43rd Amstel Gold Race - PT

Netherlands, April 20, 2008

Photography

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Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com

• The broom wagon is being set up.
• The sun was out and a lot of people showed up to see the riders at the start in Maastricht, The Netherlands.
• It's the first year that Michael Boogerd isn't lining up in Maastricht as a rider. He popped up together with his wife and kid.
• Last year Piet Rooijakkers won the Herman Krott trophy for being the most competitive rider in the race; clearly it makes you popular.
• Johan Bruyneel talked with Roberto Amadio at the start of the Amstel Gold Race 2008.
• Cédric Vasseur with family in Maastricht. The Frenchman is now president of the CPA, an organisation that represents the riders at the UCI.
• Philippe Gilbert is the Belgian favourite in the Amstel Gold Race.
• Magnus Backstedt had bad luck in Paris-Roubaix. His wheels were broken on three spots.
• Kim Kirchen is one of the favourites for the win in the Amstel Gold Race.

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• There was a large peloton in the final kilometres which was only broken up in the last 15km.
• Schleck opened up the sprint and gapped off the likes of Rebellin, but Cunego made it to his wheel.
• Cunego closed the gap as Schleck faded and began to come past.
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre) takes his first Spring Classic.
• Cunego finishes his salute and takes a breath.
• Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) is the Swedish Champion.

Images by Elmar Krings

• Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) had a good spring campaign but is starting to get tired.
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre) won the Klasika Primavera recently and is going well.
• Maarten Den Bakker (Skil-Shimano) finished second in 1998.
• Euskaltel wasn't expected to find the hills long enough for their taste.
• Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) just before the start and showing some confidence.
• Oscar Freire (Rabobank) wanted to deliver a home victory for his Dutch team.
• Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) is ever aggressive and the finish suits his style.
• Kim Kirchen (High Road) was also seen as one of the riders with a chance to win today.
• Andreas Klier and Gerald Ciolek (r) were not considered to be there in the final, although Klier may figure in a break.
• The start in Maastricht was witnessed by a ton of fans.
• The weather cooperated and the riders' presentation was huge success with the locals.
• David Millar (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) before the start in his national champion outfit.
• Francis Mourey (Française des Jeux) takes a drink.
• Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) at the pre-race interview.
• Fränk Schleck with his CSC colleagues on the podium.
• Ronny Scholz (r) and Schumi before the start.
• Stefan Schumacher right after the start and trying to get in position to defend his title.
• The start in Maastricht where the riders could relax for the last time.
• Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) rides up to the start.
• A smiling Erik Zabel (Team Milram) answers questions on the sign-in podium.
• The peloton at the Bergseweg.
• Slipstream was attentive as the peloton was 51 kilometres into the race.
• The lead group with Timmer, Krivtsov and Vandewalle.
• Shake-hands between champs as 2006 winner Schleck congratulates 2008 Amstel Gold first place rider Damiano Cunego.
• Cunego was thrilled at the finish.
• The Italian had a good week in the Basque Country.
• But this win was even better with the podium ladies, the flowers and the Amstel beer later.
• Oscar Freire could not deliver the hoped win for Rabobank and finished 19th.
• Ivanov started the decisive attack but couldn't hang on for the win.
• Christian Pfannberger (Barloworld) did a superb ride but didn't have the legs to follow the top guns; the Barloworld rider got sixth.
• The podium with Schleck, Cunego and Valverde from left to right.
• The new ProTour leader. Cunego took over from André Greipel (High Road).
• Joaquim Rodriguez gave it all for Valverde in the end.
• Andy Schleck comes in and looks at the big screen to see how his brother did.
• Stefan Schumacher didn't have the legs today to repeat his win from last year.
• A lot of checking in the sprint as Cunego realises he will win, while Schleck understands he won't.
• Cunego celebrates a great win.
• The break of the day is led by Albert Timmer.
• Timmer won the PitRooyakkers trophy.
• Fabian Wegmann of Gerolsteiner comes in with his German champ outfit.
• Cunego crosses the line with arms raised and head high.
• Markus Zberg rode in support of the team, but Gerolsteiner couldn't win this time.
• A dejected Rebellin who could not repeat his 2004 performance.
• The Cauberg was awaiting the arrival of the riders for the final showdown.
• Thomas Dekker rolls in a bit frustrated. He did well, but fifth wasn't the win the team had hoped for
• A happy Cunego took over the ProTour lead.
• Karsten Kroon gave it all for his team leader, Fränk Schleck.

Images by DCP/Bert Geerts

• Paul Martens (Rabobank) drove the lead group before pulling out of the race.
• The scenery in Holland's spring was amazing, but the riders had little time to enjoy it.
• The peloton weaves its way through the course.
• The peloton rides three wide down some of the narrow sections of the route.
• A Saunier Duval-Scott rider in the middle of a strung-out peloton.
• An early escape rounds a corner on the Dutch race.
• Dutch rider Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano) finished 126th.
• Belgian Bert Scheirlinckx (Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner) pushed hard, but finished down in 133rd spot.
• Floris Goesinnen (Skil-Shimano) came home in one of the later groups.
• Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) wasn't on the pace today, but Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) was.
• Greg Van Avermaet (Silence - Lotto) finished nearly five and a half minutes back.
• Oscar Freire Gomez (Rabobank) is followed by Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner).
• Dutch rider Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) went on to finish outside of the top 100.
• Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) rides along by himself.
• Karsten Kroon (Team CSC) took ninth place in his home event.
• Dutch rider Karsten Kroon (Team CSC) rides around the outside of another rider.
• Norway's Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Team CSC) finished way back in the pack.
• Maarten Den Bakker (Skil-Shimano) was nearly 10 minutes behind the leaders.
• Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30) failed to make the finish.
• Nico Sijmens (Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner) fixed his bike but didn't see the end of the race.

Images by Erik Van Breugel/www.cyclingmoments.com

• The early escape of three riders on the Vrakelberg.
• Kristof Vandewalle (Topsport Vlaanderen) rides in the early escape.
• Belgian Tom Stubbe (Française des Jeux) didn't make the finish.
• Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone) leads a group at the top of the Gulpenberg.
• Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) riding in the peloton at the top of Gulpenberg.
• Robert Gesink (Rabobank) jumped just after the break was caught.
• Australian National Champion Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) finished in 25th spot.
• Belgian Jelle Vanendert (Française des Jeux) rode in to 38th spot.
• The lead group after the Keutenberg climb.
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and Frank Schleck (Team CSC) looking very relaxed on their way to fight for victory.

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Spectators watched from wherever they could find a spot.
• The last five men to contest for victory on the Cauberg. Schleck and his tongue tried hard to shake Cunego.
• But Cunego prevailed and crossed the Amstel Bier marking ahead of the others.
• Rebellin (r) grits his teeth as Valverde doesn't want to look up and Dekker hangs on.
• Amstel has lots of curves but the nice weather made it less dangerous.
• The peloton strung out single-file through the Dutch country side.
• Cunego was all smiles and it probably hadn't completely sunk in yet, right after the finish.
• The amount of people on the roadside was unbelievable.
• The peloton was as tight as the spectators in the early part of the race.
• Cunego separates himself from Schleck with his brilliant sprint.
• Davide Rebellin tried to attack before the Cauberg, but the others wouldn't let him get away.
• The decisive moment as Kroon had pulled off (far left, background) and Schleck took over – with Cunego being attentive.
• The move that started it when Astana's Ivanov (l) went and Barloworld's Pfannberger caught up; but the others are already closing in.