Amstel Gold Race 2015 [FULL RACE]

April 19, 2015

Amstel Gold Race 2015 – Maastricht – Berg en Terblijt : 258 km

The Amstel Gold Race kicks off the Ardennes week of WorldTour Classics, with defending champion Philippe Gilbert leading the list of big-name rider in action as he looks for a fourth victory on the roads near his home and where he became world champion in 2012. This year’s Amstel Gold Race is the 50th edition of the Dutch race, and the third since the finish was moved away from the top of the Cauberg and nearly two kilometres down the road. At 258 kilometres long, the Netherlands’ biggest one-day race packs a punch with 34 climbs – or bergs – crammed in, making for more than 4,000 metres of climbing. The Cauberg is covered four times and is always important but any winner needs to have excellent form and the right team tactics. Beginning in Maastricht, the route heads immediately north towards the first ascents of the day, the Slingerberg and Adsteeg, which the riders must tackle after less than 15 kilometres of racing. Once over the Adsteeg, the race begins its move south, with a brief diversion west to take in the Sibbergrubbe before entering a series of ever decreasing circuits.

Michał Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep) claimed his first road race win as World champion with a perfectly executed sprint at the end of Amstel Gold Race.

The Pole was briefly distanced on the final ascent of the Cauberg by defending champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC) and sprinter Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) but the Etixx-QuickStep rider fought back with several other riders, including Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) as the leading contenders crested the climb.

Matthews and Belgian Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) opened their sprints first but it was Kwiatkowski who powered clear to win by a bike length with Valverde second and Matthews third.

The expected showdown on the Caugberg delivered a close affair with BMC determined to retain their defence of the race. Ben Hermans accelerated at almost the exact point at which Samuel Sanchez has 12 months ago and like last year Gilbert delivered the next punch with a power acceleration of his own. However, unlike 12 months ago, the Belgian was unable to shed all of his opposition and it was Matthews, third in Milan-San Remo, who glued himself to the Belgian’s rear wheel.

Kwiatkowski looked determined to make it three riders in front when he moved up the front of the chase group but it was the experienced Valverde who cut the distance in no time to make it a three-man move.

It all looked decisive enough, only that Gilbert’s accelerations hadn’t caused the damage they had last year and a large group, containing Kwiatkowski and many of the other pre-race favourites were able to regain contact in the 1.8 kilometres between the crest of the climb and the finish.

Kwiatkowski was almost dead-last with around 500 metres to go but he ambled his way through a gap behind Tony Gallopin before unleashing a long-distance sprint of supreme quality.

How it unfolded

The third climb of the day had been and gone by the time six men went clear of the bunch with Laurens De Vreese (Astana), Jan Polanc (Lampre), Timo Roosen (LottoNL-Jumbo), Linus Gerdemann (Cult Energy), Johan Van Zyl (MTN-Qhubeka) and Mike Terpstra (Team Roompot) going clear. The bunch were tentative at first in letting them go but they finally allowed them some space and the gap quickly grew to a substantial 10 minutes by the feed zone.

Behind the leaders, BMC and CCC Sprandi Polkowice controlled the bunch, with the Polish team hoping to keep their two former champions Davide Rebellin and Stefan Schumacher out of trouble. Others weren’t so lucky though and a number of riders, including last year’s second placed rider Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Soudal), came down in a crash. Lieuwe Westra (Astana) was another to greet the tarmac and he soon became the first rider to abandon.

As the escapees crossed the finish line, their advantage was cut to less than six minutes under a concerted effort from the peloton.

Valverde’s Movistar teammates picked up the pace setting with around 80 kilometres to go, pulling out a small gap on the bunch on the first descent of the Bemelerberg and bringing the advantage of the escapees down to under four minutes. A mechanical problem for Valverde meant that the Spanish team soon found themselves at the back as they paced their leader back to the group.

As the race neared the final lap, the leading group held less than a minute over the main group and began shelling riders. Only three remained with 44 kilometres remaining.

The first flurry of late attacks came on the Eyserbowsbeg in the form of David Tanner (IAM Cycling) and Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge).

Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) helped form a five-man chasing group with Nibali and his Astana teammate Diego Rosa, Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Damiano Caruso (BMC) and Alex Howes (Cannondale-Garmin).

The new leading group worked well together to hold a 35-second lead on the peloton after the Fromberg. The chasers were close behind, at only 11 seconds as Rosa set the pace on the front of the second group on the road. There was a disastrous moment for Kelderman, as he missed a corner and went cross-country through a field. The Dutchman managed to stay but he was unable to make contact with the chase group.

Nibali appeared unhappy with the level of commitment from his breakaway companions and despite his group and that of Tanner and Clarke forming one unit, the Italian looked unsettled. When Rosa and Caruso crashed on a corner the remnants of the break carried on but their impetus was well and truly lost as Movistar orchestrated the chase.

With the peloton closing and Nibali cutting a frustrated figure Clarke launched another attack. He had two climbs to go but his effort was key in allowing Matthews a relatively easy ride but when the former KOM winner in the Vuelta was caught Orica moved to the front with their sprinter neatly tucked in.

BMC were also present, and having marked a number of attacks leading into the final ascent of the Cauberg, they put all their chips on Gilbert retaining his title on a finish he had also become world champion on. However it wasn’t to be, with the current holder of the rainbow jersey asserting his position and authority.

Results :
1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step 6:31:49
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
3 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
4 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida
5 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
6 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal
7 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx – Quick-Step
8 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
9 Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
10 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
11 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Team Katusha
12 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
13 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team Katusha
14 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo
15 Daniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
16 Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Team Sky
17 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team
18 Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:00:03
19 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:18
20 Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN – Qhubeka
21 Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Team Roompot
22 Michael Valgren (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
23 Bob Jungels (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
24 Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale
25 Aleksei Tcatevich (Rus) Team Katusha
26 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
27 Paul Martens (Ger) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
28 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
29 Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
30 Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek Factory Racing
31 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) BMC Racing Team
32 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha
33 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Team Sky
34 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal
35 Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM Cycling
36 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team 0:00:26
37 Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Cult Energy Pro Cycling
38 Nathan Haas (Aus) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
39 Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Giant-Alpecin
40 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
41 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
42 Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.fr
43 Floris De Tier (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise 0:00:52
44 Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
45 Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) AG2R La Mondiale
46 Serge Pauwels (Bel) MTN – Qhubeka
47 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team
48 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team
49 Diego ** Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida
50 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx – Quick-Step
51 Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
52 Manuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo
53 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Lampre-Merida
54 Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
55 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek Factory Racing
56 Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
57 Diego Rosa (Ita) Astana Pro Team
58 Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Movistar Team
59 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team
60 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Tinkoff-Saxo
61 Michel Kreder (Ned) Team Roompot
62 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
63 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Astana Pro Team
64 Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:00:59
65 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:01:20
66 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:01:32
67 Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge
68 Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdge
69 Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica GreenEdge
70 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
71 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky
72 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin
73 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Etixx – Quick-Step 0:01:40
74 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Team Katusha 0:02:14
75 David Tanner (Aus) IAM Cycling
76 Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge 0:02:21
77 Tony Martin (Ger) Etixx – Quick-Step 0:04:27
78 Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:04:53
79 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM Cycling 0:04:56
80 Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:05:47
81 Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
82 Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise 0:06:42
83 Marinus Cornelis Minnaard (Ned) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
84 Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
85 Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
86 Marc Demaar (Ned) Team Roompot
87 Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
88 Huub Duyn (Ned) Team Roompot
89 Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team
90 Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
91 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Team Roompot 0:06:47
92 Oliver Naesen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
93 Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro Team
94 Dmitrii Kozonchuk (Rus) Team Katusha
95 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
96 Daniele Colli (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
97 Michal Golas (Pol) Etixx – Quick-Step
98 Julien Vermote (Bel) Etixx – Quick-Step
99 Sergey Lagutin (Rus) Team Katusha
100 Julian David Arredondo Moreno (Col) Trek Factory Racing
101 Kristijan Durasek (Cro) Lampre-Merida
102 Grega Bole (Slo) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
103 Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-Merida
104 Ivan Rovny (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo
105 Kévin Reza (Fra) FDJ.fr
106 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ.fr
107 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF
108 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani CSF
109 Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Merida
110 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
111 Enrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani CSF
112 Alex Howes (USA) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
113 Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
114 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Cult Energy Pro Cycling 0:07:56
115 Tiago Machado (Por) Team Katusha
116 Stig Broeckx (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:08:59
117 Sjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Team Roompot
118 Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
119 Branislau Samoilau (Blr) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
120 Youcef Reguigui (Alg) MTN – Qhubeka
121 Yannick Eijssen (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
122 Francis De Greef (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
123 Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Soudal
124 Laurent Pichon (Fra) FDJ.fr
125 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 0:09:59
126 Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Bardiani CSF 0:10:48
127 Bram Tankink (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo 0:12:21
128 Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 0:13:47
129 Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN – Qhubeka
DNF Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ.fr
DNF Olivier Le Gac (Fra) FDJ.fr
DNF Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ.fr
DNF Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ.fr
DNF Lars Boom (Ned) Astana Pro Team
DNF Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team
DNF Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Etixx – Quick-Step
DNF Reto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM Cycling
DNF Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) IAM Cycling
DNF Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM Cycling
DNF Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Merida
DNF Valerio Conti (Ita) Lampre-Merida
DNF Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal
DNF Jasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar Team
DNF Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF José Herrada Lopez (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Rory Sutherland (Aus) Movistar Team
DNF Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
DNF Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEdge
DNF Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
DNF Matej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team
DNF Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
DNF Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
DNF Thierry Hupond (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin
DNF Albert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin
DNF Zico Waeytens (Bel) Team Giant-Alpecin
DNF Thomas Leezer (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
DNF Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
DNF Timo Roosen (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
DNF Nick Van Der Lijke (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
DNF Jos Van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
DNF Nathan Earle (Aus) Team Sky
DNF Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky
DNF Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky
DNF Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Team Sky
DNF Wouter Poels (Ned) Team Sky
DNF Jesper Hansen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
DNF Evgeny Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo
DNF Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek Factory Racing
DNF Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
DNF Calvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing
DNF Simone Andreetta (Ita) Bardiani CSF
DNF Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSF
DNF Andrea Piechele (Ita) Bardiani CSF
DNF Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani CSF
DNF Stefan Schumacher (Ger) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
DNF Russell Downing (GBr) Cult Energy Pro Cycling
DNF Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Cult Energy Pro Cycling
DNF Alex Kirsch (Lux) Cult Energy Pro Cycling
DNF Christian Mager (Ger) Cult Energy Pro Cycling
DNF Michael Reihs (Den) Cult Energy Pro Cycling
DNF Troels Ronning Vinther (Den) Cult Energy Pro Cycling
DNF Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) MTN – Qhubeka
DNF Johann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN – Qhubeka
DNF Songezo Jim (RSA) MTN – Qhubeka
DNF Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) MTN – Qhubeka
DNF Giacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
DNF Iuri Filosi (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
DNF Alessandro Malaguti (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
DNF Riccardo Stacchiotti (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
DNF Genki Yamamoto (Jpn) Nippo – Vini Fantini
DNF Reinier Honig (Ned) Team Roompot
DNF Mike Terpstra (Ned) Team Roompot
DNF Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
DNF Arthur Van Overberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
DNF Marco Marcato (Ita) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
DNF Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
DNS Dries Devenyns (Bel) IAM Cycling
DNS Thomas Degand (Bel) IAM Cycling