Quotes from the startline of Amstel Gold Race

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Stage winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) on the podium.(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

The hilly classics began in earnest as the riders lined up in Maastricht for the start of the Amstel Gold Race. Seven former champions were present, including three-time and defending champion Philippe Gilbert. Other previous winners on show were Roman Kreuziger (2013), Enrico Gasparotto (2012), Damiano Cunego (2008), Stefan Schumacher (2007), Frank Schleck (2006) and Davide Rebellin (2004).

“We’ve got as strong a team as any in this race and the same goes for the whole week. It’s exciting to be a part of,” Martin told Cyclingnews. “I’m training really well and I feel good. Hopefully I’m here in a good place. It’s a bit nerve wracking coming into these races because you don’t know where you are and anything can happen. Especially when you put in so much in training but hopefully lady luck will be shining on us this year."

“The thing with these one-day races is that you have to see how everybody else races. We got a few guys who can do well and that’s important in these races. It’s different in Liege and Fleche, which are a bit more predictable, this race nobody really knows. It could come down to the Cauberg but then it might not. We’ve got a few options to play but that involves missing all the road furniture and then you assess what you’ve got in the last 40k.”

“I think the Cauberg is going to be decisive, putting that extra section at the top means riders tend to play it very cautiously and wait for the last climb. Plus it’s a warm, dry day, no wind, so it could be a very similar race to last year. Philippe’s the favourite, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. He’s won three times here and I’ve won several times on the same finish in some races, too. It’s like I told him yesterday, sometimes you’re so closely watched as a favourite it’s much harder to make your move.”

“Every chance that you have you have to try and make the most of it. (Tom Dumoulin) should aim high as an athlete, but the reality is that this race is also part of a development process of course so there is also a global plan behind so it is important that he sees what it is like to ride a final here, what the sensations are and to take in all the information that he can use a year later when he is stronger,” Spekenbrink told Cyclingnews.

“I think the team is very strong we hope to have a hard race and a nice result in the end. I’m feeling ok, I had an injury that took longer to recover than I thought but today the most important thing is to have a good result with the team. I have a lot of experience in this race so I know the race pretty well and I can help as much as possible. We’ll see in the final how everything goes,” he said to Cyclingnews as he lined up for the start.

“I think that I have trained really well and I’ve arrived at this race in good condition. Everything has gone the way I wanted so I’m really relaxed because more than other years I have done everything that I can. I just want to do my best and I’ve already shown that my best is winning Amstel so I’m here to try and do it again. I just have to follow the big names. The responsibility of the race is not on our shoulders so I’ve just got to stay with the big riders and stay with them on the line.”