34th Amstel Gold Race, World Cup Round 5

Netherlands, April 24, 1999

Preview

European cycling is focused on the Netherlands today for the only Dutch Classic - the Amstel Gold Race - which marks the end of the spring classics. Maastricht is the main city in the south of the Netherlands and a Dutch rider has not won the race since 1991 when local Limburg rider Frans Maassen was the first to arrive in Maastricht along the banks of the Maas River.

After a period of hopelessness in Dutch cycling, a major strategic plan was formulated and sponsored by Rabobank. Youth development squads were formed and the rising fortunes of Michael Boogerd, Maarten Den Bakker and Leon van Bon are evidence of the success the initiatives are having. The Dutch are passionate about cycling and the success of their own riders. They have been very enthusiastic supporters of the Rabobank team and also the TVM team. They were particularly indignant with the way the French police and courts handled the Cees Priem-TVM affair last year.

Rabobank has been a dominating team this year. They had 4 riders in the finale of Luik-Bastenaken-Luik last Sunday. And this time they are on home turf. Jan Raas has high hopes for the team. He won the Amstel Gold Race 5 times and the Rabobank team manager Theo de Rooy is hoping that a Rabobank rider will once again achieve greatness in this race. He said: "Michael Boogerd is riding very well at the moment, while Maarten den Bakker is in the form of his life. But neither is favoured in a sprint so they will have to break clear."

They were 2nd and 3rd, respectively, last week in LBL. Speculation suggests that they will use the steep (23%) Keutenberg (70 kms from the end) as their attacking vehicle.

Other Dutch riders with a chance include TVM-Farm Frites's Jeroen Blijlevens who won the Belgium Scheldeprijs earlier in the week and Tristan Hoffman who is in fine form. The favourites though are Franck Vandenbroucke, Peter van Petegem and Michele Bartoli. VDB will be defending his position at the top of the World Cup standings after a storming victory in LBL. Bartoli, world number one and premier rider for the Mapei-Quick Step team will also be a leading contender. He is being supported by a strong contingent of Bettini, Museeuw, Tafi, Zanini.

Laurent Jalabert is also aiming high in the race. The crowd interest will be in Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich. Ullrich is running short of time to get race hardened before the Tour de France.

The race is however traditionally an open affair giving all the riders a chance. The 253 kms circuit winds back and forth around Limburg (the southern most province of the Netherlands) and also goes into Belgium for some short loops. It has many hills but the parcours is not as tough as LBL. The 30 climbs are not as long or steep as those found in La Doyenne and the last kms are definitely not as selective.

The race gives the routier-sprinters like Jalabert a chance but also the power-climbers can win.

The Climbs

 1 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

Complete Starting List

Post Swiss Team                      Mapei-Quick Step

1. Rolf Järmann                      11. Michele Bartoli
2. Bruno Boscardin                   12. Paolo Bettini
3. Pierre Bourquenoud                13. Johan Museeuw
4. Philipp Buschor                   14. Wilfried Peeters
5. Yvan Haymoz                       15. Andrea Tafi
5. Marcel Strauss                    16. Stefano Zanini
7. Frédéric Vifian                   17. Daniele Nardello
8. Guido Wirz                        18. Tobias Steinhauser

Lotto-Mobistar                       Rabobank

21. Mario Aerts                      31. Michael Boogerd
22. Christophe Detilloux             32. Erik Dekker
23. Chris Peers                      33. Maarten den Bakker
24. Jo Planckaert                    34. Marc Lotz
25. Andrei Tchmile                   35. Koos Moerenhout
26. Kurt van de Wouwer               36. Rolf Sörensen
27. Geert Verheyen                   37. Leon van Bon
28. Peter Wuyts                      38. Markus Zberg

Casino                               TVM-Farm Frites

41. Lauri Aus                        51. Geert van Bondt
42. Stéphane Barthe                  52. Sergei Ivanov
43. Frédéric Bessy                   53. Tristan Hoffman
44. Pascal Chanteur                  54. Servais Knaven
45. Jaan Kirsipuu                    55. Steven de Jongh
46. Laurent Roux                     56. Sergei Ouchakov
47. Benoit Salmon                    57. Peter van Petegem
48. Alexandre Vinokourov             58. Bart Voskamp

Crédit Agricole                      Kelme-Costa Blanca

61. Magnus Bäckstedt                 71. Fernando Escartin
62. Sébastien Hinault                72. Oscar Sevilla
63. Christopher Jenner               73. Eduardo Hernandez
64. Stuart O'Grady                   74. Javier Ochoa
66. Jens Voigt                       75. José-Luis Rubiera
70. Cédric Vasseur                   76. Ruben Galvan

Cofidis                              Team Polti

81. Steve de Wolf                    91. Enrico Cassani
82. Peter Farazijn                   92. Mirko Celestino
83. Bobby Julich                     93. Fabrizio Guidi
84. Claude Lamour                    94. Leonardo Guidi
85. Massimiliano Lelli               95. Davide Rebellin
86. David Millar                     96. Fabio Sacchi
87. Frank Vandenbroucke              97. Denis Zanette
90. Janek Tombak                     98. Mauro Zinetti

Saeco-Cannondale                     Festina

101. Gian-Matteo Fagnini             111. Laurent Madouas
102. Dario Frigo                     112. Laurent Lefevre
104. Eddy Mazzoleni                  113. Rolf Huser
105. Harald Morscher                 114. Franz Hotz
106. Roberto Petito                  115. Alexander Moos
107. Igor Pugaci                     117. Andrei Kivilev
108. Francesco Secchiari             118. Jaime Hernandez


Cantina Tollo                         La Française des Jeux

121. Paolo Bossoni                   131. Maximilian Sciandri
122. Gabriele Colombo                132. Christophe Mengin
123. Danilo di Luca                  133. Chris Horner
124. Marco Antonio Di Renzo          134. Patrick D'Hont
125. Nicola Minali                   135. Jean-Michel Tessier
126. Andrea Brognara                 136. Christophe Bassons
128. Ruggero Marzoli                 137. Stéphane Heulot
129. Oscar Cavagnis                  138. Jean-Patrick Nazon

Vitalicio Seguros                    Team Deutsche Telekom

141. Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano     151. Rolf Aldag
142. Hernan Buenahora                152. Udo Bölts
143. Angel-Luis Casero               153. Alberto Elli
144. Francisco Cerezo                154. Jens Heppner
145. Daniel Clavero                  155. Jörg Jaksche
146. Francisco Tomas Garcia          156. Jan Schaffrath
147. Juan Miguel Mercado             157. Jan Ullrich
148. Andrei Zintchenko               158. Erik Zabel

Banesto                              ONCE-Deutsche Bank

161. Vicente Garcia-Acosta           171. Rafael Diaz Justo
162. Aitor Garmendia                 172. David Etxebarria
163. Jeremy Hunt                     173. Laurent Jalabert
164. David Latasa                    174. Abraham Olano
165. Francisco Mancebo               175. Miguel-Angel Martin
166. Aitor Osa                       176. Andrea Peron
167. Unai Osa                        177. Marcos Serrano
168. Cesar Solaun                    178. Roberto Sierra

Mercatone Uno-Bianchi                Lampre-Daikin

181. Ermanno Brignoli                191. Franco Ballerini
182. Marco Velo                      192. Raivis Belohvosciks
183. Sergio Barbero                  193. Ludo Dierckxens
185. Fabiano Fontanelli              194. Gabriele Missaglia
186. Dmitri Konychev                 195. Gianluca Pianegonda
187. Massimiliano Napolitano         196. Mariano Piccoli
188. Gianmarco Ortenzi               197. Zbigniew Spruch
189. Marco Artughi                   198. Johan Verstrepen

Vini Caldirola                       Riso Scotti-Vinavil

201. Massimo Apollonio               211. Carlo-Marino Bianchi
202. Filippo Casagrande              215. Flavio Zandarin
203. Gianluca Bortolami              217. Filippo Simeoni
205. Mauro Gianetti                  218. Alain Turicchia
206. Gianluca Sironi                 219. Samuele Schiavina
207. Mauro Radaelli                  220. Diego Ferrari
208. Romans Vainsteins


US Postal Service                    Amica Chips-Costa de Almeria

221. Frankie Andreu                  231. Viatcheslav Ekimov
222. Lance Armstrong                 232. Felice Puttini
223. Tyler Hamilton                  233. Pietro Caucchioli
224. George Hincapie                 234. Alessandro Pozzi
225. Frank Hoj                       235. Marco Gili
226. Marty Jemison                   236. Simone Campagnari
227. Kevin Livingston                237. Alessandro Varocchi
228. Peter Meinert-Nielsen


Batavus-Bankgiroloterij

241. Renger Ypenburg
242. Jan van Velzen
243. John Talen
244. Paul van Schalen
245. Rik Reinerink
246. Michel Cerneus
247. Cees Jeurissen
248. Dmitri Sidorenko

The Route

                               kms        kms       Time Schedule by km/h
                               Gone     To Go       37        40        43

Start in Maastricht                0               10.15     10.15     10.15
Official Race Start                0     255.3     10.21     10.21     10.21
Bunde                            4.1     251.2     10.27     10.27     10.26
Brommelen                        6.4     248.9     10.31     10.30     10.29
Geulle                           6.9     248.4     10.32     10.31     10.30
Elsloo                          11.1     244.2     10.39     10.37     10.36
Stein                           16.3     239.0     10.47     10.45     10.43
Geleen                          24.2     231.1     11.00     10.57     10.54
Beek                            28.5     226.8     11.07     11.03     11.00
Oensel                          33.1     222.2     11.14     11.10     11.07
Ulenstraten                     35.0     220.3     11.17     11.13     11.09
Meerssen                        37.5     217.8     11.21     11.17     11.13
Raar                            40.2     215.1     11.26     11.21     11.17
Groot-Haasdal                   43.3     212.0     11.31     11.25     11.21
Hulsberg                        46.8     208.5     11.36     11.31     11.26
Valkenburg                      48.1     207.2     11.39     11.33     11.28
Klimmen                         51.0     204.3     11.43     11.37     11.32
Kunrade                         54.8     200.5     11.49     11.43     11.37
Ubachsberg                      57.6     197.7     11.54     11.47     11.41
Wijlre                          62.1     193.2     12.01     11.54     11.47
Schoonbron                      63.1     192.2     12.03     11.55     11.49
Schin op Geul                   64.2     191.1     12.05     11.57     11.50
Oud valkenburg                  65.3     190.0     12.06     11.58     11.52
Valkenburg                      66.7     188.6     12.09     12.01     11.54
Sibbe                           68.2     187.1     12.11     12.03     11.56
Valkenburg                      69.9     185.4     12.14     12.05     11.58
Berg en Terblijt                71.9     183.4     12.17     12.08     12.01
Vilt                            72.3     183.0     12.18     12.09     12.01
Berg                            74.0     181.3     12.21     12.12     12.04
Maastricht                      78.2     177.1     12.27     12.18     12.10
Cadier en keer                  81.9     173.4     12.33     12.23     12.15
Bemelen                         83.8     171.5     12.36     12.26     12.17
T'Rooth                         86.5     168.8     12.41     12.30     12.21
Cadier en Keer                  88.1     167.2     12.43     12.33     12.23
Honthem                         90.5     164.8     12.47     12.36     12.27
Eckelrade                       92.6     162.7     12.51     12.39     12.30
St-Geertruid                    94.6     160.7     12.54     12.42     12.33
Mheer                           97.3     158.0     12.58     12.46     12.36
Noorbeek                        99.6     155.7     13.02     12.50     12.39
Bergenhuizen                   100.1     155.2     13.03     12.51     12.40
Terlinden                      101.2     154.1     13.05     12.52     12.42
Slenaken                       105.2     150.1     13.11     12.58     12.47
Heijenrath                     107.4     147.9     13.15     13.02     12.50
Gulpen                         112.6     142.7     13.23     13.09     12.58
Partij                         115.1     140.2     13.27     13.13     13.01
Mechelen                       116.8     138.5     13.30     13.16     13.03
Schweiberg                     118.7     136.6     13.33     13.19     13.06
Eperheide                      121.7     133.6     13.38     13.23     13.10
Epen                           123.2     132.1     13.40     13.25     13.12
Camerig                        124.7     130.6     13.43     13.28     13.15
Gemmenich (Plombieres)         135.0     120.3     13.59     13.43     13.29
Vaals                          139.8     115.5     14.07     13.50     13.36
Vijlen                         144.7     110.6     14.15     13.58     13.42
Epen                           151.5     103.8     14.26     14.08     13.52
Eperheide                      153.3     102.0     14.29     14.10     13.54
Schweiberg                     155.4      99.9     14.33     14.14     13.57
Mechelen                       157.7      97.6     14.36     14.17     14.01
Partij                         159.8      95.5     14.40     14.20     14.03
Gulpen                         162.3      93.0     14.44     14.24     14.07
Wahlwiller                     165.8      89.5     14.49     14.29     14.12
Eys                            167.8      87.5     14.53     14.32     14.15
Eyserheide                     170.0      85.3     14.56     14.36     14.18
Trintelen                      171.5      83.8     14.59     14.38     14.20
Bosschenhuizen                 172.9      82.4     15.01     14.40     14.22
Simpelveld                     173.9      81.4     15.03     14.41     14.23
Huls                           175.2      80.1     15.05     14.43     14.25
Ubachsberg                     177.1      78.2     15.08     14.46     14.28
Schoonbron                     184.2      71.1     15.19     14.57     14.38
Schin op Geul                  184.9      70.4     15.20     14.58     14.39
Keutenberg                     186.0      69.3     15.22     15.00     14.40
Ingber                         189.1      66.2     15.27     15.04     14.44
Scheulder                      190.3      65.0     15.29     15.06     14.46
Ijzeren                        192.0      63.3     15.32     15.09     14.48
Sibbe                          192.6      62.7     15.33     15.09     14.49
Valkenburg                     194.8      60.5     15.36     15.13     14.52
Berg en Terblijt               196.8      58.5     15.40     15.16     14.55
Vilt                           197.2      58.1     15.40     15.16     14.56
Berg                           198.5      56.8     15.42     15.18     14.57
Maastricht                     204.7      50.6     15.52     15.28     15.06
First pass of finish line      209.6      45.7     16.00     15.35     15.13
Kanne                          215.4      39.9     16.10     15.44     15.21
Riemst                         221.0      34.3     16.19     15.52     15.29
Valmeer                        224.9      30.4     16.25     15.58     15.34
Bassenge                       227.9      27.4     16.30     16.02     15.39
Houtain St Simeon              231.3      24.0     16.36     16.07     15.43
Haccourt                       233.5      21.8     16.39     16.11     15.46
Eben-Emael                     239.5      15.8     16.49     16.20     15.55
Petit Lanaye                   247.6       7.7     17.02     16.32     16.06
Maastricht                     250.0       5.3     17.06     16.36     16.09
Finish                         255.3       0.0     17.15     16.43     16.17