I'm back (for Marco: de Appie in de Corridor). But have to make the report, it will take some time...
En about the surprise: Sagan is out of form, and a daily form of -5, so no. Stay tuned, in about 2 hours, the report will be posted!
The first of the 3 Ardennes classics is the Amstel Gold Race, the only Dutch World Tour-classic. It's the 49th edition of this relatively young classic, with Dutch Jan Raas being the record winner with 5 wins.
Last year, Katusha's Joaquím Rodríguez won the uphill sprint at the Cauberg, beating Roman Kreuziger and the winner of 2012 Philippe Gilbert.
The Route
The start of the Amstel Gold Race is in Maastricht, the capitol of the province Limburg. 257 kilometres later, featuring 32 classified hills, most of them short and steep, and a numerous amount of corners, the finish awaits at the Cauberg in Valkenburg.
It's bad weather in the South of the Netherlands today, with lots of showers. This doesn't stop 14 riders in setting up the BOTD. It's a pretty strong good with some very decent hilly riders as Danilo Di Luca (Acqua et Sapone, hills 72), Juan José Cobo (Dexia, 79), Matthias Frank (Red Bull, 76), Robert Kiserlovski (Astana, 77) and the 2 Dutch oldies Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) and Bram Tankink (M&M's). They have a margin of 3'30 to the peloton.
131km to go
2 riders try to bridge the gap to the 14 leaders, and also these 2 are strong hilly riders. Daniel Moreno (Euskaltel, 78) and Dario Cataldo (Omega Pharma, 76) quickly create a gap to the peloton.
110km to go
The hope of the (Dutch) Limburg-cycling fans can be flushed through the toilet. Their provincial hero Wout Poels, who showed a great form in the Vuelta al País Vasco winning 1 stage, crashes in a descend. He can continue the race, but will finish at more than 15 minutes.
92km to go
Since the leading group is becoming too strong and big, the domestiques of Radio Shack and Sky increase the pace of the peloton. Consequently, the BOTD gets caught, and at the Vrakelberg, the peloton breaks into 2 groups. The 2nd group, including favourites as Philippe Gilbert, Ben Hermans, Thomas De Gendt, Alejandro Valverde, Simon Gerrans and unfortunately, our 2 leaders Peter Sagan and Jelle Vanendert, have to chase the leading group of 30 (including Rob Ruijgh and Gregory Bernard) to close the gap of 1'03.
61km to go
It takes the 2nd group 30 kilometres to close the 1-minute gap. In the streets of Maastricht, the 2 groups emerge again, and Vanendert immediately moves to the front of the group, not wanting to get surprised again.
34km to go
The peloton comes to rest in the following 27 kilometres. Damiano Cunego opens the attacks of the favourites whle ascending the Loorberg. Sky's Andy Schleck is the first one to counter.
29km to go
Andy Schleck joins Cunego and the 2 create a maximum margin of 35 seconds. This is the sign for the other favourites to react, as teh gap is getting to large. Philippe Gilbert attacks at the summit of the Gulperberg, followed by Joaquím Rodríguez, Fränk Schleck, Thomas Voeckler and Thomas De Gendt. We decide to wait, as it is still pretty early and Vanendert hasn't got the legs to counter. He is only joined by the young Luxemburg rider Gregory Bernard, as Peter Sagan has been dropped already.
22km to go
Cunego and A. Schleck get caught, and the next one to try it is the 2012-winner Philippe Gilbert (Hi 85). At the Kruisberg, he tries to create a gap to De Gendt (80), A. Schleck (83), Cunego (81), Cancellara (78), Rodríguez (81), Voeckler (76) and F. Schleck (81). A 2nd group with LL Sánchez (76), Scarponi (78) and Hermasn (80) follows at '36 and a 3rd group with Vanendert (80), Kreuziger (82), Valverde (80) and Bernard (81) at 1'04.
18km to go
The next hill is the Eyserbosweg. Gilbert has been caught again and at the same spot were Michael Boogerd used to attack in his glory days, Damiano Cunego attacks, again.
11km to go
Also Cunego isn't able to create a margin, so a group of 9 arrives at the foot of the steepest climb in the Netherlands, the Keutenberg, with a maximum gradient of 22%.
In the steepest part of the climb, Gilbert attacks again, this time countered by Andy Schleck. Cunego, De Gendt, Voeckler, F. Schleck, Cancellara, Kreuziger and Rodríguez follow at '24. Simon Gerrans tries to bridge the gap solo and follows at '41, and the chasing peloton, with Gregory Bernard still in it, at 1'00.
10km to go
After the Keutenberg, the current situation can be summarized as follows: Gilbert and A. Schleck are leading the race, followed by Cunego and Kreuziger at '11, and F. Schleck and Rodríguez at '29. The peloton is closing the gap a bit and follows at '50.
6km to go
The 3 duo's in the lead join each other and the pace drops before the descend to Valkenburg. Consequently, not only Voeckler can bridge the gap, but also the chasing group of 13 is doing it. Gregory Bernard is moving to one of the first positions of that group.
1km to go
The chasing group of 13 joins the leading group in the descend. At the foot of the Cauberg, the sprint for the win can begin. I shout at Bernard that he has to move to the fornt of the group, and luckily he has got the energy left to do it. Cunego starts the final kilometre in leading position, with Bernard in 6th.
500m to go
After having attacked twice, Cunego shows that he is the best rider today and is dropping his opponents in the sprint. Rodríguez is in 2nd and A. Schleck and Gilbert in 3rd and 4th. Bernard has gained one position, having passed Voeckler, and can achieve a top 5 in the AGR!
Finish
But nobody can dispute the win of Damiano Cunego, the 3rd (2008 and 2011) of the little prince in the Amstel Gold Race. What a great ride!
At '21, Rodríguez finishes in 2nd, beating Gilbert and Andy Schleck. And at '34, Gregory Bernard is the surprise of the day, finishing in 5th place!!
Results
1
Damiano Cunego
Radio Shack - Nissan
6h23'31
2
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 21
3
Philippe Gilbert
Dexia
s.t.
4
Andy Schleck
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
5
Gregory Bernard
Petronas - Monster Energy
+ 34
6
Thomas Voeckler
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Roman Kreuziger
Movistar Team
s.t.
8
Fränk Schleck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
9
Jérémy Roy
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 54
10
Michele Scarponi
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Ben Hermans
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
12
Christophe Le Mével
Team Europcar
s.t.
13
Johnny Hoogerland
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
14
Luis León Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
15
Michel Kreder
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
16
Thomas De Gendt
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
17
Fabian Cancellara
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
18
Simon Gerrans
Dexia
s.t.
19
Alejandro Valverde
Dexia
s.t.
20
Maxime Monfort
Sony Ericsson
+ 1'11
21
Jelle Vanendert
Petronas - Monster Energy
+ 2'50
22
Carlos Barredo
Movistar Team
+ 3'02
23
Chris Froome
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3'16
24
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 3'28
25
Vladimir Karpets
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
26
Giovanni Visconti
Katusha Team
+ 3'50
27
Ryder Hesjedal
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
28
Lars Boom
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
29
José Herrada
Dexia
s.t.
30
Francesco Gavazzi
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
31
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
+ 4'06
32
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
+ 4'31
33
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
34
Daniel Moreno
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
35
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 5'22
36
Filippo Pozzato
BMC Racing Team
+ 5'42
37
Michael Rogers
Sky ProCycling
+ 12'32
38
Bram Tankink
M&M's
s.t.
39
Danilo Di Luca
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
40
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
41
Beñat Intxausti
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
42
Enrico Gasparotto
Katusha Team
s.t.
43
Jesús Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
44
Bruno Pires
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
45
Daniel Teklehaimanot
FDJ
s.t.
46
Marek Rutkiewicz
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
47
Peter Sagan
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
48
Jack Bobridge
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
49
Marcos García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
50
Fabio Duarte
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
51
Tosh Van der Sande
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
52
Tom Stubbe
Dexia
s.t.
53
Guillaume Bonnafond
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
54
Michael Albasini
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
55
Rob Ruijgh
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
56
Andrew Talansky
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 13'09
57
Karsten Kroon
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
58
Marcel Fischer
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
59
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
60
Jakob Fuglsang
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
61
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
62
Damien Gaudin
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
63
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
64
Anthony Roux
FDJ
+ 14'57
65
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
s.t.
66
Oliver Zaugg
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
67
Yann Huguet
M&M's
s.t.
68
Geraint Thomas
Qantas Airways
s.t.
69
Pavel Brutt
Katusha Team
s.t.
70
Alfredo Balloni
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
71
Lasse Bøchman
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
72
Maxim Belkov
Katusha Team
s.t.
73
Heinrich Haussler
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
74
Nicolas Roche
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
75
Sylwester Szmyd
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
76
Mathieu Sprick
Team Europcar
s.t.
77
Rémi Pauriol
FDJ
s.t.
78
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
79
Dirk Bellemakers
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
80
Juan José Cobo
Dexia
s.t.
81
Bauke Mollema
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
82
Jonathan Hivert
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
83
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
84
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
s.t.
85
Arnold Jeanneson
Team Europcar
s.t.
86
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
87
Daniel Fleeman
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
88
Arkaitz Durán
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
89
Danny Pate
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
90
René Mandri
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 16'13
91
Pieter Weening
Qantas Airways
s.t.
92
Jimmi Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
93
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 16'48
94
Wout Poels
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
95
Michael Schär
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
96
Carlos Betancourt
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
97
Dominique Cornu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 17'02
98
Matthew Goss
Dexia
s.t.
99
Matthias Frank
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
100
Dale Appleby
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
101
Robert Kiserlovski
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
102
Anthony Charteau
FDJ
+ 17'21
103
Tony Gallopin
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 17'46
104
Andrea Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
105
Eduardo Gonzalo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
106
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
107
Aurélien Duval
Team Europcar
s.t.
108
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
109
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
+ 18'04
110
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Team Europcar
s.t.
111
Luke Rowe
Qantas Airways
+ 19'30
112
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
113
Johannes Fröhlinger
M&M's
s.t.
114
Héctor Guerra
Movistar Team
s.t.
115
Grega Bole
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
116
Peter Stetina
Qantas Airways
s.t.
117
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
118
Luca Celli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 19'58
119
Wim Van Huffel
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
120
Stefan Denifl
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
121
Julien Loubet
Team Europcar
s.t.
122
Marcel Wyss
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
123
Steven Van Vooren
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 21'17
124
Mitja Mahoric
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
125
Gianluca Mirenda
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
126
Fabio Piscopiello
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
127
Chris Barton
Qantas Airways
s.t.
128
Jesús Hernández
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
129
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
130
Yukihiro Doi
M&M's
+ 21'39
131
Óscar Pujol
Movistar Team
+ 21'46
132
Dominik Nerz
Red Bull - Cervélo
+ 22'10
133
Romain Bardet
FDJ
s.t.
134
Cayetano Sarmiento
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
135
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
136
Sébastien Joly
Team Europcar
s.t.
137
Thomas Berkhout
M&M's
s.t.
138
Matthew Busche
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
139
Andrey Zeits
Pro Team Astana
+ 23'56
140
Francisco José Pacheco
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
141
Fabian Wegmann
FDJ
s.t.
142
Bruno Rizzi
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
143
Robert Vrecer
BMC Racing Team
+ 25'09
144
Stefano Borchi
BMC Racing Team
+ 26'12
145
Maxim Gourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 26'58
146
Maksat Izbasarov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
147
Evgeni Petrov
Katusha Team
s.t.
148
Gianluca Maggiore
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
149
Paul Voss
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
Today's Winner
Word from the DS
First of all, all credits o Cunego as he was the strongest today. But what Gregory Bernard managed to achieve, was unbelievable. He stayed calm when the favourites kept on attacking and jumped from group to group, resulting in the 5th place at the age of 24.... Amazing!
Edited by dienblad on 22-12-2012 16:20
I'm really surprised about Bernard, as he has developed astonisching. He has now Hill 81 and Stamina 82. And not forget he had a daily form of -2 !! Think I'm gonna enjoy him in the rest of his career.
Next stop, 3 days after the Amstel Gold Race, is the 78th edition of the Flèche Wallonne. This 200km race is organized in the Western part of the Ardennes, with start in the city of Namur and the finish at the summit of the Mur de Huy in Huy.
Last year, a 3-men breakaway surprised the peloton, with Enrico Gasparotto being the winner.
The Route
201 kilometres and 10 categorized climbs. The finish awaits after the 3rd ascend of the Mur de Huy, 1.3km at 9.8% with a max gradient of 18%.
Damiano Cunego
Joaquím Rodríguez
Philippe Gilbert
Andy Schleck
Thomas Voeckler
Roman Kreuziger
