PreviewThe Dutch are hanging their hopes on national champion Michael Boogerd in today's Amstel Gold Race which is raced in the extreme south of the Netherlands in the province of Limburg. It has been 7 years since a Dutch rider has won the race when in 1991 local Limburg rider Frans Maassen triumphed. Boogerd has been reported as saying: "Riding in the red, white and blue jersey makes it all special...I'm extra motivated to perform. I'm not displeased with my results so far. But it was time, I'm in my fifth year as a professional and felt I had to prove myself."There are now two favorite teams: Mapei and Rabobank. On Wednesday the Rabobank-team (Boogerd, Van Bon, Den Bakker, Van Heeswijk, Vierhouten, Moerenhout, Sörensen and Zberg) checked the last 150 kilometers of the only Dutch World Cup race. Team manager Adri van Houwelingen said: "In the past Sorensen was our one potential winner. Now we have five. Tactically, the Amstel Gold race is difficult. There are so many climbs, that you can never plan where the finale will begin. In Paris-Roubaix you have to be in front in the Forest of Wallers/Arenberg. In L-B-L, it is the climb of La Redoute. But you can't say this for the Amstel Gold Race. Michael Boogerd thinks the climb of Camerig (after 125 km) is an important point in the parcours. "You have to be in the front of the peloton, because after this climb you get several climbs. The next important point is the Gulpenerberg (followed with Kruisberg, Eyserbos, Fromberg, Keutenberg and Cauberg," said Boogerd, who won the Catalan Week stage race in March and finished fifth in Liege-Bastogne-Liege last week. Italian Michele Bartoli, the current World Cup standings leader and winner of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic last week, is focusing on the Giro d'Italia and may not go all out in this race although he is still on the starting list (see below). The Mapei-Bricobi team will be a major power in the race even though their best classics rider, Johan Museeuw is missing due to a bad knee injury incurred after a fall in Wallers during Paris-Roubaix. Two Mapei-Bricobi threats are 1996 winner Stefano Zanini and Andrea Tafi, who finished second last year. Other notable riders include Belgian Peter Van Petegem, who riders for the other Dutch team, TVM. Last year the Amstel Gold Race didn't have any Limburger riders competing but today there will be two locals starting: Danny Nelissen (Jack and Jones) and Max van Heeswijk (Rabobank). Nelissen was injured in the Ronde van Vlaanderen, but he did a good test in the Grote Scheldeprijs on Wednesday (15th). Van Heeswijk will start for the third time. He has yet to finish the race: "I had to work for Lance Armstrong last year. That cost me a lot of power and I stopped after 140 kilometers. Now I feel healthy and in good shape." He came 13th in the Grote Scheldeprijs earlier in the week. The German team Gerolsteiner didn't get a wild card, so the two other local 'heroes' (Raymond Meijs and Frank Ackermans) will not start. Complete Starting ListTELEKOM (Germany) MAPEI (Italy) Manager Walter Godefroot Manager Patrick Lefevere 1. Aldag, Rolf (Ger) 11. Ballerini, Franco (Ita) 2. Blaudzun, Michael (Ger) 12. Mattan, Nico (Bel) 3. Bölts, Udo (Ger) 13. Leysen, Bart (Bel) 4. Henn, Christian (Ger) 14. Peeters, Wilfried (Bel) 5. Heppner, Jens (Ger) 15. Pianegonda, Gianluca (Ita) 6. Schaffrath, Jan (Ger) 16. Tafi, Andrea (Ita) 7. Wesemann, Steffen (Ger) 17. Vandenbroucke, Frank (Bel) 8. Zabel, Erik (Ger) 18. Zanini, Stefano (Ita) FESTINA (France) ONCE (Spain) Manager Bruno Roussel Manager Manolo Saiz 21. Bortolami, Gianluca (Ita) 31. Diaz Justo, Rafael (Spa) 22. Brochard, Laurent (Fra) 32. Etxebarria, David (Spa) 23. Dufaux, Laurent (Swi) 33. Garcia, Francisco (Spa) 24. Hervé, Pascal (Fra) 34. Jalabert, Laurent (Fra) 25. Lefevre, Laurent (Fra) 35. Mauri, Melchor (Spa) 26. Moreau, Christophe (Fra) 36. Perez Rodrigues, Luis (Spa) 27. Rous, Didier (Fra) 37. Sastre Candil, Carlos (Spa) 30. Bassons, Christophe (Fra) 38. Zarrabeitia, Mikel (Spa) RABOBANK (Nederland) BANESTO (Spain) Manager Jan Raas Manager José Echavarri 41. Boogerd, Michael (Ned) 51. Garcia-Acosta, José (Spa) 42. Van Bon, Leon (Ned) 52. Garmendia, Aitor (Spa) 43. Den Bakker, Maarten (Ned) 53. Jimenez, José Maria (Spa) 44. Zberg, Beat (Swi) 54. Latasa Lasa, David (Spa) 45. Sörensen, Rolf (Den) 56. Odriozola, Jan (Spa) 46. Moerenhout, Koos (Ned) 57. Olano, Abraham (Spa) 47. Van Heeswijk, Max (Ned) 58. Rodrigues, Orlando (Por) 48. Vierhouten, Aart (Ned) 59. De las Cuevas, Armand (Fra) CASINO (France) TVM (Netherlands) Manager Vincent Lavenu Manager Cees Priem 61. Agnolutto, Christophe (Fra) 71. Hoffman, Tristan (Ned) 62. Bouvard, Gilles (Fra) 72. Ivanov, Sergeï (Rus) 63. Elli, Alberto (Ita) 73. Knaven, Servais (Ned) 64. Hamburger, Bo (Den) 74. Larsen, Nicolaj Bo (Den) 65. Järmann, Rolf (Swi) 75. Oetchakov, Sergeï (Uzb) 66. Massi, Rodolfo (Ita) 76. Van Petegem, Peter (Bel) 67. Salmon, Benoit (Fra) 77. Roux, Laurent (Fra) 68. Streel, Marc (Bel) 78. Voskamp, Bart (Ned) GAN (France) SAECO (San Marino) Manager Roger Legeay Manager Claudio Corti 81. Backstedt, Magnus (Swe) 91. Petito, Roberto (Ita) 82. Boardman, Chris (Gbr) 93. Mazzoleni, Eddy (Ita) 83. Hinault, Sébastien (Fra) 95. Frigo, Dario (Ita) 84. Moncassin, Fréderic (Fra) 96. Fornaciari, Paolo (Ita) 85. O'Grady, Stuart (Aus) 97. Fagnini, Gian Matteo (Ita) 87. Vogels, Henk (Aus) 99. Padrnos, Pavel (Tsj) 88. Voigt, Jens (Ger) 100. Rich, Michael (Aut) LA FRANCAISE DES JEUX (France) LOTTO (Belgium) Manager Marc Madiot Manager J. Vandenbroucke 101. Berzin, Evgeny (Rus) 111. Aerts, Mario (Bel) 102. Gianetti, Mauro (Swi) 112. Farazijn, Peter (Bel) 103. Guesdon, Frederic (Fra) 113. Van de Wouwer, Kurt (Bel) 105. Magnien, Emmanuel (Fra) 114. Tchmil, Andrej (Bel) 106. Mengin, Christophe (Fra) 115. Teteriuk, Andreï (Kaz) 107. Peron, Andrea (Ita) 116. Van Hyfte, Paul (Bel) 108. Sciandri, Maximilian (Gbr) 117. Verheyen, Geert (Bel) 109. Horner, Chris (USA) 118. Willems, Ludwig (Bel) POLTI (Italy) COFIDIS (France) Manager Gianluigi Stanga Manager Bernard Quilfen 121. Brasi, Rossano (Ita) 131. Meier, Roland (Swi) 122. Cassani, Enrico (Ita) 132. Casagrande, Franc. (Ita) 123. Celestino, Mirko (Ita) 133. Fondriest, Maurizio (Ita) 125. Merckx, Axel (Bel) 134. Capelle, Christophe (Fra) 126. Sacchi, Fabio (Ita) 135. Goubert, Stéphane (Fra) 127. Salvato, Christian (Ita) 136. Jalabert, Nicolas (Fra) 128. Zinetti, Mauro (Bel) 137. Bertolini, Alessandro (Ita) 130. Rokia, Anthony (Ita) 138. Thibout, Bruno (Fra) ASICS (Italy) VITALICIO SEGUROS (Spain) Manager Serge Parsani Manager Javier Minguez 141. Bartoli, Michele (Ita) 151. Aggiano, Elio (Ita) 142. Bettini, Paolo (Ita) 152. Ferrigato, Andrea (Ita) 143. Bongioni, Alessio (Ita) 153. Steinhauser, Tobias (Ger) 144. Coppolillo, Michele (Ita) 154. Freire Gomez, Oscar (Spa) 145. Malberti, Fabio (Ita) 155. Smetanine, Serguei (Rus) 146. Noé, Andrea (Ita) 156. Casero, Angel (Spa) 147. Scinto, Luca (Ita) 157. Zintchemko, Andrei (Rus) 148. Tani, David (Ita) KELME (Spain) US POSTAL (USA) Manager Alvaro Pino Manager Johnny Weltz 161. Escartin, Fernando (Spa) 171. Baranowski, Dariusz (Pol) 162. Heras, Roberto (Spa) 173. Deramé, Pascal (Fra) 163. Rubiera Vigil, José (Spa) 174. Hamilton, Tyler (USA) 164. Galvan, Ruben (Spa) 175. Llaneras, Juan (Spa) 165. Guttierez, José (Spa) 176. Meinert-Nielsen, P. (Den) 166. Pascual Rodr., Juan (Spa) 177. Robin, Jean-Cyril (Fra) 178. Teutenberg, Sven (Ger) MERCATONE-UNO (Italy) CANTINA TOLLO (Italy) Manager Giuseppe Martinelli Manager Franco Gini 181. Artunghi, Marco (Ita) 191. Baronti, Alessandro (Ita) 182. Borgheresi, Simone (Ita) 192. Colagé, Stefano (Ita) 183. Checchin, Stefano (Ita) 193. Hvastja, Martin (Slo) 184. Dall'Olio, Davide (Ita) 194. Mazzanti, Luca (Ita) 185. Fontanelli, Fabiano (Ita) 195. Pierdomenico, G. (Ita) 186. Konychev, Dimitri (Rus) 196. Ljunqvist, Marcus (Den) 187. Siboni, Marcello (Ita) 197. Valoti, Paolo (Ita) 188. Velo, Marco (Ita) 198. Di Renzo, Marco (Ita) BALLAN (Italy) ROS-MARY (Switserland) Manager Flavio Miozzi Manager Marino Basso 201. Colombo, Gabriele (Ita) 211. Chiappucci, Claudio (Ita) 202. Finco, Carlo (Ita) 212. Dotti, Fausto (Ita) 203. Gontchenkov, Alex (Oek) 213. Di Silvestro, Lorenzo (Ita) 204. Loda, Nicola (Ita) 214. Finesso, Stefano (Ita) 205. Ongarato, Alberto (Ita) 215. Gelfi, Luca (Ita) 206. Tosatto, Matteo (Ita) 216. Molinari, Maurizio (Ita) 207. Tronca, Amilcare (Ita) 217. Puttini, Felice (Swi) 208. Ugrumov, Piotr (Rus) 218. Zatti, Andrea (Ita) RISO SCOTTI (Italy) JACK and JONES (Denmark) Manager Emanuele Bombini Manager Alex Pedersen 221. Baldato, Fabio (Ita) 231. Jorgensen, René (Den) 222. Minali, Nicola (Ita) 232. Skibby, Jesper (Den) 223. Brognara, Andrea (Ita) 233. Nelissen, Danny (Ned) 224. Brignoli, Ermanno (Ita) 234. Piziks, Arvis (Let) 225. Cenghialta, Bruno (Ita) 235. Silvos, Juris (Est) 226. Ferrari, Riccardo (Ita) 238. Kyneb, Michael (Den) 227. De Beni, Federico (Ita) 240. Rosberg, Michael (Den) 228. Charrière, Christian (Swi) PALMANS (Belgium) Manager W. Planckaert 241. Bomans, Carlo (Bel) 242. Sunderland, Scott (Aus) 243. De Clercq, Mario (Bel) 244. Hoj, Frank (Den) 246. Vanderaerden, Gert (Bel) 247. De Geyter, Johan (Bel) 248. Hammond, Roger (Bel) 249. Vermeersch, Jürgen (Bel) The 10 Hot Spots of Jan RaasTeam leader of the Rabobank, Jan Raas, won the Amstel Gold Race 5 times. There is nobody who knows the parcours better than him. His favourite hot-spots for the public (and the hardest places for the riders):Sibbergrubbe at 68 kms, length 1200m, height 159m. "Always good for an attack. This was the place for the first victory of Eddy Merckx in 1973." Gulpenerberg at 113 and 163 kms, length 900m, height 155m. "Good for a lot of breaks in the peloton" Vijlenerberg at 145 kms, length 1000m, height 260m. " A kind of Ardennes-part in the parcours. A lot of riders will come in problems here" Eyserbosweg at 170 kms, length 900m, height 180m. "A good place for the Italians. Here were the attacks by Maurizio Fondriest in 1991 and 1992; while Giorgio Furlan and Davide Cassani did the same in 1993 and 1994" Keutenberg at 187 kms, length 400m, height 165m. "The first time in course in 1972. It's not possible anymore for the spectators to be here. There was a lot of troubles with the great amount of people. In 1990 the organization cancelled the Keutenberg. Now the climb is back, but without audience on the road" Cauberg at 72 and 197 kms, length 1800m, height 150m. "Here starts the final. I remember my first victory. I arrived at the top with Henny Kuiper en Gerrie Knetemann. I was with Frisol, the two other with Raleighs. Like last Sunday in LBL i won on my own from two teammates." Geulhemmerberg at 199 kms, length 600m, height 125m. "For the rider who's fit enough an ideal climb." Halembaye at 236 kms, length 1000m, height 155m. "With the Keutenberg and the Cauberg the most difficult climb. In 1993 the place for Gianni Bugno and Rolf Jaermann and in 1995 for Mauro Giannetti and Davide Cassani". Saint Pierre at 242 kms, length 1000m, height 130m "In 1996 the place where Stefano Zanini made his attack. He found Armstrong, Sorensen, Peron and Missaglia and rode easily away" Pietersberg at 213 and 255 kms, length 900m, height 120m "By the second climb mostly the decision is made already". Route:kms from start Time MAASTRICHT start Markt 0 10.00 Bunde 4 10.12 Brommelen 6 10.15 Geulle 7 10.16 Elsloo 11 10.22 Maasberg Stein 16 10.30 Geleen 24 10.42 Beek 28 10.48 Adsteeg (length 500m, height 115m) Oensel 33 10.55 Meersen 37 11.02 Raar 40 11.06 Lange Raarberg (length 1500m, height 130m) Groot-Haasdal 43 11.10 Hulsberg 46 11.16 Valkenburg 48 11.18 Klimmen 51 11.22 Kunrade 54 11.28 Ubachsberg 57 11.32 Bergse Weg (length 800m, height 170m) Wijlre 62 11.39 Schoonbron Schin op Geul 64 11.42 Oud Valkenburg 65 11.43 Valkenburg 66 11.46 Sibbergrubbe (length 1200m, height 159m) Sibbe 68 11.48 Valkenburg 69 11.50 Cauberg (length 1800m, height 150m) Berg en Terblijt 71 11.53 Vilt 72 11.54 Berg 74 11.57 Maastricht 78 12.03 Cadier en Keer 81 12.08 Bemelen 83 12.11 Bemelerberg (length 700m, height 125m) 't Rooth 86 12.15 Cadier en Keer 88 12.18 Honthem 90 12.21 Eckelrade 92 12.24 Sint-Geertruid 94 12.27 Mheer 97 12.31 Noorbeek 99 12.35 Bergenhuizen 100 12.36 Bergenhuizen (length 500m, height 180m) Terlinden 101 12.37 Slenaken 105 12.43 Heijenrath 107 12.47 Loorberg (length 1700m, height 220m) Gulpen 112 12.54 Gulpenerberg (length 900m, height 155m) Partij 115 12.58 Mechelen 116 13.01 Schweiberg (length 1700m, height 220m) Schweiberg 118 13.04 Eperheide 121 13.08 Epen 123 13.11 Camerig 124 13.13 Camerig (length 3000m, height 280m) Gemmenich 135 13.28 Drielandenpunt (length 1800m, height 320m) Vaals 139 13.35 Vijlen 144 13.43 Vijlenerberg (length 1000m, height 260m) Epen 151 13.53 Eperheide 153 13.55 Eperheide (length 1400m, height 220m) Schweiberg (length 1700m, height 220m) Schweiberg 155 13.59 Mechelen 157 14.02 Partij 159 14.05 Gulpen 162 14.09 Gulpenerberg (length 700m, height 155m) Wahlwiller 165 14.14 Kruisberg (length 600m, height 170m) Eys 167 14.17 Eyserheide 170 14.21 Eyserbos (length 900m, height 180m) Trintelen 171 14.23 Bosschenhuizen 172 14.25 Simpelveld 173 14.26 Huls 175 14.28 Ubachsberg (length 900m, height 230m) Ubachsberg 177 14.31 Fromberg (length 1200m, height 160m) Schoonbron 184 14.42 Schin op Geul 185 14.43 Keutenberg 186 14.45 Keutenberg (length 400m, height 165m) Ingber 189 14.49 Scheulder 190 14.51 IJzeren 192 14.54 Sibbe 193 14.56 Valkenburg 194 14.58 Cauberg (length 1000m, height 150m) Berg en Terblijt 196 15.01 Vilt 197 15.02 Berg 198 15.03 Geulemmerberg (length 600m, height 125m) Maastricht 204 15.13 Pietersberg (length 900m, height 120m) first time past the finish line - Maasboulevard Maastricht 212 15.24 Kanne 217 15.31 Muizenberg (length 900m, height 105m) Riemst 222 15.39 Valmeer 226 15.45 Bassenge 229 15.49 Houtain 232 15.54 Saint-Siméon 233 15.56 Saint-Siméon (length 1200m, height 135m) Haccourt 234 15.58 Halembaye (length 1000m, height 155m) Eben-Emael 240 16.07 Saint-Pierre (length 1000m, height 130m) Petit Lanaye 248 16.19 Maastricht 251 16.22 Pietersberg (length 900m, height 120m) Finish - Maasboulevard 256 16.30 The Climbs1 Slingerberg 115 metres 2 Adsteeg 115 3 Lange Raarberg 130 4 Bergseweg 170 5 Sibbergrubbe 159 6 Cauberg 150 7 Bemelerberg 125 8 Bergenhuizen 180 9 Loorberg 220 10 Gulpenerberg 155 11 Schweiberg 220 12 Camerig 270 13 Gemmenich 280 14 Drielandenpunt 320 15 Vijlenerberg 260 16 Eperheide 220 17 Kruysberg 170 18 Eyserbos 230 19 Huls 230 20 Fromberg 160 21 Keutenberg 165 22 Geulhemmerberg 125 23 Pietersberg 120 24 Muizenberg 105 25 St Simeon (Bel) 135 26 Halembaye (Bel) 155 27 St Pierre (Bel) 130 Past Winners and Placegetters1966 Jean Stablinski (Fra) B. van den Kerckhove (Bel) J. Hugens (Ned) 1967 Arie den Hartog (Ned) C. Lute (Ned) H. Steevens (Ned) 1968 Harry Steevens (Ned) R. Rosiers (Bel) D. van Rijckegem (Bel) 1969 Gudio Reybrouck (Bel) J. Huysmans (Bel) E. Merckx (Bel) 1970 Georges Pintens (Bel) W. Vanneste (Bel) A. Dierickx (Bel) 1971 Frans Verbeeck (Bel) G. Karstens (Ned) R. Rosiers (Bel) 1972 Walter Planckaert (Bel) W. De Geest (Bel) J. Zoetemelk (Ned) 1973 Eddie Merckx (Bel) F. Verbeeck (Bel) H. Vanspringel (Bel) 1974 Gerrie Knetemann (Ned) W. Planckaert (Bel) W. Godefroot (Bel) 1975 Eddie Merckx (Bel) F. Maertens (Bel) J. Bruyère (Bel) 1976 Freddie Maertens (Bel) J. Raas (Bel) L. Leman (Bel) 1977 Jan Raas (Ned) G. Knetemann (Ned) H. Kuiper (Ned) 1978 Jan Raas (Ned) F. Moser (Ita) J. Zoetemelk (Ned) 1979 Jan Raas (Ned) H. Lubberding (Ned) Sv-A Nilsson (Swe) 1980 Jan Raas (Ned) A. De Wolf (Bel) S. Kelly (Ire) 1981 Bernard Hinault (Fra) R. De Vlaeminck (Bel) A. De Wolf (Bel) 1982 Jan Raas (Ned) S. Roche (Ire) G. Braun (D) 1983 Phil Anderson (Aus) J. Bogaert (Bel) J. Raas (Ned) 1984 Jacques Hanegraaf (Ned) K. Andersen (DK) P. Versluys (Bel) 1985 Gerrie Knetemann (Ned) J. Lieckens (Bel) J. Broers (Ned) 1986 Steven Rooks (Ned) J. Zoetemelk (Ned) R. Van Holen (Bel) 1987 Joop Zoetemelk (Ned) S. Rooks (Ned) M. Elliott (GB) 1988 Jelle Nijdam (Ned) S. Rooks (Ned) C. Criquielion (Bel) 1989 Erik Van Lancker (Bel) C. Criquielion (Bel) S. Bauer (Can) 1990 Adri van der poel (Ned) L. Roosen (Bel) J. Nijdam (Ned) 1991 Frans Maassen (Ned) M. Fondriest (Ita) D. De Wolf (Bel) 1992 Olaf Ludwig (Ger) J. Museeuw (Bel) D. Konyshev (Rus) 1993 Rolf Jaermann (Swi) G. Bugno (Ita) J. Heppner (Ger) 1994 Johan Museeuw (Bel) B. Cenghialta (Ita) M. Saligari (Ita) 1995 Mauro Gianetti (Swi) D. Cassani (Ita) B. Zberg (Swi) 1996 Stefano Zanini (Ita) M. Bettini (Ita) J. Museeuw (Bel) 1997 Bjarne Riis (Den) A. Tafi (Ita) B. Zberg (Swi) |
