The organizers think the top 3 candidates for the win are Lopez, Gidich, and Areruya.
About 10k into the race, the first two sets of attacks have been shut down. The latest attempt included the riders on the right of the pictures. A new attempt is being launched by the riders in the center of the picture, they are Mansouri, Krigbaum, Petrov, and Nych. The rain clouds that haunted the peloton in Veenendaal are still hovering over the Netherlands.
The latest attack sticks. Ferreyra and Sulimov almost made it across but they were brought back as were all additional attacks leaving just a 4-man breakaway.
With 200k to go the lead reaches 8’16.
With 147k to go that lead is down to 6’10. On the front are: Leung, Eekhoff, Schreurs, Eaton, Pavlic, Sossa, Andersen
With 100k to go the lead is down to 4’03. Pretty much the same riders on the front but Rabobank have switched in Tolhoek for Sossa.
55k to go, the lead is down to 2’22. Same riders working although now Rabobank have brought in Van den Berg and Xero are not currently contributing although it looks like Pidcock might be working his way up to the front. The peloton has begun to stretch and there have been a few splits but nothing permanent. Only rider dropped is Gilmore.
With about 35k to go Petrov is dropped from the break, the remaining 3 have 1’41.
Just under 30 to go and there are multiple gaps in the pleloton, although none are huge. Vanthourenhout on the front with Pavlic, Eaton and Eeekhoff behind him. Tesfaye Heyi has been contributing for Xero. Break has 1’16, Petrov has been caught.
With 22k to go Edmondson launches an attack. Break about 30 seconds ahead. Peloton has come back together and is currently 162 riders strong.
Edmondson catches the break but they are all immediately caught by the peloton as Evonik ups the pace. Baroncini, Polanc and Blums on the front.
Over the top of the Eyserbosweg Evonik’s forcing splits 41 riders off the front, they have 31 seconds on the next group. The big names all make the split.
The Evonik domestiques can’t keep the pace up and Godon takes over but as the hit the base of the Keutenberg (700 meters at 9.4%) with 12k to go Vansevenant attacks with Areruya on his wheel. The front group has grown to 47 riders with another 80, 45 seconds back.
All the favorites follow Vansevenant and no gap is created. The 80 riders bridge back up to create a 129-rider peloton with just over 10k to go.
But a counter from Gesbert drags 17 riders clear, the favorites all there. 27 seconds back are Romo and Storer. 37 seconds back are Champoussin, Quita, Madouas, and Pidcock. The only climb left is the Cauberg at the finish.
The 4 of the 6 trailers bridge up (Champoussin, Storer, Romo and Pidcock) before Vansevenant launches a new attack.
Errazkin also bridges back up from a little further back giving Schmid a helper while Vansevenant is finally able to pry open a small gap, with 6.4k to go.
Aranburu tries to follow Vansevenant but can’t and chasing duties are turned over to Pidcok and Champoussin. 7 more riders have bridged back up, adding some more helpers, but they only have 4.4k to go and Vansevenant has a 12 second lead.
Pidcock proves his worth and brings Vansevenant back with 3.4k to go and 2.3k to the bottom of the Cauberg. Most of the riders who rejoined look like they will be dropped again soon.
Vansevenant is irrepressible, he tries again with 2.1k to go. Gesbert and Valter on his wheel.
Vansevenant still has the lead as they get to the bottom of the Cauberg. Nearest him are Valter, Gesbert, Mohoric and Pidcock. The Cauberg is 1.2k at 5.1%. but the steepest section is between 200 and 700 meters into the climb, the last 500 meters is fairly flat.
700 meters, the 5 mentioned have a gap over the rest who are led by Lutsenko and Areruya
500 meters. Vansevenant and Pidcock paying for their earlier efforts. Valter has the lead but the rest are closing fast. Higuita and Gidich are well placed on the left.
400 meters, Valter has almost reached the flat section. Lutsenko moving fastest behind. The front group is down to 20 with riders like Errazkin, Storer and Madouas dropped.
300 meters, Lutsenko is almost up to Valter but the Aker man is holding firm. Areruya up to 3rd then Gidich and Schmid.
100 meters for Valter, Lutsenko isn’t gaining on him anymore. The fastest moving rider is Lopez in the Colombian NC jersey on the left but he may have left it too late.
Valter celebrates victory in Amstel Gold. That’s two wins in three years for Aker.
Lutsenko is second and Areruya is third. Lopez edges Gidich for 4th, but the Colombian will be disappointed to miss the podium again. Schmid gets 6th ahead of Gesbert.