
28	VISCONTI Giovanni
	ORICA-GREENEDGE
31	MATTHEWS Michael
32	GERRANS Simon
33	HAYMAN Mathew
34	IMPEY Daryl
35	JUUL JENSEN Christopher
36	DURBRIDGE Luke
37	ALBASINI Michael
38	YATES Adam
	GIANT-ALPECIN
41	DUMOULIN Tom
42	CURVERS Roy
43	BARGUIL Warren
44	FROHLINGER Johannes
45	GESCHKE Simon
46	HAGA Chad
47	LUDVIGSSON Fredrik
48	PREIDLER Georg
	LOTTO-SOUDAL
51	VANENDERT Jelle
52	GALLOPIN Tony
53	LIGTHART Pim
54	VAN DER SANDE Tosh
55	ROELANDTS Jurgen
56	SIEBERG Marcel
57	BENOOT Tiesj
58	WELLENS Tim
	BMC
61	GILBERT Philippe
62	DE MARCHI Alessandro
63	DILLIER Silvan
64	BURGHARDT Marcus
65	HERMANS Ben
66	SANCHEZ Samuel
67	TEUNS Dylan
68	VLIEGEN Loïc
	LOTTO NL-JUMBO
71	KELDERMAN Wilco
72	GESINK Robert
73	BATTAGLIN Enrico
74	LINDEMAN Bertjan
75	MARTENS Paul
76	TJALLINGII Maarten
77	VANMARCKE Sep
78	TEUNISSEN Mike
	LAMPRE-MERIDA
81	BONO Matteo
82	FARIA DA COSTA Mario
83	FARIA DA COSTA Rui
84	CONTI Valerio
85	MOHORIC Matej
86	MORI Manuele
87	POLANC Jan
88	ULISSI Diego
	TINKOFF
91	BRUTT Pavel
92	HANSEN Jesper
93	KISERLOVSKI Robert
94	KREUZIGER Roman
95	MCCARTHY Jay
96	PETROV Evgeni
97	TROFIMOV Yury
98	VALGREN ANDERSEN Michael
	TREK
101	BONIFAZIO Niccolo
102	BEPPU Fumiyuki
103	DIDIER Laurent
104	FELLINE Fabio
105	HESJEDAL Ryder
106	MOLLEMA Bauke
107	REIJNEN Kiel
108	SCHLECK Frank
	ASTANA
111	BOOM Lars
112	DE VREESE Laurens
113	GRIVKO Andriy
114	LUTSENKO Alexey
115	ARU Fabio
116	SANCHEZ Luis Leon
117	CATALDO Dario
118	WESTRA Lieuwe
	KATUSHA
121	RODRIGUEZ Joaquin
122	CHERNETSKY Sergey
123	LOSADA A Alberto
124	MACHADO Tiago
125	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen
126	BYSTROM Sven Erik
127	TSATEVITCH Alexey
128	VICIOSO Angel
	AG2R-LA MONDIALE
131	BAKELANTS Jan
132	CHEREL Mickaël
133	GASTAUER Ben
134	GAUTIER Cyril
135	GOUGEARD Alexis
136	MONTAGUTI Matteo
137	RIBLON Christophe
138	VUILLERMOZ Alexis
	FDJ
141	BONNET William
142	EIKING Odd Christian
143	FISCHER Murilo Antonio
144	ROY Jérémy
145	REZA Kevin
146	ROUX Anthony
147	VAUGRENARD Benoît
148	VICHOT Arthur
	IAM CYCLING
151	COPPEL Jerome
152	CLEMENT Stef
153	HOLST ENGER Sondre
154	LAENGEN Vegard Stake
155	NAESEN Oliver
156	WARBASSE Larry
157	DENIFL Stefan
158	TANNER David
	CANNONDALE
161	CLARKE Simon
162	BETTIOL Alberto
163	BROWN Nathan
164	HOWES Alex
165	KING Benjamin
166	KOREN Kristjan
167	SKUJINS Toms
168	SLAGTER Tom Jelte
	DIMENSION DATA
171	PAUWELS Serge
172	BOASSON HAGEN Edvald
173	FRAILE Omar
174	HAAS Nathan
175	BERHANE TEWELDEMEDHIN Natnael
176	REGUIGUI Youcef
177	SBARAGLI Kristian
178	VENTER Jacobus
	TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN-BALOISE
181	DE TIER Floris
182	HELVEN Sander
183	LIETAER Eliot
184	VAN GESTEL Dries
185	VAN HECKE Preben
186	VAN HOECKE Gijs
187	VERGAERDE Otto
188	WALLAYS Jens
	ROOMPOT ORANJE PELOTON
191	WEENING Pieter
192	DE VRIES Berden
193	DUYN Huub
194	HOOGERLAND Johnny
195	KREDER Michel
196	LAMMERTINK Maurits
197	TOLHOEK Antwan
198	VAN GINNEKEN Sjoerd
	WANTY–GROUPE GOBERT
201	GASPAROTTO Enrico
202	DE HAES Kenny
203	DEVRIENDT Tom
204	MCNALLY Mark
205	VEUCHELEN Frederik
206	MARCATO Marco
207	MINNAARD Marco
208	THURAU Bjorn
	DIRECT ENERGIE
211	VOECKLER Thomas
212	BOUDAT Thomas
213	COQUARD Bryan
214	DUCHESNE Antoine
215	GRELLIER Fabien
216	HUREL Tony
217	TULIK Angelo
218	ANDERSON Ryan
	CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE
221	PATERSKI Maciej
222	CERNY Josef
223	KUREK Adrian
224	MARYCZ Jaroslaw
225	OWSIAN Lukasz
226	PLUCINSKI Leszek
227	PONZI Simone
228	REBELLIN Davide
	NIPPO-VINI FANTINI
231	CUNEGO Damiano
232	COLLI Daniele
233	BOLE Grega
234	DE NEGRI Pier Paolo
235	BERLATO Giacomo
236	KOISHI Yuma
237	KUBOKI Kazushige
238	STACCHIOTTI Riccardo
	BARDIANI-CSF
241	COLBRELLI Sonny
242	BOEM Nicola
243	CICCONE Giulio
244	ANDREETTA Simone
245	ROTA Lorenzo
246	RUFFONI Nicola
247	STERBINI Luca
248	TONELLI Alessandro