Race Report

It was the perfect start to Spring for Team Saxo-Tinkoff as Roman Kreuziger won the 2013 Amstel Gold Race. The race was initially animated by an early breakaway group of Tim De Troyer (Accent Jobs-Wanty), Alexandre Pliuschin (IAM), Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel), Arthur Van Overberghe (Topsport Vlaanderen), Nicolas Vogondy (Accent Jobs), Klaas Sys (Crelan-Euphony) and Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Sharp).

More than half way into the race, a big crash in the front part of the field held Team Saxo-Tinkoff’s Rory Sutherland back together with favorite and World champion, Philippe Gilbert (BMC) but after ten kilometers of chasing, they rejoined the field. However, 25 riders along with Team Blanco took advantage of the crash and set a fierce pace to keep the favorites out of the race.

The two groups behind the escapees joined soon after and then Katusha and Movistar picked up the pace heading towards the finale in Valkenburg. And as the peloton was coming closer, Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Sharp) decided to move away from the front group and Alexandre Pliuschin (IAM) and Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel) joined him. However, the Spaniard wasn’t happy about the pace and dropped his two companions on the following climb with 44 kilometers to go and a gap of 2.30 minutes to the main field.

On top of the first climb of Cauberg, Team Saxo-Tinkoff’s Roman Kreuziger launched a solid attack and he bridged the gap to a chase group behind the leading rider, Asterloza (Euskaltel) and soon, the Spaniard was caught by the Kreuziger-group of seven riders.

In the peloton, Canondale and Omega-Pharma Quick Step worked hard to bring the escapees back but with seven kilometers to go, Team Saxo-Tinkoff’s Roman Kreuziger created the gap and soloed his way towards Cauberg. And even though, Philippe Gilbert (BMC) launched a violent attack from the field, no one was able to catch the Team Saxo-Tinkoff rider who soloed across the finish line as the winner of Amstel Gold Race 2013.

Simon Gerrans (OGE) chased in vain and was, yet another time, pipped by Alejandro Valverde (MOV) for second spot.

Information from Team Saxo Tinkoff website was used in this report.

Race Results

(2013) - Amstel Gold Race

Maastricht to Valkenburg (252km)
14 Apr 2013


Position Name Nationality Team Time
1 KREUZIGER, Roman CZE Saxo Tinkoff 6:35:21
2 VALVERDE, Alejandro ESP MOVISTAR 22
3 GERRANS, Simon AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
4 KWIATKOWSKI, Michal POL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
5 GILBERT, Philippe BEL BMC RACING
6 Luis HENAO MONTOYA, Sergio KHM SKY PROCYCLING
7 LEUKEMANS, Björn BEL VACANSOLEIL-DCM
8 WEENING, Pieter NED ORICA-GREENEDGE
9 GASPAROTTO, Enrico ITA ASTANA
10 MOLLEMA, Bauke NED Blanco
11 CARUSO, Giampaolo ITA KATUSHA
12 WEGMANN, Fabian GER Garmin-Sharp
13 VANENDERT, Jelle BEL LOTTO BELISOL
14 SÖRENSEN, Nicki DEN Saxo Tinkoff
15 NORDHAUG, Lars Petter NOR Blanco
16 VAN AVERMAET, Greg BEL BMC RACING
17 FUGLSANG, Jakob DEN ASTANA 25
18 GESCHKE, Simon GER ARG 36
19 KOLOBNEV, Alexandr RUS KATUSHA
20 GAVAZZI, Francesco ITA ASTANA
21 MORENO FERNANDEZ, Daniel ESP KATUSHA
22 VAUGRENARD, Benoît FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
23 BERARD, Julien FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
24 ARASHIRO, Yukiya JPN TEAM EUROPCAR
25 ULISSI, Diego ITA LAMPRE - ISD
26 HESJEDAL, Ryder CAN Garmin-Sharp
27 VOSS, Paul GER TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA 46
28 LAGUTIN, Sergey UZB VACANSOLEIL-DCM
29 HERMANS, Ben BEL Radioshack Leopard
30 MARTENS, Paul GER Blanco
31 ANTON HERNANDEZ, Igor ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
32 IGLINSKIY, Maxim KAZ ASTANA
33 PIETROPOLLI, Daniele ITA LAMPRE - ISD
34 VELITS, Peter SVK OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP 57
35 GRIVKO, Andriy UKR ASTANA
36 SAGAN, Peter SVK Cannondale Pro Cycling
37 PONZI, Simone ITA ASTANA +1:07
38 SÖRENSEN, Chris Anker DEN Saxo Tinkoff
39 GALLOPIN, Tony FRA Radioshack Leopard +1:11
40 MORI, Manuele ITA LAMPRE - ISD
41 CHEREL, Mikael FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
42 AMADOR BAKKAZAKOVA, Andrey CRC MOVISTAR
43 CUNEGO, Damiano ITA LAMPRE - ISD
44 TEN DAM, Laurens NED Blanco
45 PINEAU, Jérôme FRA OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
46 CLARKE, Simon AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +1:31
47 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar ESP Radioshack Leopard
48 BARDET, Romain FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE
49 ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Mikel ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
50 ELMIGER, Martin SUI IAM Cycling +1:44
51 IMPEY, Daryl RSA ORICA-GREENEDGE +1:48
52 TANNER, David AUS Blanco
53 VANDEWALLE, Kristof BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
54 MARCATO, Marco ITA VACANSOLEIL-DCM +2:13
55 ALBASINI, Michael SUI ORICA-GREENEDGE +2:16
56 BURGHARDT, Marcus GER BMC RACING
57 SERRY, Pieter BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +5:01
58 JACOBS, Pieter BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR +5:27
59 MOINARD, Amaël FRA BMC RACING
60 VANTOMME, Maxime BEL Crelan-Euphony
61 VISCONTI, Giovanni ITA MOVISTAR
62 DUMOULIN, Tom NED ARG
63 MONFORT, Maxime BEL Radioshack Leopard
64 HOLLENSTEIN, Reto SUI IAM Cycling
65 BUSCHE, Matthew USA Radioshack Leopard
66 CARUSO, Damiano ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling
67 DE MARCHI, Alessandro ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling
68 VICHOT, Arthur FRA FDJ-BIG MAT +6:29
69 MONTAGUTI, Matteo ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE
70 DE CLERCQ, Bart BEL LOTTO BELISOL
71 PLIUSCHIN, Alexandr MDA IAM Cycling
72 RUIJGH, Rob NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
73 KROON, Karsten NED Saxo Tinkoff
74 KREDER, Michel NED Garmin-Sharp +6:34
75 HAAS, Nathan AUS Garmin-Sharp +9:12
76 PARISIEN, Francois CAN ARG
77 LIGTHART, Pim NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
78 BRANDLE, Matthias AUT IAM Cycling
79 DENIFL, Stefan AUT IAM Cycling
80 JÉRÔME, Vincent FRA TEAM EUROPCAR
81 BENEDETTI, Cesare ITA TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
82 DELFOSSE, Sébastien BEL Crelan-Euphony
83 JUODVALKIS, Egidijus LTU Crelan-Euphony
84 PATERSKI, Maciej POL Cannondale Pro Cycling
85 SLAGTER, Tom Jelte NED Blanco
86 DEKKER, Thomas NED Garmin-Sharp
87 CURVERS, Roy NED ARG
88 LAMMERTINK, Maurits NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM
89 MEERSMAN, Gianni BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
90 HAYMAN, Mathew AUS SKY PROCYCLING
91 BONNET, William FRA FDJ-BIG MAT
92 TANKINK, Bram NED Blanco
93 TIMMER, Albert NED ARG
94 VAN SUMMEREN, Johan BEL Garmin-Sharp
95 ARMEE, Sander BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR
96 EDMONDSON, Joshua GBR SKY PROCYCLING +13:15
97 DEVILLERS, Gilles BEL Crelan-Euphony
98 VOGONDY, Nicolas FRA ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S +13:19
99 LUTSENKO, Alexey KAZ ASTANA DNF
100 SEELDRAEYERS, Kevin BEL ASTANA DNF
101 Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ, Carlos COL AG2R LA MONDIALE DNF
102 CHAINEL, Steve FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE DNF
103 KADRI, Biel FRA AG2R LA MONDIALE DNF
104 NOCENTINI, Rinaldo ITA AG2R LA MONDIALE DNF
105 BOOM, Lars NED Blanco DNF
106 KOHLER, Martin SUI BMC RACING DNF
107 LODEWYCK, Klaas BEL BMC RACING DNF
108 OSS, Daniel ITA BMC RACING DNF
109 SCHÄR, Michael SUI BMC RACING DNF
110 AGOSTINI, Stefano ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling DNF
111 KOCH, Michel GER Cannondale Pro Cycling DNF
112 MOSER, Moreno ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling DNF
113 RATTO, Daniele ITA Cannondale Pro Cycling DNF
114 IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI, Gorka ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI DNF
115 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Jon ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI DNF
116 LANDA MEANA, Mikel ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI DNF
117 MINGUEZ AYALA, Miguel ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI DNF
118 PEREZ MORENO, Ruben ESP EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI DNF
119 SICARD, Romain FRA EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI DNF
120 BOUHANNI, Nacer FRA FDJ-BIG MAT DNF
121 BOUCHER, David FRA FDJ-BIG MAT DNF
122 FISCHER, Murilo Antonio BRA FDJ-BIG MAT DNF
123 ROLLIN, Dominique CAN FDJ-BIG MAT DNF
124 LOSADA ALGUACIL, Alberto ESP KATUSHA DNF
125 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin ESP KATUSHA DNF
126 SPILAK, Simon SLO KATUSHA DNF
127 VICIOSO ARCOS, Angel ESP KATUSHA DNF
128 VORGANOV, Eduard RUS KATUSHA DNF
129 BONO, Matteo ITA LAMPRE - ISD DNF
130 CIMOLAI, Davide ITA LAMPRE - ISD DNF
131 STORTONI, Simone ITA LAMPRE - ISD DNF
132 GRAZIATO, Massimo ITA LAMPRE - ISD DNF
133 BELLEMAKERS, Dirk NED LOTTO BELISOL DNF
134 BILLE, Gaetan BEL LOTTO BELISOL DNF
135 BULGAC, Brian NED LOTTO BELISOL DNF
136 VAN DE WALLE, Jurgen BEL LOTTO BELISOL DNF
137 VAN DER SANDE, Tosh BEL LOTTO BELISOL DNF
138 VANENDERT, Dennis BEL LOTTO BELISOL DNF
139 QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander COL MOVISTAR DNF
140 ERVITI OLLO, Imanol ESP MOVISTAR DNF
141 FARIA DA COSTA, Rui Alberto POR MOVISTAR DNF
142 MADRAZO RUIZ, Angel ESP MOVISTAR DNF
143 LASTRAS GARCIA, Pablo ESP MOVISTAR DNF
144 VELITS, Martin SVK OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP DNF
145 TERPSTRA, Niki NED OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP DNF
146 MATTHEWS, Michael AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE DNF
147 MEIER, Christian CAN ORICA-GREENEDGE DNF
148 SULZBERGER, Wesley AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE DNF
149 BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald NOR SKY PROCYCLING DNF
150 KIRYIENKA, Vasili BLR SKY PROCYCLING DNF
151 PUCCIO, Salvatore ITA SKY PROCYCLING DNF
152 TIERNAN-LOCK, Jonathan GBR SKY PROCYCLING DNF
153 URAN, Rigobero COL SKY PROCYCLING DNF
154 DE KORT, Koen NED ARG DNF
155 FRÖHLINGER, Johannes GER ARG DNF
156 JANSE VAN RENSBURG, Reinardt RSA ARG DNF
157 HOWES, Alex USA Garmin-Sharp DNF
158 MARTIN, Daniel IRL Garmin-Sharp DNF
159 KING, Benjamin USA Radioshack Leopard DNF
160 ROHREGGER, Thomas AUT Radioshack Leopard DNF
161 SCHLECK, Andy LUX Radioshack Leopard DNF
162 KUMP, Marko SLO Saxo Tinkoff DNF
163 MCCARTHY, Jay AUS Saxo Tinkoff DNF
164 ROCHE, Nicolas IRL Saxo Tinkoff DNF
165 SUTHERLAND, Rory AUS Saxo Tinkoff DNF
166 LINDEMAN, Bertjan NED VACANSOLEIL-DCM DNF
167 SELVAGGI, Mirko ITA VACANSOLEIL-DCM DNF
168 CAETHOVEN, Steven BEL ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
169 DE TROYER, Tim BEL ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
170 HABEAUX, Gregory BEL ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
171 ROUTLEY, Will CAN ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
172 SCHEIRLINCKX, Staf BEL ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
173 VAN DIJK, Stefan NED ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
174 VAN GOOLEN, Jurgen BEL ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S DNF
175 HONIG, Reinier NED Crelan-Euphony DNF
176 CLAEYS, Kevin BEL Crelan-Euphony DNF
177 PREMONT, Christophe BEL Crelan-Euphony DNF
178 SYS, Klaas BEL Crelan-Euphony DNF
179 BANDIERA, Marco ITA IAM Cycling DNF
180 LANG, Pirmin SUI IAM Cycling DNF
181 GODDAERT, Kristof BEL IAM Cycling DNF
182 HUZARSKI, Bartosz POL TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA DNF
183 DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO, David ESP TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA DNF
184 DOWNING, Russell GBR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA DNF
185 THWAITES, Scott GBR TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA DNF
186 SCHORN, Daniel AUT TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA DNF
187 WETTERHALL, Alexander SWE TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA DNF
188 HUREL, Tony FRA TEAM EUROPCAR DNF
189 MALACARNE, Davide ITA TEAM EUROPCAR DNF
190 REZA, Kévin FRA TEAM EUROPCAR DNF
191 THURAU, Björn GER TEAM EUROPCAR DNF
192 TULIK, Angelo FRA TEAM EUROPCAR DNF
193 VOECKLER, Thomas FRA TEAM EUROPCAR DNF
194 DE VREESE, Laurens BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR DNF
195 HELVEN, Sander BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR DNF
196 LIETAER, Eliot BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR DNF
197 SALOMEIN, Jarl BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR DNF
198 VANDOUSSELAERE, Sven BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR DNF
199 VAN OVERBERGHE, Arthur BEL TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR DNF