Sunday 18 April 2010 at 16h49

Today you could follow the Amstel Gold Race 2010 live on www.velowire.com thanks to the NOS!

This Dutch classic, part of the UCI ProTour, started this morning under a bright and shiny sun in front of many spectators on the Market in Maastricht.

After 257.8 kilometers and 31 climbs, Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) crossed the finish line as the winner on top of the Cauberg!

The threat of the ash cloud

Some riders couldn't come to the start due to the ash cloud of the Icelandic volcano. Others had to travel over 1,500 kilometers by car while the 3 riders of the Caisse d'Epargne team for example came by train! Finally 178 riders managed to join the south of The Netherlands to participate in the Amstel Gold Race 2010. They started the race at 10.15AM.

A summary of the Amstel Gold Race 2010

After only 5 kilometers, 7 riders formed a leading group: Rafael Valls (Footon-Servetto), Staf Scheirlinckx (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Peter Wrolich (Team Milram), Sebastien Delfosse (Landbouwkrediet), Thierry Hupond (Skil-Shimano), Steven van Vooren (Topsport-Vlaanderen) and Arnoud van Groen (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team). These 7 riders quite quickly created a gap up to 6'30".

Led by the Rabobank team, followed by Team Saxo Bank, the peloton starts to reduce the gap at about 130 kilometers from the finish. On the Vrakelberg Rafael Valls could no longer follow the 6 other leading riders.

In the peloton Lars Boom (Rabobank) was leading the chase for a few kilometers, but in the second climb of the Sibbergrubbe he was losing ground at the back of the peloton and he decided to give up on top of the Cauberg.
At about 70 kilometers from the finish a chasing group was formed at the front of the peloton by 3 riders: Dirk Bellemakers (Landbouwkrediet), Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano) and Preben van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator), while Martin Velits (HTC-Columbia) decided to attack when the 6 leading riders are at 62 kilometers from the finish.

In the mean time Riccardo van der Velde (Garmin-Transitions) fell in a bend to the left and had to leave the race.

After Martin Velits and Nicki Sørensen (Team Saxo Bank) it was up to Niki Terpstra (Team Milram) to give it a try.

At about 45 kilometers from the finish these riders ahead of the peloton and the 3 chasing riders were taken back by the peloton and the leading group with 6 riders saw its gap reduced to 55 seconds at 40 kilometers from the finish and a bit later Peter Wrolich could no longer follow the 5 others.

At 31 kilometers from the finish the 5 remaining riders of the leading group are finally also taken back and the lead of the peloton is taken by Team Saxo Bank, before Rabobank takes over.
The race than really starts for the favourites, but one of them - Joaquim Rodriguez (Team Katusha) - can no longer follow the pace. At 21 kilometers from the finish Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team) attacks, at 2 kilometers from the second climb of the Eyserbosweg where Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) attacks as well. He is followed by Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Matteo Carrara (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini). Frank Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas-Doimo) and Alexandr Kolobnev bridge the gap and a leading group of 10 riders is formed.

This group however doesn't protect its lead and the winner of the Amstel Gold Race 2009, Serguei Ivanov (Team Katusha) finally leaves alone, followed a bit later by Alexandr Kolobnev, Damiano Cunego, Frank Schleck and Philippe Gilbert. The last one manages to get away alone at about 10 kilometers from the finish but is taken back by the 4 others before Kolobnev decides to attack.

The 4 riders of the chasing group behind Kolobnev get company at 5 kilometers from the finish from a big part of the peloton. At 800 meters from the finish Kolobnev is taken back first by Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) and the whole bunch is back together. Philippe Gilbert attacks at 500 meters from the finish and crosses the finish line alone!

The general classification of the Amstel Gold Race 2010

The top 10 of the final result of the Amstel Gold Race 2010 is as follows:
1/ Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) - 6h22'54"
2/ Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) - +0'02"
3/ Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)
4/ Bert de Waele (Landbouwkrediet) - +0'05"
5/ Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas)
6/ Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini)
7/ Frank Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) - +0'07"
8/ Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team) - +0'09"
9/ Karsten Kroon (BMC Racing Team) - +0'11"
10/ Chris Horner (Team Radioshack)

door Thomas Vergouwen
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