Amstel Gold: Gilbert Wows at the Line!

To win the Amstel Gold Race, you don't need to be dominant all day. You don't even need to be dominant for an extended period of time, because all that matters is that you are the best rider on the road when it counts. Just ask Philippe Gilbert, as he has it nailed down to a science.

In a race traditionally dominated by the last 1000 meters, there is really quite little to say about the rest of it. Carlos Barredo tried his hand in a failed early breakaway, and some outside contenders like Damiano Cunego and Luis Leon Sanchez were active early, but nothing ever materialized until the last 30 km.

As the tempo picked up and the field started to thin out, Frank Schleck and Fabian Cancellara became caught up in a multi-rider crash near the back of the peloton. Both riders safely got up and rejoined the fields, but their efforts to regroup cost them most of their energy and they really didn't have much to offer after that.

As the race got even closer to the finish, Andy Schleck realized that his brother wouldn't be much help to him so he decided to give it a go by himself with under 15 kms to go.

He was able to achieve separation and really gave it all he had, but Gilbert brought himself to the front of the small (but elite) group of chasers and dragged them right back to his wheel as the field hit the final Cauberg climb.

Was it a mistake by Andy? Tactically, I'd say yes. He would have probably had the best opportunity if he waited until the Cauberg, and then hit Gilbert at the steepest part of the climb. Instead, he expended most of his energy on the run up to the Cauberg, and quickly ran out of steam when he hit the actual climb.

Joaquim Rodriguez was the first to catch Schleck when he launched a powerful kick of his own, but Gilbert was on his wheel the entire time. Eventually Gilbert simply powered right past the Spaniard and opened a gap so quickly that he could have probably turned around and said "thanks for the leadout mate."

As Gilbert said after the race, this is the biggest week of the year for him. His ultimate goal is Liege Bastogne Liege but he's more than happy to add another one of these to his profile as well. I'd look for many of these same players to be a factor in LBL, as well as Fleche Wallone earlier in the week.

Full Results

1. Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, 6:30:44
2. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (ESP), Katusha Team, at 0:02
3. Simon Gerrans (AUS), Sky, at 0:04
4. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN), Leopard Trek, at 0:05
5. Alexandr Kolobnev (RUS), Katusha Team, at 0:05
6. Oscar Freire Gomez (ESP), Rabobank, at 0:05
7. Björn Leukemans (BEL), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 0:07
8. Ben Hermans (BEL), Radioshack, at 0:18
9. Robert Gesink (NED), Rabobank, at 0:19
10. Paul Martens (GER), Rabobank, at 0:26
11. Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek, at 0:28
12. Johnny Hoogerland (NED), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 0:36
13. Jelle Vanendert (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 0:48
14. Daniel Moreno Fernandez (ESP), Katusha Team, at 1:38
15. Damiano Cunego (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 1:39
16. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA), Quickstep, at 1:44
17. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ), Pro Astana, at 2:09
18. Broeck Jurgen Van Den (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 2:09
19. Bram Tankink (NED), Rabobank, at 2:10
20. Fabian Wegmann (GER), Leopard Trek, at 2:13
21. Nicki Sørensen (DEN), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 2:14
22. Frank Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek, at 2:14
23. Staf Scheirlinckx (BEL), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 2:14
24. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), BMC Racing Team, at 2:15
25. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 2:15
26. Marco Marcato (ITA), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 2:18
27. Nick Nuyens (BEL), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 2:18
28. Antonio Fischer Murilo (BRA), Garmin-Cervelo, at 2:20
29. Kristof Vandewalle (BEL), Quickstep, at 2:21
30. Tony Gallopin (FRA), Cofidis, at 2:21
31. Petter Nordhaug Lars (NOR), Sky, at 2:21
32. Biel Kadri (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2:21
33. Jérôme Baugnies (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 2:23
34. Jan Bakelants (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 2:23
35. Enrico Gasparotto (ITA), Pro Astana, at 2:24
36. Craig Lewis (USA), HTC-Highroad, at 2:24
37. Kristijan Koren (SLO), Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:24
38. Mikael Cherel (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2:26
39. Simon Geschke (GER), Skil-Shimano, at 2:26
40. Serguei Ivanov (RUS), Katusha Team, at 2:27
41. Addy Engels (NED), Quickstep, at 2:27
42. Eduard Vorganov (RUS), Katusha Team, at 2:28
43. Bert De Waele (BEL), Landbouwkrediet, at 2:28
44. Philip Deignan (IRL), Radioshack, at 2:28
45. Daniele Pietropolli (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 2:28
46. Julien El Fares (FRA), Cofidis, at 2:28
47. Francesco Reda (ITA), Quickstep, at 2:29
48. Danilo Di Luca (ITA), Katusha Team, at 2:29
49. Mauro Santambrogio (ITA), BMC Racing Team, at 2:29
50. Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:29
51. Gabriel Rasch (NOR), Garmin-Cervelo, at 2:29
52. Dries Devenyns (BEL), Quickstep, at 2:34
53. Ivan Santaromita (ITA), BMC Racing Team, at 2:36
54. Christian Knees (GER), Sky, at 2:40
55. Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA), Radioshack, at 2:46
56. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:46
57. Stephen Cummings (GBR), Sky, at 2:46
58. Davy Commeyne (BEL), Landbouwkrediet, at 2:47
59. Nicolas Roche (IRL), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2:47
60. Ivan Velasco Murillo (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:48
61. Jérôme Pineau (FRA), Quickstep, at 2:48
62. Michael Albasini (SUI), HTC-Highroad, at 2:54
63. Maxime Monfort (BEL), Leopard Trek, at 2:57
64. Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Leopard Trek, at 2:57
65. Vasili Kiryienka (BLR), Movistar Team, at 2:58
66. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (ESP), Rabobank, at 2:58
67. Martin Elmiger (SUI), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 3:21
68. Rémy Di Gregorio (FRA), Pro Astana, at 3:25
69. Stijn Devolder (BEL), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 3:57
70. Sander Armee (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 4:19
71. Martin Kohler (SUI), BMC Racing Team, at 4:19
72. Francesco Failli (ITA), Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, at 4:39
73. Luca Mazzanti (ITA), Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, at 4:39
74. Dmitriy Fofonov (KAZ), Pro Astana, at 4:39
75. Kjell CarlstrÖm (FIN), Sky, at 4:48
76. Pieter Serry (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 5:54
77. Dirk Bellemakers (NED), Landbouwkrediet, at 5:55
78. James Vanlandschoot (BEL), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 5:55
79. Geert Verheyen (BEL), Landbouwkrediet, at 5:55
80. Geert Steurs (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 5:55
81. Pieter Jacobs (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 5:59
82. Wouter Poels (NED), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5:59
83. Johannes FrÖhlinger (GER), Skil-Shimano, at 6:00
84. Marc De Maar (AHO), Quickstep, at 6:00
85. Esteban Egoi Martinez De (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 6:01
86. Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 6:01
87. Maxim Iglinsky (KAZ), Pro Astana, at 6:02
88. Matthew Busche (USA), Radioshack, at 6:02
89. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (ESP), Movistar Team, at 6:02
90. Christian Vandevelde (USA), Garmin-Cervelo, at 6:03
91. Daniel Lloyd (GBR), Garmin-Cervelo, at 6:03
92. Paolo Longo Borghini (ITA), Liquigas-Cannondale, at 6:04
93. Maciej Paterski (POL), Liquigas-Cannondale, at 6:04
94. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (ESP), Radioshack, at 6:05
95. Laurens De Vreese (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 6:05
96. Mathew Hayman (AUS), Sky, at 6:27
97. Carlos Barredo Llamazales (ESP), Rabobank, at 6:27
98. Peter Sagan (SVK), Liquigas-Cannondale, at 6:31
99. Sergey Lagutin (UZB), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 7:18
100. Jurgen Van Goolen (BEL), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 8:03
101. Manuel Quinziato (ITA), BMC Racing Team, at 8:13
102. Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (ESP), Movistar Team, at 8:14
103. Nico Sijmens (BEL), Cofidis, at 8:14
104. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA), Cofidis, at 8:15
105. David Loosli (SUI), Lampre-Isd, at 8:15
106. Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE), Pro Astana, at 8:25
107. Thomas Degand (BEL), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 8:25
108. Grischa Niermann (GER), Rabobank, at 9:11
109. Roy Curvers (NED), Skil-Shimano, at 9:12
110. Andriy Grivko (UKR), Pro Astana, at 9:12
111. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU), Movistar Team, at 9:12
112. Brian Vandborg (DEN), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 9:13
113. David Millar (GBR), Garmin-Cervelo, at 9:13
114. Giovanni Visconti (ITA), Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, at 9:13
115. Leonardo Giordani (ITA), Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, at 9:13
116. Jesus Herrada Lopez (ESP), Movistar Team, at 9:14
117. Rein Taaramae (EST), Cofidis, at 9:16
118. Michel Kreder (NED), Garmin-Cervelo, at 9:17
119. Marco Pinotti (ITA), HTC-Highroad, at 12:24
120. Matthieu Sprick (FRA), Skil-Shimano, at 12:24
121. Rafal Majka (POL), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 12:25
122. Leonardo Bertagnolli (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 12:26
123. Simon Zahner (SUI), BMC Racing Team, at 12:26
124. Maxime Bouet (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 12:26
125. Bram Schmitz (NED), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 12:27
126. Klaas Lodewyck (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 12:27
127. Dario Cataldo (ITA), Quickstep, at 13:18
128. Pier Paolo De Negri (ITA), Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli, at 13:18
129. Pim Ligthart (NED), Vacansoleil-DCM, at 13:19
130. Francesco Bellotti (ITA), Liquigas-Cannondale, at 13:19
131. Sébastien Delfosse (BEL), Landbouwkrediet, at 13:21
132. Jeffry Louder (USA), BMC Racing Team, at 13:21
133. Danny Pate (USA), HTC-Highroad, at 13:24
134. Aleksejs Saramotins (LAT), Cofidis, at 13:28
135. Assan Bazayev (KAZ), Pro Astana, at 13:31
136. Maxime Vantomme (BEL), Katusha Team, at 13:33
137. John Degenkolb (GER), HTC-Highroad, at 13:34
138. Jan Ghyselinck (BEL), HTC-Highroad, at 13:44
139. Reinier Honig (NED), Landbouwkrediet, at 13:48
140. Gregory Habeaux (BEL), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 13:59
141. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN), Garmin-Cervelo, at 14:14
142. Davide Appollonio (ITA), Sky, at 15:03