Kwiatkowski wins Amstel Gold Race

Michał Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep) claimed his first road race win as World champion with a perfectly executed sprint at the end of Amstel Gold Race.

The Pole was briefly distanced on the final ascent of the Cauberg by defending champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC) and sprinter Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) but the Etixx-QuickStep rider fought back with several other riders, including Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) as the leading contenders crested the climb.

Matthews and Belgian Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) opened their sprints first but it was Kwiatkowski who powered clear to win by a bike length with Valverde second and Matthews third.

The expected showdown on the Caugberg delivered a close affair with BMC determined to retain their defence of the race. Ben Hermans accelerated at almost the exact point at which Samuel Sanchez has 12 months ago and like last year Gilbert delivered the next punch with a power acceleration of his own. However, unlike 12 months ago, the Belgian was unable to shed all of his opposition and it was Matthews, third in Milan-San Remo, who glued himself to the Belgian’s rear wheel.

Kwiatkowski looked determined to make it three riders in front when he moved up the front of the chase group but it was the experienced Valverde who cut the distance in no time to make it a three-man move.

It all looked decisive enough, only that Gilbert’s accelerations hadn’t caused the damage they had last year and a large group, containing Kwiatkowski and many of the other pre-race favourites were able to regain contact in the 1.8 kilometres between the crest of the climb and the finish.

Kwiatkowski was almost dead-last with around 500 metres to go but he ambled his way through a gap behind Tony Gallopin before unleashing a long-distance sprint of supreme quality.

How it unfolded

The third climb of the day had been and gone by the time six men went clear of the bunch with Laurens De Vreese (Astana), Jan Polanc (Lampre), Timo Roosen (LottoNL-Jumbo), Linus Gerdemann (Cult Energy), Johan Van Zyl (MTN-Qhubeka) and Mike Terpstra (Team Roompot) going clear. The bunch were tentative at first in letting them go but they finally allowed them some space and the gap quickly grew to a substantial 10 minutes by the feed zone.

Behind the leaders, BMC and CCC Sprandi Polkowice controlled the bunch, with the Polish team hoping to keep their two former champions Davide Rebellin and Stefan Schumacher out of trouble. Others weren’t so lucky though and a number of riders, including last year’s second placed rider Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Soudal), came down in a crash. Lieuwe Westra (Astana) was another to greet the tarmac and he soon became the first rider to abandon.

As the escapees crossed the finish line, their advantage was cut to less than six minutes under a concerted effort from the peloton.

Valverde’s Movistar teammates picked up the pace setting with around 80 kilometres to go, pulling out a small gap on the bunch on the first descent of the Bemelerberg and bringing the advantage of the escapees down to under four minutes. A mechanical problem for Valverde meant that the Spanish team soon found themselves at the back as they paced their leader back to the group.

As the race neared the final lap, the leading group held less than a minute over the main group and began shelling riders. Only three remained with 44 kilometres remaining.

The first flurry of late attacks came on the Eyserbowsbeg in the form of David Tanner (IAM Cycling) and Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge).

Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) helped form a five-man chasing group with Nibali and his Astana teammate Diego Rosa, Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Damiano Caruso (BMC) and Alex Howes (Cannondale-Garmin).

The new leading group worked well together to hold a 35-second lead on the peloton after the Fromberg. The chasers were close behind, at only 11 seconds as Rosa set the pace on the front of the second group on the road. There was a disastrous moment for Kelderman, as he missed a corner and went cross-country through a field. The Dutchman managed to stay but he was unable to make contact with the chase group.

Nibali appeared unhappy with the level of commitment from his breakaway companions and despite his group and that of Tanner and Clarke forming one unit, the Italian looked unsettled. When Rosa and Caruso crashed on a corner the remnants of the break carried on but their impetus was well and truly lost as Movistar orchestrated the chase.

With the peloton closing and Nibali cutting a frustrated figure Clarke launched another attack. He had two climbs to go but his effort was key in allowing Matthews a relatively easy ride but when the former KOM winner in the Vuelta was caught Orica moved to the front with their sprinter neatly tucked in.

BMC were also present, and having marked a number of attacks leading into the final ascent of the Cauberg, they put all their chips on Gilbert retaining his title on a finish he had also become world champion on. However it wasn’t to be, with the current holder of the rainbow jersey asserting his position and authority.

Watch the Amstel Gold Race video highlights below.

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Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx - Quick-Step6:31:49
2Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 2 - Cell 2
4Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Lampre-MeridaRow 3 - Cell 2
5Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto SoudalRow 5 - Cell 2
7Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 6 - Cell 2
8Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 7 - Cell 2
9Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 8 - Cell 2
10Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Team KatushaRow 10 - Cell 2
12Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 11 - Cell 2
13Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team KatushaRow 12 - Cell 2
14Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 13 - Cell 2
15Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Team SkyRow 15 - Cell 2
17Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:00:03
19Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:18
20Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN - QhubekaRow 19 - Cell 2
21Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Team RoompotRow 20 - Cell 2
22Michael Valgren (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 21 - Cell 2
23Bob Jungels (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 22 - Cell 2
24Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 23 - Cell 2
25Aleksei Tcatevich (Rus) Team KatushaRow 24 - Cell 2
26Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 25 - Cell 2
27Paul Martens (Ger) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 26 - Cell 2
28Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 27 - Cell 2
29Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 28 - Cell 2
30Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek Factory RacingRow 29 - Cell 2
31Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) BMC Racing TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team KatushaRow 31 - Cell 2
33Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Team SkyRow 32 - Cell 2
34Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 33 - Cell 2
35Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 34 - Cell 2
36Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team0:00:26
37Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 36 - Cell 2
38Nathan Haas (Aus) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 38 - Cell 2
40Damiano Cunego (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 39 - Cell 2
41Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 40 - Cell 2
42Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.frRow 41 - Cell 2
43Floris De Tier (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:00:52
44Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 43 - Cell 2
45Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) AG2R La MondialeRow 44 - Cell 2
46Serge Pauwels (Bel) MTN - QhubekaRow 45 - Cell 2
47Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Diego ** Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 48 - Cell 2
50Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 49 - Cell 2
51Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 50 - Cell 2
52Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 51 - Cell 2
53Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Lampre-MeridaRow 52 - Cell 2
54Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 53 - Cell 2
55Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek Factory RacingRow 54 - Cell 2
56Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 55 - Cell 2
57Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro TeamRow 58 - Cell 2
60Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 59 - Cell 2
61Michel Kreder (Ned) Team RoompotRow 60 - Cell 2
62Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 61 - Cell 2
63Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:00:59
65Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:01:20
66Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:01:32
67Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdgeRow 66 - Cell 2
68Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdgeRow 67 - Cell 2
69Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica GreenEdgeRow 68 - Cell 2
70Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 69 - Cell 2
71Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team SkyRow 70 - Cell 2
72Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 71 - Cell 2
73Gianni Meersman (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step0:01:40
74Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Team Katusha0:02:14
75David Tanner (Aus) IAM CyclingRow 74 - Cell 2
76Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge0:02:21
77Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step0:04:27
78Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:04:53
79Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling0:04:56
80Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:05:47
81Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 80 - Cell 2
82Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:06:42
83Marinus Cornelis Minnaard (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 82 - Cell 2
84Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 83 - Cell 2
85Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 84 - Cell 2
86Marc Demaar (Ned) Team RoompotRow 85 - Cell 2
87Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 86 - Cell 2
88Huub Duyn (Ned) Team RoompotRow 87 - Cell 2
89Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 88 - Cell 2
90Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 89 - Cell 2
91Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Team Roompot0:06:47
92Oliver Naesen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 91 - Cell 2
93Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro TeamRow 92 - Cell 2
94Dmitrii Kozonchuk (Rus) Team KatushaRow 93 - Cell 2
95Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 94 - Cell 2
96Daniele Colli (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 95 - Cell 2
97Michal Golas (Pol) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 96 - Cell 2
98Julien Vermote (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 97 - Cell 2
99Sergey Lagutin (Rus) Team KatushaRow 98 - Cell 2
100Julian David Arredondo Moreno (Col) Trek Factory RacingRow 99 - Cell 2
101Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre-MeridaRow 100 - Cell 2
102Grega Bole (Slo) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 101 - Cell 2
103Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-MeridaRow 102 - Cell 2
104Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 103 - Cell 2
105Kévin Reza (Fra) FDJ.frRow 104 - Cell 2
106Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ.frRow 105 - Cell 2
107Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 106 - Cell 2
108Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 107 - Cell 2
109Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 108 - Cell 2
110Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
111Enrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 110 - Cell 2
112Alex Howes (USA) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
113Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
114Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Cult Energy Pro Cycling0:07:56
115Tiago Machado (Por) Team KatushaRow 114 - Cell 2
116Stig Broeckx (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:08:59
117Sjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Team RoompotRow 116 - Cell 2
118Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 117 - Cell 2
119Branislau Samoilau (Blr) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 118 - Cell 2
120Youcef Reguigui (Alg) MTN - QhubekaRow 119 - Cell 2
121Yannick Eijssen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 120 - Cell 2
122Francis De Greef (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 121 - Cell 2
123Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto SoudalRow 122 - Cell 2
124Laurent Pichon (Fra) FDJ.frRow 123 - Cell 2
125Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team0:09:59
126Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Bardiani CSF0:10:48
127Bram Tankink (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo0:12:21
128Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini0:13:47
129Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFBen Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFWilliam Bonnet (Fra) FDJ.frRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFOlivier Le Gac (Fra) FDJ.frRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Roux (Fra) FDJ.frRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFJussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ.frRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFLars Boom (Ned) Astana Pro TeamRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFLieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro TeamRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFStijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFReto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFVicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) IAM CyclingRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFAleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM CyclingRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFValerio Conti (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFDennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFJasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar TeamRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFImanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFJosé Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFRory Sutherland (Aus) Movistar TeamRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFMathew Hayman (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEdgeRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFAlberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFMatej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFKoen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFThierry Hupond (Fra) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFAlbert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFZico Waeytens (Bel) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Leezer (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFTimo Roosen (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFNick Van Der Lijke (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFJos Van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFNathan Earle (Aus) Team SkyRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFPeter Kennaugh (GBr) Team SkyRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFPhilip Deignan (Irl) Team SkyRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFXabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Team SkyRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFWouter Poels (Ned) Team SkyRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFJesper Hansen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFEvgeny Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFFumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek Factory RacingRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFCalvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory RacingRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Andreetta (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFNicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Piechele (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFStefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani CSFRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFStefan Schumacher (Ger) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFRussell Downing (GBr) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFLinus Gerdemann (Ger) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Kirsch (Lux) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Mager (Ger) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Reihs (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFTroels Ronning Vinther (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Harley Goss (Aus) MTN - QhubekaRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFJohann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFSongezo Jim (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 185 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) MTN - QhubekaRow 186 - Cell 2
DNFGiacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 187 - Cell 2
DNFIuri Filosi (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 188 - Cell 2
DNFAlessandro Malaguti (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 189 - Cell 2
DNFRiccardo Stacchiotti (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 190 - Cell 2
DNFGenki Yamamoto (Jpn) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 191 - Cell 2
DNFReinier Honig (Ned) Team RoompotRow 192 - Cell 2
DNFMike Terpstra (Ned) Team RoompotRow 193 - Cell 2
DNFTim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 194 - Cell 2
DNFArthur Van Overberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 195 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Marcato (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 196 - Cell 2
DNFJan Ghyselinck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 197 - Cell 2
DNSDries Devenyns (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 198 - Cell 2
DNSThomas Degand (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 199 - Cell 2

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