Philippe Gilbert wins the Amstel Gold race
Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) out sprinted final breakaway companion Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) in the closing metres to take his fourth win at the Amstel Gold Race
It was a tough day for the Pro Peloton in the Netherlands with strong winds, 35 climbs and 261 kilometres of racing. Ben Swift from Team Sky didn't event get to start after twisting his ankle before the race.
An early break containing 12 riders went away including Lars Boom (LottoNL-Jumbo), Stijn Vandenbergh (AG2R-La Mondiale), Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin), Tim Ariesen (Roompot), Nikita Stalnov (Astana), Michal Paluta (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Brendan Canty (Cannondale-Drapac), Johann Van Zyl (Dimension Data), Kenneth Van Rooy (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Pieter Van Speybrouck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Vincenzo Albanese (Bardiani-CSF), Fabien Grellier (Direct Energie).
With 180km to go and the gap was around 8 minutes. Lotto-Soudal, Sunweb and BMC have no one in the break so started the chase.
With 115km left to race, the the breakaway of 12 riders was down to 5m 30s.
There were the expected crashes as the pace increased at the riders fought t be at the front of the peloton. Tiesj Benoot (Lotto) crashed but got back on and into the race.
75 km to go and the breakaway's lead was down to 3 minutes and Van Avermaet put most the BMC Racing on the front to reel it in. Such was the pace, riders started dropping of the back of the Peloton.
With the gap coming down to the break, Grellier took a flyer, sensing that something needs to be done to stem the tide. But with 44km to go the break was reeled in.
With 38 kms to go the Kruisberg with its steepest 22pc gradient saw Tiesj Benoot whose jersey was shredded from his earlier crash, attacked taking Philippe Gilbert with him. Izzguirre, Benoot, Rojas and Lindeman followed.
Amazingly Greg Van Avermaet missed the split and had to come to the front without any BMC support to start chasing the break down.
As the pace increased their was another crash bringing down Gasparotto and Kreuziger, whose race was effectively over.
Van Avermaet, Valverde and Kwiatkowski came to the front chasing the break and got a gap on the rest of the Peloton. It was here Kwiatkowski attacked and bridged across to the break, leaving a stunned Van Avermaet left chasing with Valverde sitting on his wheel.
Rui Costa, Barguii and Jungels bridged across to Van Avermaet group, making 3 groups on the road; Gilbert's, Van Avermaet's and Valverde's (27s) and the Peloton (50s).
Team Sky looked to have the most to gain with Sergio Henao and Kwiatkowski in the break with 17km to go.
On the final climb Kwiatkowski launched an almighty attack of which only Gilbert could respond with 6 kms to go.
The pair had a gap of 20 seconds and worked together until the last kilometre where they cat and moused.
Eventually Kwiatkowski launched his sprint with 300m to go, a bit too early and Gilbert was able to come round Kwiatkowski in the closing metres raising four fingers to denote his fourth win at Amstel Gold.
“It was a hard final,” Gilbert said. “All of us deserved the win today because we really worked together … In the end with Kwiato we went hard, I saw the guys behind were on the limit. I was too but if you can find one or two percent more, it makes the difference. I told him: ‘We ride until the last kilometer and the best man wins.’ That’s the best deal you can make.”
“It was a great race, but I’m not satisfied with the result. But what can I say? I was beaten by a great champion, congratulations Philippe.” said a clearly disappointed Kwiatowski.
Join us on Wednesday April 19th from 05:00 to 11:00 EST, 10:00 GMT, 11:00 CET, 22:00 AEST for Fleche Walonne, the next round of the trio of Ardennes classics.
2017 Amstel Gold Top 20 Results
1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 6:31:40
2 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky
3 Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-Scott 0:00:10
4 Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data
5 Jose Rojas (Spa) Movistar Team
6 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Team Sky
7 Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:14
8 Michael Gogl (Aut) Trek-Segafredo 0:01:10
9 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:01:11
10 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb
11 Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
12 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
13 Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale
14 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ
15 Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal
16 Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) Dimension Data
17 Jay Mccarthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe
18 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-Scott
19 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
20 Paul Martens (Ger) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
2017 Amstel Gold Race Video Highlights
2017 Amstel Gold race LiveStream Replay
Video highlights from todays race. Join on Wednesday for Fleche Walonne
16:26 CET - Join us on Wednesday for Fleche Wallonne at 05:00-11:00 EST, 10:00 GMT, 11:00 CET, 22:00 AEST
#AmstelGoldRace LIVE: It's time for an AMSTEL GOLD cold one! Watch here https://t.co/CB7WD8tL3P #AGR17 pic.twitter.com/3UdFrBR8Cn
— GranFondoGuide (@GranFondoGuide) April 16, 2017
16:17 CET - Join us on Wednesday for Fleche Wallonne at 05:00-11:00 EST, 10:00 GMT, 11:00 CET, 22:00 AEST
16:09 CET - Thank you for joining us, we hope you enjoyed our coverage!
16:08 CET - Join us on Wednesday for Fleche Walonne!
16:06 CET - Gilbert, "I attacked when everyone was on their limit"
16:04 CET - Top 10 official results
16:02 CET - Four wins for Philippe Gilbert in Amstel Gold!
15:59 CET - Philippe Gilbert came round Kwiatkowski just before the line
15:57 CET - Philippe Gilbert, win number 4!
15:55 CET - Kwiatkowski and Gilbert, who is going to win this? 1km to go!
15:52 CET - Kwiatkowski and Gilbert, 3kms to go!
15:51 CET - Kwiatkowski and Gilbert get a gap!
15:49 CET - Kwiatkowski attacks, Gilbert attacks, 6 kms to go!
15:47 CET - Albasini, Rojas and Izaguirre need to attack
15:45 CET - There's riders in this front break with matches to burn ....
15:42 CET - Movistar's Rojas has done no work in this break
15:35 CET - Sergio Henao, Kwiatkowski or Gilbert look likely to get this but have Izaguirre, Albasini, Rojas, Haas along for company
15:32 CET - Team Sky have Sergio Henao and Kwiatkowski in the break, 17km to go
15:27 CET - 3 groups on the road Gilbert's, Van Avermaet and Valverde's (27s) and the Peloton (50s)
15:22 CET - Rui Costa, Barguii and Jungels bridge across to Van Avermaet group
15:21 CET - Kwiatkowski has attacked and bridged across to the break
15:18 CET - Van Avermaet, Valverde and Kwiatkowski come to the front
15:13 CET - CRASH! Gasparotto, Kreuziger
15:10 CET - Gilbert, Haas, Rojas, Izagirre, Henao, Albasini, Benoot en Lindeman in the break
15:08 CET - BMC has missed this break, 35 kms to go
15:04 CET - Gilbert, Izzguirre, Benoot, Rojas and Lindeman in this break. Van Avermaet has missed this.
15:02 CET - Tiesj Benoot has attacked taking Gilbert with him
14:58 CET - Here comes the Kruisberg! Steepest gradient 22pc!
14:55 CET - Valverde, Van Avermaet or Kwiatkowski, place your bets!
14:50 CET - Grellier from Direct Energie about to be reeled in
14:46 CET - The break is about to be caught, expect for Grellier
Happy Easter everybody! Enjoy your time with your family and loved ones! pic.twitter.com/WQtXCGlEAM
— Peter Sagan (@petosagan) April 15, 2017
14:43 CET - Grellier takes a flyer in the break, sensing that something needs to be done to stem the tide.
14:40 CET - Expect fireworks at the 3rd next climb, the Kruisberg ...
14:33 CET - BMC Racing are really driving the Peloton along, riders are dropping of the back
14:33 CET - Rui Costa is off the back of the peloton, but coming back
14:23 CET - Van Avermaet must be in great form, he's starting to turn the thumbscrews on his rivals.
14:23 CET - The gap is only 1m and 40s to the break
14:21 CET - BMC Racing are now taking up the chase
14:20 CET - Please refresh the page to pick up the latest live video feed and press play. Thank you.
13:56 CET - 75 km to go and the breakaway's lead is down to 3 minutes
13:45 CET - The riders climb the Cauberg for the second time. Final ascent 19 kilometers from the finish. The Geulhemmerberg (14.2 km from the line), and Bemelerberg (5.6 km) feature before the finish.
13:40 CET - In about an hours time we expect some major fireworks!
13:38 CET - Tiesj Benoot (Lotto) has crashed. He's back on his bike
13:32 CET - 100 km to go. Break has come down to 4m 12s
13:27 CET - Back in the men's race, the breakaway of 12 riders has 5m 30s with approx 115km left to race.
13:11 CET - Womens podium, Ann Van Der Breggen, Lizzie Deignan and Katarzyna Niewiadoma
13:10 CET - Womens Race official top 10
13:08 CET - Crash in the peloton! Philippe Gilbert was among those involved, he's back on his bike!
13:06 CET - Congrats Ann Van Der Breggen and Boels Dolmans
13:03 CET - Lizzie Deignan sprint to second place, great day for Boels–Dolmans
12:58 CET - Ann Van Der Breggen wins the womens race after late attack
12:56 CET - Surely Van Der Breggen will win this? 2 kms to go ...
12:49 CET - Van Der Breggen has attacked and got a gap with 5kms to go
12:44 CET - Coryn Rivera (USA) is in the chasing group
12:42 CET - Mens Race: Team Sunweb are chasing the break, down to 6m 40s after 120km
12:35 CET - Deignan, Borghini and Niewiadoma are holding a slim lead in the womens race 14 kms to go
12:33 CET - Womens race, last lap with 18km to go
12:29 CET - Womens race, 3 riders have a small gap, 20km to go, Deignan, Borghini and Niewiadoma
12:24 CET - We have live video, starting with the womens race
12:16 CET - Lotto Soudal are working to bring the gap down, less than 7 minutes.
12:10 CET - LIVE VIDEO expected in 20 minutes. Please click here to refresh the dashboard and press play on the video. Enjoy!
#AmstelGoldRace LIVE: Lars Boom leads the 12 man breakaway #AGR17 pic.twitter.com/TPUDj61KaX
— GranFondoGuide (@GranFondoGuide) April 16, 2017
12:01 CET - Lotto Soudal and Sunweb are chasing, the gap to the 12 man breakaway is seven minutes.
12:00 CET - LIVE VIDEO expected 07:30 EST, 12:30 GMT, 13:30 CET. Please click here to refresh and press play.
11:43 CET - The breakaway has climbed the 12th climb, the Loorberg with 7m 30s lead
11:35 CET - 180km to go and the gap is around 8 minutes. The 12 breakaway riders working well.
#AmstelGoldRace LIVE: The Peloton has read the 9th climb of Heiweg Watch here https://t.co/CB7WD8tL3P #AGR17 pic.twitter.com/xEyz4CpFcj
— GranFondoGuide (@GranFondoGuide) April 16, 2017
11:00 CET - Breakaway have crossed the finish line with 8 minutes lead
10:55 CET - 204 km to go. Favorites for today are Philippe Gilbert, Greg Van Avermaet, Michal Kwiatkowski, Alejandro Valverde, Michael Matthews and Sony Colbrelli. Others to watch are Brian Coquard, Enrico Gasparotto, Roman Kruziger and belgiansTim Wellens, Tiesj Benoot and Oliver Naesen.
10:54 CET - Big Crowds on the Cauberg this morning. First ascent
10:45 CET - The breakaway has reached the first ascent of the Cauberg. They will climb this two more times, the last time 19 km before the finish.
#AmstelGoldRace LIVE: Lars Boom leads the 12 man breakaway #AGR17 pic.twitter.com/7cL27lAmfo
— GranFondoGuide (@GranFondoGuide) April 16, 2017
10:33 CET - The lead for the break has increased to 7m 30s as Lotto Soudal and Sunweb lead the peloton
10:24 CET - Ben Swift from UAE twisted his ankle and did not start this morning.
10:19 CET - The breakaway of 12 riders has over 7 minutes lead. Lotto-Soudal and BMC have no one in the break so are leading the peloton
10:13 CET - Philippe Gilbert won the AGR three times (2010, 2011 and 2014) and is the winner of the Tour of Flanders, one of the top favorites today.
10:10 CET - Ben Swift unable to start this morning with a sprained ankle
10:08 CET - More than 3 minutes lead for the 12 escapees.
10:06 CET - The men's race has started and a breakway has established itself:
Lars Boom (LottoNL-Jumbo), Stijn Vandenbergh (AG2R-La Mondiale), Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin), Tim Ariesen (Roompot), Nikita Stalnov (Astana), Michal Paluta (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Brendan Canty (Cannondale-Drapac), Johann Van Zyl (Dimension Data), Kenneth Van Rooy (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Pieter Van Speybrouck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Vincenzo Albanese (Bardiani-CSF), Fabien Grellier (Direct Energie).
09:38 CET - The detailed weather forecast for todays race. Clouds and sunny spells, slight risk of a shower.
Preview of tomorrow's course, the climbs and the favorites
The 52nd edition of the Amstel Gold Race will be held this Sunday 16th of April 2017. With narrow roads, dozens of hills and constant twisting and turning the race opens the trilogy of three Ardennes Classics. Founded in 1966 it is the only classic in the Netherlands, while their neighbours in Belgium have plenty.
In 2017 the route takes in 35 climbs. The Mescherberg and Kalleberg are new for 2017 while the famous Cauberg is featured three times instead of four this year. TV viewers are the main reason for changing the Amstel Gold Race finish again, with not the Cauberg but Bemeleberg as the final ascent of the day.
In 2016 Enrico Gasparotto took the win with Michael Valgren and Sonny Colbrelli finishing in second and in third.
