33rd Amstel Gold Race, World Cup Round 5

Amstel Gold Race LIVE

10.00: 193 riders start in the 33rd Amstel Gold Race in Maastricht. It's 15 degrees Celsius, cloudy and some rain.

12.25: It's a slow race. Complete peloton. Speed average 35 km/ph

13.15: In the climb of the Loorberg (climb 9 of total 30 climbs) Peter Meinert-Nielsen (US Postal) attacks. He'll get no more than 15". Abandon: Dimitri Konychev (Mercatone-Uno)

13.20: On the Gulpenerberg (climb 10 - length 900 m - height 155 m) peloton complete.

13.50: Attack by Pierdomenico (Cantina Tollo), little group follows. They get no more than 25".

14.10: On the Vijlenerberg (climb 14 - 1000 m - 260 m) the peloton is complete.

14.35 After the Gulpenerberg (climb 17) Henk Vogels (Australia and Dutch!) leads with 15" on group 1 with 32 riders.

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Earlier, in the first feed zone the following abandoned: Luis Perez Rodrigues, Chris Boardman, Michael Rich and Konishev

14.38: Kruisberg (climb 18) with still 90 km left to finish.

14.37: In Wahlwiller Henk Vogels leads with 15" on complete peloton.

14.41: Vogels still 8".

14.43: 17 leaders on the Kruisberg (climb 18)

14.45: 3 leaders: Jaermann, Casagrande and Den Bakker. Boogerd and Bartoli come to first group.

14.49: Still 85 km to go. It is starting to rain.

14.56: There are three leaders with another group of around 30 riders: Bartoli, Berzin, Van Bon, Pierdomenico, Boogerd, Vandenbroucke, Elli, Moreau in Simpelveld.

14.55: In Huls, before the Ubachsberg (climb 20) - In the first group of 30: Casagrande, Bo Larsen, O'Grady, Sunderland, Dufaux.

14.58: Group of around 30 riders leads. Jalabert is not in front of the race today. He is using the race for training. After the Amstel Gold Race he will take 15 days rest and than only one target: preparation for the Tour de France

15.00: Group of 30 reach Fromberg (10% - climb 21)

15.01: Group of 30 leads with 40 seconds.

15.02: Francesco Casagrande has punctured.

15.05: Within a few kilometers the Keutenberg (climb 22 with 22%) will arrive. Normally an important moment in the Amstel Gold Race. First group around 27 riders.

15.05: First group leads in Schoonbron (still 72 km) with 35"

Keutenberg

15.06: Climb of Keutenberg (climb 22) starts. A climb without audience. Keutenberg used to have a crowd of 30,000 on it but now it is forbidden for public although a few hundred reach the parcours.

15.10: Berzin has punctured.

Berzin

15.11: Group 1 leads with Casino and Rabobank riders in front.

15.13: Ingber (still 67 km to go). Bartoli brings Casagranda back to group 1 (two different teams, but two friends too). Den Bakker and Boogerd climb on first line.

15.15: It's dry again. Group 1 in Scheulder (still 66 km).

15.17: In IJzeren, near to Valkenburg with the Cauberg (for the second time today with more than 15.000 spectators!). Maarten den Bakker, Germano Pierdomenico and Rolf Jaerman lead.

15.21: Three leaders and group 1 together again in the climb of Cauberg (climb 23). Michael Boogerd attacks.

Cauberg

Some data about the riders: Italy (66 at the start), France (24), Spain (22), Belgium (19), Germany (11), Netherlands (10), Denmark (9), Switzerland (6) and some other nationalities - Like Scotty, Henk, Stuart!!!!

15.23: Still 62 km to go. 7 leaders: Boogerd, Bartoli, Den Bakker, Hamburger, Jaermann, Pierdomenico and Dufaux

15.28: Seven leaders reach Geulemmerberg (10% - climb 24). Leon van Bon follows.

15.29: Van Bon back in group 2. Casagrande leads this group.

15.30: In group 2: Vandenbroucke, Sunderland, Vogels, Tchmil, Van Petegem, Baldato among others.

15.31: Leaders have 27" on group 2.

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15.35: In Maastricht: still 52 km to finish. After Maastricht to Belgium.

Off Kennedy Bridge

Past the Finish Line

15.37: Zberg, Larsen, Hinault, Bolts in group 2 also.

15.41: Group 2 on 1.18. Group 3 on 2.21"

Top Group in Cannerweg

15.45: In Kanne. Still 40 km to go with 7 leaders: Michael Boogerd, Michele Bartoli, Maarten den Bakker, Bo Hamburger, Rolf Jaermann, Pierdomenico and Laurent Dufaux. Only Bartoli and Boogerd are in the top 20 of the World Cup standing.

15.48: In Maastricht the last group is now arriving (with Knaven) on 8 minutes.

15.51: Bartoli has punctured on the Muizenberg and is angry. This is where Bjarne Riis punctured last year and everybody knows what happened afterwards....!!

15.53: Bartoli back. 7 leaders again.

15.56: Leaders in Riemst (still 34 km).

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16.01: Cees Priem's (TVM) car hits Sunderland! My god!

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16.02: Group 2: Tchmil, Ivanov, Casagrande, Van Petegem, Ferrigato, Baldato, Vogels, Elli, Frigo, Van Bon, Bolts.

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16.06: In Valmeer (30 km to finish) the leaders have 2.20" on group 1.

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16.08: Jaermann and Den Bakker lead from Michael Boogerd, Michele Bartoli, Bo Hamburger, Germano Pierdomenico and Laurent Dufaux.

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16.11: Den Bakker and Jaermann has 10".

16.12:Bartoli asks Dufaux for help but after he attacked (Boogerd worked to get him back) nobody trusts Bartoli anymore. It's started raining again.

16.13:Jaermann and Den Bakker have 15".

16.15:Two leaders have 25"

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16.15: Merckx and Van Heeswijk come to group 2.

16.16: Rabobank team manager Theo van Rooy is saying to Michael Boogerd: "Take care, keep concentrating!"

16.17: The leaders are climbing St Simeon (climb 27 of the 30 - 4,5%)

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16.18: Dufaux is the only one who is helping Bartoli in the pursuit.

The leaders

16.20: Haccourt (still 20 km) near to the Halembaye. How strong is Bartoli on this climb?

16.22: Rolf Jaermann and Maarten den Bakker have 30" and start Halembaye (climb 28 - length 1000m, height 155m). The last difficult climb.

Halembaye

16.25: Bartoli leads the chasing bunch up the Halembaye.

16.27: It's dry again. 17 km to go with two climbs. Den Bakker and Jaermann have 35"

16.30: Eben - still 16 km - 2 km before the Saint-Pierre (climb 29 - 1000 m - 130 m high)

16.31: Start of St Pierre (8%) - still 32"

16.32: Michael Boogerd and Bo Hamburger are watchful of Bartoli.

Across the Albert Canal

16.34: Jaermann and Den Bakker still 20"

16.35: Leaders have 22".

16.35: Leaders have 22".

16.36: Tail wind into Maastricht. Still 10 km.

16.37: Dufaux and Bartoli lead the pursuit. Leaders have 38"

16.39: Jaermann will get the prize for the most aggressive rider ($US1500)

16.40: Hamburger and Boogerd good candidates for place 3?

16.41: 45" for Jaermann and Den Bakker. Still 5 kms to the finish.

16.43: Zonneberg (last climb): leaders have 48".

16.45: Bakker leads but Jaermann is better sprinter, Hamburger, Boogerd and Bartoli are in pursuit.

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16.47: Why is bo hamburger taking over in the pursuit from Bartoli?

16.48: 36" for leader, last km for Jaermann and Den Bakker.

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16.49: 1. Rolf Jaermann, 2. Maarten den Bakker

Maastricht-Maastricht, 252 kms:

  1. Rolf Jaermann (Swi) Casino
  2. Martin den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank
  3. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Asics
  4. Micheal Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
  5. Bo Hamburger (Den) Casino
  6. Germano Pierdomenico (Ita) Cantina-Tollo
  7. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Festina
  8. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar
  9. Alberto Elli (Ita) Casino
 10. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Vitalicio Seguros