Gasparotto wins Amstel stunner

Enrico Gasparotto (Astana Pro Team) won a thrilling Amstel Gold Race, timing his sprint to perfection atop the Cauberg, to win ahead of Jelle Vanendert (Lotto Belisol Team) and Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale).

Three time world champion Oscar Freire (Katusha Team) finished fourth after his bold attack in the closing 7 kilometres was caught in the final meters of the race. Two-time defending champion, Philippe Gilbert, (BMC Racing Team) had to settle for sixth behind Thomas Voeckler (Europcar).

BMC had controlled the race throughout much of the closing stages but Gilbert was left to do all the work on the final ascent of the Cauberg. His acceleration first brought back Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma QuckStep) and then Freire's dying legs to within touching distance. However the move proved as a spring board for the podium placers.

Sagan was the first rider to come around the Belgian champion but he too ran out of gas, with Gasparotto accelerating on his left and Vanendert on his right.

Maastricht treaty lasts until opening climbs

The riders had left the chilly start city of Maastricht with a blessing of rain drops and a cold northern wind on their noses. Typically many riders tried break clear on the first of the 31 climbs but nobody gained enough in the first hour of the race, which was covered at 45kph.
After nearly 60 kilometers of racing a large group finally was allowed to go. Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale), Pello Bilbao (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Raymond Kreder (Garmin-Barracuda), Alex Howes (Garmin-Barracuda), Steven Caethoven (Accent Jobs-Willems Veranda), Cedric Pineau (FDJ-Big Mat), Simone Stortoni (Lampre-ISD), Sébastien Delfosse (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony) and Eliot Lietar (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) were the lucky men.

During the second hour they gathered a maximum lead of 13:30 on the peloton, with no teams wanting to chase. Eventually RadioShack-Nissan, BMC and Katusha took the responsibility and gradually the gap went down.

When approaching the second ascent of the Cauberg the pace in the peloton increased even more and after the Vrakelberg a first group of riders was caught behind the peloton, including outsider Cadel Evans (BMC). In front, the breakaway group lost ground. On top of the Cauberg the gap was down to less than five minutes and that was also where Evans abandoned the race.

With 55 km to go the breakaway group still had four minutes on the peloton. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) went down on the Bemelerberg and even though he was assisted by a couple of teammates his race was almost over. When the pace increased inside the final 30 kilometres he was dropped. Meanwhile Danish rider Matti Breschel (Rabobank) also abandoned the race.

The Wolfsberg, at 41km from the finish line on the Cauberg, was the first of the last string of eight climbs. It proved to be the ground where the Astana moved forward. The gap quickly dropped below two minutes and the speed went up another notch when Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo Bank) attacked the peloton, without much success.

In front Bardet, Bilbao, Howes and Stortoni dropped their fellow breakaway companions although Kreder and Delfosse returned little later. The six remaining leaders entered the last 30km with an advantage of 1:10.

The break split further when Bardet and Howes accelerated again.

Boasson Hagen was the first contender to attack inside the final 15 kilometres but the Sky rider was unable to gain more than 100 meters, with the BMC trio of Mauro Santambrogio, Greg Van Avermaet and Gilbert holding court at the head of the race.

Avermaet, was the perfect teammate, sacrificing his chances for Gilbert, who was either confident of taking on Sagan in the sprint or lacked the legs to attack earlier.

On the penultimate climb of the Keutenberg, Boasson Hagen was swiftly brought back, with Bardet shelling his breakaway companion for the second and final time.

Sky, Astana and Katusha were able to send probing attacks off the front, and Thomas Voeckler and Sagan went briefly alone, but it was Freire who struck a decisive blow with 7km to go, just after Bardet was finally swallowed up.

Freire has never made the podium in Amstel and with Rabobank having such a poor race with Breschel out and Gesink already dropped, Freire's former Dutch team must have been reeling when the Spaniard had a gap of 13 seconds.

But it wouldn't be a Spring Classic without Omega Pharma-Quickstep having their say, and Niki Terpstra accelerated away in pursuit of the Spaniard as the race descended from the Keutenberg.

At the foot of the Cauberg Terpstra had failed to make contact, with a tiring Van Avermaet leading a 20-strong group with Gilbert latched to his wheel.

Gilbert's attack displayed elements of panic and reluctant acceptance at the same time, the rider well aware that everyone was watching him, while also knowing that Freire was on the cusp of a shock win.

Terpstra was quickly reeled in and Gilbert's second acceleration caused the chase group to splinter. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) crashed along with Lars-Peter Nordhaug (Sky), and with a fading Freire unable to hold on the race came down to the strongest, but also the freshest in the sprint for the line.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Pro Team Astana6:32:35
2Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale0:00:02
4Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Katusha TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 4 - Cell 2
6Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 6 - Cell 2
8Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin-Barracuda0:00:04
9Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 8 - Cell 2
10Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 10 - Cell 2
12Frank Schleck (Lux) Radioshack-NissanRow 11 - Cell 2
13Elia Favilli (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 12 - Cell 2
14Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep0:00:09
15Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-BarracudaRow 14 - Cell 2
16Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank0:00:12
17Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin-BarracudaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Movistar TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Simon Gerrans (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team0:00:19
21Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky ProcyclingRow 20 - Cell 2
22Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team0:00:22
23Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo BankRow 22 - Cell 2
24Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:30
26Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team0:00:36
27Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Movistar TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 27 - Cell 2
29Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Pro Team AstanaRow 28 - Cell 2
30Alex Howes (USA) Garmin-Barracuda0:00:47
31Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISD0:00:51
32Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:05
33Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 33 - Cell 2
35Daniele Pietropolli (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 34 - Cell 2
36Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 35 - Cell 2
37Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 36 - Cell 2
38Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:01:17
39Gianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Sky ProcyclingRow 39 - Cell 2
41Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat0:01:30
42Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 41 - Cell 2
43Pieter Serry (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator0:02:03
44Simon Geschke (Ger) Argos - ShimanoRow 43 - Cell 2
45Davy Commeyne (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-EuphonyRow 44 - Cell 2
46Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Argos - ShimanoRow 45 - Cell 2
47Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 46 - Cell 2
48Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Kévin Reza (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 48 - Cell 2
50Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 49 - Cell 2
51Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 50 - Cell 2
52Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 52 - Cell 2
54Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 53 - Cell 2
55Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) Landbouwkrediet-EuphonyRow 55 - Cell 2
57Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 56 - Cell 2
58Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 57 - Cell 2
59Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 58 - Cell 2
60Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin-BarracudaRow 59 - Cell 2
61Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 61 - Cell 2
63Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team0:02:21
64Romain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 63 - Cell 2
65Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 64 - Cell 2
66Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 65 - Cell 2
67Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Pro Team AstanaRow 66 - Cell 2
68Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Pro Team AstanaRow 67 - Cell 2
69Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 68 - Cell 2
70Ben Hermans (Bel) Radioshack-NissanRow 69 - Cell 2
71Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 70 - Cell 2
72Federico Canuti (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 71 - Cell 2
73Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 72 - Cell 2
74Maxime Monfort (Bel) Radioshack-NissanRow 73 - Cell 2
75Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-BarracudaRow 74 - Cell 2
76David Tanner (Aus) Team Saxo BankRow 75 - Cell 2
77Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Pro Team AstanaRow 77 - Cell 2
79Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team0:02:40
80Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:02:51
81Sander Armee (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator0:03:01
82Christopher Horner (USA) Radioshack-Nissan0:03:19
83Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Movistar Team0:03:43
84Arnaud Gerard (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat0:04:32
85Martin Velits (Svk) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 84 - Cell 2
86Bruno Pires (Por) Team Saxo Bank0:04:46
87Michael Albasini (Swi) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
89Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-EuphonyRow 88 - Cell 2
90Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin-BarracudaRow 89 - Cell 2
91Andy Schleck (Lux) Radioshack-Nissan0:05:39
92Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 91 - Cell 2
93Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 92 - Cell 2
94Angelo Tulik (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 93 - Cell 2
95Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 94 - Cell 2
96Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Argos - ShimanoRow 96 - Cell 2
98Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeRow 97 - Cell 2
99Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 98 - Cell 2
100Julien Berard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 99 - Cell 2
101Troels Ronning Vinther (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 100 - Cell 2
102Dominik Nerz (Ger) Liquigas-Cannondale0:07:00
103Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 102 - Cell 2
104Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 103 - Cell 2
105Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 104 - Cell 2
106Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Sky ProcyclingRow 105 - Cell 2
107Yann Huguet (Fra) Argos - ShimanoRow 106 - Cell 2
108Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 107 - Cell 2
109Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 108 - Cell 2
110Simone Ponzi (Ita) Pro Team Astana0:07:33
111Bjorn Thurau (Ger) Team EuropcarRow 110 - Cell 2
112Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:08:02
113Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
114Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 113 - Cell 2
115Reinier Honig (Ned) Landbouwkrediet-EuphonyRow 114 - Cell 2
116Xavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Katusha TeamRow 115 - Cell 2
117Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Argos - ShimanoRow 116 - Cell 2
118Jan Bakelants (Bel) Radioshack-Nissan0:11:26
119Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
120Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 119 - Cell 2
121Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
122Eliot Lietaer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 121 - Cell 2
123Damiano Caruso (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 122 - Cell 2
124Daniele Ratto (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale0:11:31
125Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 124 - Cell 2
126Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 125 - Cell 2
127Matteo Rabottini (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 126 - Cell 2
128Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 127 - Cell 2
129Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 128 - Cell 2
130Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 129 - Cell 2
131Daryl Impey (RSA) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 130 - Cell 2
132Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 131 - Cell 2
133Mads Christensen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 132 - Cell 2
134Steven Caethoven (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 133 - Cell 2
135Simon Clarke (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 134 - Cell 2
136Oleg Chuzhda (Ukr) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 135 - Cell 2
137Peio Bilbao (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 136 - Cell 2
138Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-EuphonyRow 137 - Cell 2
139Borut Bozic (Slo) Pro Team AstanaRow 138 - Cell 2
140Yukihiro Doi (Jpn) Argos - ShimanoRow 139 - Cell 2
141Simone Stortoni (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 140 - Cell 2
142Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 141 - Cell 2
143Raymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin-BarracudaRow 142 - Cell 2
144Brian Bulgac (Ned) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 143 - Cell 2
145Marco Bandiera (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFManuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFCadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFRicardo Garcia Ambroa (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFRuben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFJorge Azanza Soto (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFJens Keukeleire (Bel) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFJens Mouris (Ned) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Meier (Can) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFAlberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha TeamRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFAngel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Katusha TeamRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFYuriy Krivtsov (Fra) Lampre - ISDRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFDiego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre - ISDRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFStefano Agostini (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFJens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFJurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFMatti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFMaarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Didier (Lux) Radioshack-NissanRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFJoost Posthuma (Ned) Radioshack-NissanRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Appollonio (Ita) Sky ProcyclingRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFLars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFSalvatore Puccio (Ita) Sky ProcyclingRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFWouter Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFGregory Habeaux (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFStaf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFStefan Van Dijk (Ned) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFArnoud Van Groen (Ned) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Van Melsen (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesco Failli (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFOscar Gatto (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Hulsmans (Bel) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFRoberto De Patre (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFKurt Hovelynck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-EuphonyRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFEgidijus Juodvalkis (Ltu) Landbouwkrediet-EuphonyRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Curvers (Ned) Argos - ShimanoRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFAlbert Timmer (Ned) Argos - ShimanoRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFFranck Bouyer (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Kern (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 185 - Cell 2
DNFPieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 186 - Cell 2
DNFPreben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 187 - Cell 2

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