Today the 47th Amstel Gold Race was held starting from the beautiful Dutch town of Maastricht. It’s a slightly convoluted course route that keeps the race close to Maastrich and is good for spectators to watch the peloton pass some places up to three times. Everyone was looking to Valverde, Gerro, Gilbert, Rodriguez, or Sanchez to contest the winnings, but it was Enrico Gasparotto, who wasn’t on many people’s radar that took the spoils. Up for grabs was €16,000 for first place, €8,000 for second, €4,000 for third – but money is never a motivator in any of the Spring Classics unless you’re offered $100k by Vino.

Thirty-one short pinchers anywhere between 500m and 4.3km long and a total of ~2500m of climbing throughout the day makes Amstel the “easiest” of the Ardennes Classics on paper (Gasparotto’s words, not mine). The race hit the Cauberg two times before the finish where Gasparotto patiently waited for Gilbert to fade and timed his effort perfectly to outsprint Sagan and Vanendert. In the press conference Gasparotto attributed his win to his decision on keeping his gearing in the 39t while he saw his final competitors keeping it in the 53t and fading.

The 2012 World Championships will also start in Maastrich and will basically use the first part of Amstel Gold Race as its route. 1500 meters after the Cauberg summit will be the finish line which is nearly flat and in the middle of an empty field. It was too bad to see things not work out for Gerro today, but who knows…maybe he’ll have better luck in September.

This was my final day in Europe for the Spring Classics and as great as a time as I’ve had, I’m ready to come back home to Australia and enjoy the 28C autumn days that everyone’s been gloating about. Veeral is staying on and will be chasing the rest of the Ardenne Classics and the Giro while roughing it in Belgian, French and Italian hostels.

It might be quiet around here for a couple days while I’m in transit, so thanks for understanding, and most of all, thanks for reading!

Photo Gallery

Race Results

(2012) - Amstel Gold Race

Maastricht to Valkenburg (260km)
15 Apr 2012


Position Name Nationality Team Time
1 GASPAROTTO, Enrico ITA ASTANA 6:32:35
2 VANENDERT, Jelle BEL LOTTO BELISOL 0
3 SAGAN, Peter SVK LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 2
4 FREIRE GOMEZ, Oscar ESP KATUSHA
5 VOECKLER, Thomas FRA TEAM EUROPCAR
6 GILBERT, Philippe BEL BMC RACING
7 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
8 WEGMANN, Fabian GER GARMIN-BARRACUDA 4
9 NOCENTINI, Rinaldo ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE
10 MOLLEMA, Bauke NED RABOBANK
11 IGLINSKIY, Maxim KAZ ASTANA
12 SCHLECK, Frank LUX RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
13 FAVILLI, Elia ITA FARNESE VINI
14 DEVENYNS, Dries BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP 9
15 HESJEDAL, Ryder CAN GARMIN-BARRACUDA
16 SÖRENSEN, Nicki DEN SAXO BANK 12
17 MORENO FERNANDEZ, Daniel ESP KATUSHA
18 DEKKER, Thomas NED GARMIN-BARRACUDA
19 FARIA DA COSTA, Rui Alberto POR MOVISTAR
20 GERRANS, Simon AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE 19
21 HENAO, Sergio COL SKY PROCYCLING
22 VALVERDE, Alejandro ESP MOVISTAR 22
23 KROON, Karsten NED SAXO BANK
24 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin ESP KATUSHA
25 BARDET, Romain FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE 30
26 VISCONTI, Giovanni ITA MOVISTAR 36
27 KIRYIENKA, Vasili BLR MOVISTAR
28 TERPSTRA, Niki NED OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
29 KISERLOVSKI, Robert CRO ASTANA
30 HOWES, Alex USA GARMIN-BARRACUDA 47
31 CUNEGO, Damiano ITA LAMPRE - ISD 51
32 CHEREL, Mikael FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE +1:05
33 MARTENS, Paul GER RABOBANK
34 SÖRENSEN, Chris Anker DEN SAXO BANK
35 PIETROPOLLI, Daniele ITA LAMPRE - ISD
36 VAN AVERMAET, Greg BEL BMC RACING
37 CHAVANEL, Sylvain FRA OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
38 HOOGERLAND, Johnny NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +1:17
39 MEERSMAN, Gianni BEL LOTTO BELISOL
40 LÖVKVIST, Thomas CZE SKY PROCYCLING
41 VICHOT, Arthur FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +1:30
42 JÉRÔME, Vincent FRA TEAM EUROPCAR
43 SERRY, Pieter BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR +2:03
44 GESCHKE, Simon GER ARG
45 COMMEYNE, Davy BEL LANDBOUWKREDIET
46 DUMOULIN, Tom NED ARG
47 DE VREESE, Laurens BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR
48 VORGANOV, Eduard RUS KATUSHA
49 REZA, Kévin FRA TEAM EUROPCAR
50 VAUGRENARD, Benoît FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
51 JACOBS, Pieter BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR
52 GESINK, Robert NED RABOBANK
53 DE WEERT, Kevin BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
54 MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Egoi ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
55 CARRARA, Matteo ITA VACANSOLEIL-DCM
56 BELLEMAKERS, Dirk NED LANDBOUWKREDIET
57 MORI, Manuele ITA LAMPRE - ISD
58 ROUX, Anthony FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
59 KRUIJSWIJK, Steven NED RABOBANK
60 KREDER, Michel NED GARMIN-BARRACUDA
61 RUIJGH, Rob NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
62 BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald NOR SKY PROCYCLING
63 ROJAS GIL, Jose Joaquin ESP MOVISTAR +2:21
64 SICARD, Romain FRA EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
65 SOUPE, Geoffrey FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
66 DE NEGRI, Pier Paolo ITA FARNESE VINI
67 GAVAZZI, Francesco ITA ASTANA
68 PETROV, Evgeny RUS ASTANA
69 IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI, Gorka ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
70 HERMANS, Ben BEL RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
71 PINEAU, Jérôme FRA OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
72 CANUTI, Federico ITA LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
73 PATERSKI, Maciej POL LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
74 MONFORT, Maxime BEL RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
75 MARTIN, Daniel IRL GARMIN-BARRACUDA
76 TANNER, David AUS SAXO BANK
77 LASTRAS GARCIA, Pablo ESP MOVISTAR
78 GRIVKO, Andriy UKR ASTANA
79 SANTAMBROGIO, Mauro ITA BMC RACING +2:40
80 MARCATO, Marco ITA VACANSOLEIL-DCM +2:51
81 ARMEE, Sander BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR +3:01
82 HORNER, Christopher USA RADIOSHACK-NISSAN +3:19
83 MADRAZO RUIZ, Angel ESP MOVISTAR +3:43
84 GERARD, Arnaud FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +4:32
85 VELITS, Martin SVK OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
86 PIRES, Bruno POR SAXO BANK +4:46
87 ALBASINI, Michael SUI ORICA-GREENEDGE
88 ERVITI OLLO, Imanol ESP MOVISTAR
89 DE WAELE, Bert BEL LANDBOUWKREDIET
90 VAN SUMMEREN, Johan BEL GARMIN-BARRACUDA
91 SCHLECK, Andy LUX RADIOSHACK-NISSAN +5:39
92 VANENDERT, Dennis BEL LOTTO BELISOL
93 DE GREEF, Francis BEL LOTTO BELISOL
94 TULIK, Angelo FRA TEAM EUROPCAR
95 VAN GOOLEN, Jurgen BEL ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S
96 BOOM, Lars NED RABOBANK
97 FRÖHLINGER, Johannes GER ARG
98 GASTAUER, Ben LUX AG2R LA MONDIALE
99 JUUL JENSEN, Christopher DEN SAXO BANK
100 BERARD, Julien FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
101 VINTHER, Troels Ronning DEN SAXO BANK
102 NERZ, Dominik GER LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE +7:00
103 SPEZIALETTI, Alessandro ITA LAMPRE - ISD
104 NIBALI, Vincenzo ITA LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
105 BERTAGNOLLI, Leonardo ITA LAMPRE - ISD
106 ZANDIO ECHAIDE, Xabier ESP SKY PROCYCLING
107 HUGUET, Yann FRA ARG
108 HAYMAN, Mathew AUS SKY PROCYCLING
109 PAOLINI, Luca ITA KATUSHA
110 PONZI, Simone ITA ASTANA +7:33
111 THURAU, Björn GER TEAM EUROPCAR
112 LIGTHART, Pim NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM +8:02
113 LINDEMAN, Bertjan NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
114 WALLAYS, Jelle BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR
115 HONIG, Reinier NED LANDBOUWKREDIET
116 FLORENCIO CABRE, Xavier ESP KATUSHA
117 SPRICK, Matthieu FRA ARG
118 BAKELANTS, Jan BEL RADIOSHACK-NISSAN +11:26
119 VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen BEL LOTTO BELISOL
120 SCHÄR, Michael SUI BMC RACING
121 LODEWYCK, Klaas BEL BMC RACING
122 LIETAER, Eliot BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR
123 CARUSO, Damiano ITA LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
124 RATTO, Daniele ITA LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE +11:31
125 PINEAU, Cédric FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
126 BERNAUDEAU, Giovanni FRA TEAM EUROPCAR
127 RABOTTINI, Matteo ITA FARNESE VINI
128 RIBLON, Christophe FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
129 SULZBERGER, Wesley AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
130 WESTRA, Lieuwe NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
131 IMPEY, Daryl RSA ORICA-GREENEDGE
132 TANKINK, Bram NED RABOBANK
133 CHRISTENSEN, Mads DEN SAXO BANK
134 CAETHOVEN, Steven BEL ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S
135 CLARKE, Simon AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
136 CHUZHDA, Oleg UKR ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S
137 BILBAO, Peio ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
138 DELFOSSE, Sébastien BEL LANDBOUWKREDIET
139 BOZIC, Borut SLO ASTANA
140 DOI, Yukihiro JPN ARG
141 STORTONI, Simone ITA LAMPRE - ISD
142 CHAINEL, Steve FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
143 KREDER, Raymond NED GARMIN-BARRACUDA
144 BULGAC, Brian NED LOTTO BELISOL
145 BANDIERA, Marco ITA OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
146 QUINZIATO, Manuel ITA BMC RACING DNF
147 EVANS, Cadel AUS BMC RACING DNF
148 KOHLER, Martin SUI BMC RACING DNF
149 ELMIGER, Martin SUI AG2R LA MONDIALE DNF
150 GARCIA AMBROA, Ricardo ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI DNF
151 PEREZ MORENO, Ruben ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI DNF
152 AZANZA SOTO, Jorge ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI DNF
153 KEUKELEIRE, Jens BEL ORICA-GREENEDGE DNF
154 MOURIS, Jens NED ORICA-GREENEDGE DNF
155 MEIER, Christian CAN ORICA-GREENEDGE DNF
156 LOSADA ALGUACIL, Alberto ESP KATUSHA DNF
157 VICIOSO ARCOS, Angel ESP KATUSHA DNF
158 KRIVTSOV, Yuriy FRA LAMPRE - ISD DNF
159 ULISSI, Diego ITA LAMPRE - ISD DNF
160 AGOSTINI, Stefano ITA LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE DNF
161 DEBUSSCHERE, Jens BEL LOTTO BELISOL DNF
162 VAN DE WALLE, Jurgen BEL LOTTO BELISOL DNF
163 KWIATKOWSKI, Michal POL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP DNF
164 BRESCHEL, Matti DEN RABOBANK DNF
165 TJALLINGII, Maarten NED RABOBANK DNF
166 DIDIER, Laurent LUX RADIOSHACK-NISSAN DNF
167 POSTHUMA, Joost NED RADIOSHACK-NISSAN DNF
168 APPOLLONIO, Davide ITA SKY PROCYCLING DNF
169 NORDHAUG, Lars Petter NOR SKY PROCYCLING DNF
170 PUCCIO, Salvatore ITA SKY PROCYCLING DNF
171 POELS, Wouter NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM DNF
172 HABEAUX, Gregory BEL ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
173 SCHEIRLINCKX, Staf BEL ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
174 VAN DIJK, Stefan NED ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
175 VAN GROEN, Arnoud NED ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
176 VAN MELSEN, Kevin BEL ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
177 FAILLI, Francesco ITA FARNESE VINI DNF
178 GATTO, Oscar ITA FARNESE VINI DNF
179 HULSMANS, Kevin BEL FARNESE VINI DNF
180 DE PATRE, Roberto ITA FARNESE VINI DNF
181 HOVELYNCK, Kurt BEL LANDBOUWKREDIET DNF
182 JUODVALKIS, Egidijus LTU LANDBOUWKREDIET DNF
183 CURVERS, Roy NED ARG DNF
184 TIMMER, Albert NED ARG DNF
185 BOUYER, Franck FRA TEAM EUROPCAR DNF
186 KERN, Christophe FRA TEAM EUROPCAR DNF
187 VANSPEYBROUCK, Pieter BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR DNF
188 VAN HECKE, Preben BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR DNF

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