
Dutch rider Robert Gesink (Rabobank)
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) early in the race.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) finished down in 18th place.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) lost 18 seconds on the final climb.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Alexandr Kolobnev (Team Katusha)
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It's not just the bike riders that are under a watchful eye, with the
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Albert Timmer (Skil - Shimano) lost nearly nine minutes.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) shows off the world champion's colours as
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) wins the Amstel Gold Race.
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

The lead group passes through.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

As with all tough Classics, it's not long before riders start falling
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Yo, nice mo: Steven Cozza (Garmin-Transitions) rides in the bunch.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) looked strong on the day.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) was the defending champion.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Lars Boom (Rabobank) takes on some fluid during the race.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha) took his time, finishing more than 10 minutes
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) on his way to victory.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) leads on the climb.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) waits to make his move.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Paul Martens (Rabobank) rode a strong race to finish 11th.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

The Rabobank duo of Nick Nuyens and Laurens Ten Dam check their lead.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Maxime Vantomme (Team Katusha) leads the peloton.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team) finished an impressive eighth.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

The leaders follow race director Leo van Vliet's car on a climb.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) leads Karsten Kroon (BMC Racing Team) around
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Lars Boom (Rabobank) by the team car.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Lars Boom (Rabobank) didn't finish the event.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

Karsten Kroon (BMC Racing Team) landed in the top 10.
Photo credit © Bert Geerts/dcp-bertgeerts@xs4all.nl

The first chase group with Evans, Kolobnev, Cunego and Schleck chase after
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Gilbert gets a big hug from his papa.
Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Oscar Freire has a chat before the start.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The Garmin-Transitions team at Amstel
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The view from the crowd of the podium.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Philippe Gilbert celebrates his win.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Philippe Gilbert is interviewed.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The Francaise des Jeux riders relax before the start.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Francaise des Jeux at the presentation.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) went on the attack in the final
Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

Staf Scheirlinckx (Omega Pharma-Lotto) watches the other riders in the
Photo credit © Brecht Decaluwé

The area after the finish was also the feed zone
Photo credit © Brecht Decaluwé

The early break goes over the Cauberg for the second time
Photo credit © Brecht Decaluwé

Peter Wrolich and Milram at the presentation.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Andy Schleck and the Saxo Bank boys.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Stephen Cozza (Garmin-Transitions)
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Cadel Evans (BMC) gets a special call-up at the team presentation.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Serguei Ivanov is ready to defend his Amstel Gold Race title
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Katusha at the Amstel Gold Race.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Riders await the start of the Amstel Gold Race.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The start in Maastricht of the Amstel Gold Race.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The Omega Pharma Lotto team was finally able to get a win.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) is mobbed after his win.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator team
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank) smiles at the team presentation of Amstel Gold.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The hometown favorites, Rabobank.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The Saxo Bank riders stayed at the front.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The Lampre riders control the pace.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Lampre-Farnese Vini at the Amstel Gold race.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Peter Wrolich (Milram), Rafael Valls (Footon-Servetto), Staf Scheirlinckx
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The breakaway after the second trip up the Cauberg.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The peloton heads out for the 45th Amstel Gold Race.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The market in Maastricht was packed.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

The peloton crests the Cauberg for the second time.
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Peter Wrolich (Milram), Rafael Valls (Footon-Servetto), Staf Scheirlinckx
Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Mark Sergent, Lotto boss, was over the moon with the win of Gilbert.
Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) made all the right moves but took seventh.
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Bert de Waele (Landbouwkrediet) led out the sprint but faded to 4th ahead
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) claimed the last podium spot.
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) got past Gasparotto to take second.
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Philippe Gilbert was a happy man after winning Amstel Gold Race.
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Gilbert celebrates his Amstel win
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

The peloton enjoyed lovely clear skies for the Amstel Gold Race
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Photo credit © Elmar Krings

Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil) came in 8th.
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Chris Horner (RadioShack) and Karsten Kroon (BMC) rounded out the top
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Cadel Evans and Serguei Ivanov come across a dozen seconds down.
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) rode aggressively and it paid off.
Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) was on fire in the Amstel Gold Race.
Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

The elite lead group of Ivanov, Cunego, Schleck, Kolobnev and Evans.
Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

Chris Horner (Radioshack) and Karsten Kroon (BMC) rolled in for the top
Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

Paul Martens (Rabobank) leads a group in the Amstel Gold Race
Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

Damiano Cunego (Lampre) pushes the pace in the breakaway.
Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) took second in the Amstel Gold Race.
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) came in 17 seconds down.
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Cadel Evans (BMC) rode aggressively but could manage only 13th
Photo credit © Fotoreporter Sirotti

Philippe Gilbert struck out on his own, too, but saved enough to later
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

Ivanov split up an elite bunch with several vicious attacks.
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Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) on the attack in the finale of the Amstel Gold
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

Alexander Kolobnev tries in vain to hold off the sprinting bunch behind.
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

Gilbert was congratulated vigorously
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Gilbert celebrates the win with his team.
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

The Omega Pharma-Lotto riders each got a hug from Gilbert.
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

His face dusty, a tired but very happy Philippe Gilbert explains how he
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

Kisses for Philippe Gilbert, winner of the Amstel Gold Race
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

Philippe Gilbert takes the flowers in Holland.
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) raced his heart out in the Amstel
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

The final Amstel Gold Race podium: Enrico Gasparotto, Philippe Gilbert
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) wins the Amstel Gold Race
Photo credit © Roberto Bettini

Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano) enjoying the nice weather.
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

Andriy Grivko (Astana) enjoying a relaxed start to the Amstel Gold Race.
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

The early breakaway in the Amstel Gold Race.
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One of the iconic windmills of the Netherlands.
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

The Vacansoleil team bus is stopped for an alcohol test of the driver.
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The peloton takes on the Cauberg for the first time.
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The Schleck brothers are up front in the peloton on the first trip up
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

The pace was relaxed on the first lap.
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The breakaway takes on the Cauberg for the first time.
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com

The driver of the Astana team bus gets an alcohol breath test at the Amstel
Photo credit © www.ispaphoto.com




