32nd Amstel Gold Race, World Cup Round 5

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Results and Reports

Trevor Warwick's Watching It on TV Report

Amstel Gold "as I watched it on TV"

These notes were taken from the Eurosport coverage, David Duffield commentating.

Terrain: Mixture of winding country lanes with some larger roads, and 29 official hills in all. Most of the hills are on the narrow lanes. The course crosses the finish line more than once, taking in several long loops of the countryside around Maastricht.

Early action: Initial "get your name on the Telly" suicide break of three including Talen and Roscioli had a maximum lead of 7 minutes. Then Museeuw, Sciandri and Bartoli were in a group of 5 for a while, but were caught

The main coverage starts with 40km to go. There's a break of eight: Tafi(Mapei), Ferrigato(Roslotto), Roux(TVM), Van Bon(Rabobank), Riis(Telekom), Gianetti(La Francaise des Jeux) and Zberg(Mercatone Uno). The Peloton is at 1.45. MG are on the front, chasing hard for Bartoli. As they cross the finishing line to start the last circuit, one of them punctures, and doesn't look too happy about it as the team cars are a long way back.

40km to go: Riis is looking back and gesticulating at the following Commissaire's car. They're going up a small hill, and he keeps dropping back and waving. This goes on for a couple of minutes, until the Commissaire gets out of the way to let the team cars up. Bjarne has a good yell at his manager, and then rides up to the back of the group. He's now having a word with Tafi, who doesn't seem very interested. OK, the car's now pulled over and Riis gets a new front wheel. Looks like he was asking for some help from the others, and not getting any. So, will he be able to get back to the group ? But he's looking strong, and with the help of a Madison-style bidon change from the Telekom car, he's soon back up in the convoy.

36km: And almost immediately, Riis attacks, and no-one follows. He's going for a long one ! Can he really stay away from a classy group like this ?

32km: Peleton at 1.25 from remaining break of seven. It's pouring with rain now. Riis is making a huge effort, looking just like he did on Hautacam last July: mouth open wide, teeth showing.

30km to go. Riis is still leading, but they're not giving us the time gap. He's got a big computer on his bars, it looks like the SRM Powercrank unit that I've seen pictures of, but it's hard to see the chainset to confirm it. MG are still driving the peloton for Bartoli, they are now 1.45 back from Riis. It's not raining.

David informs us that there's been a bit of a schism in Mercatone Uno, with the team complaining about Pantani's lack of results, leading to him not starting today and Zberg being the designated leader. There's not much wind, so it looks like Riis has a chance of staying away. He's riding hunched up with his hands on the middle of the bars - looks like he could do with some Spinacis.

25km: Riis looks to have about 20 seconds. He's now on a 4.5% hill, powering up on the big ring.

24km: Van Bon attacks from the chasers, but Gianetti follows, and the rest are on him quickly. Riis now has 30 seconds. Still on the hill, Zberg goes, Gianetti is the first to chase again. Then Ferrigato follows, the rest look stuffed.

22km to go: Riis is still hammering along the flat road ahead, where it is raining once more.

Zberg is looking good, and these three are going well on a slight downhill stretch. Gianetti fiddles with his shoes. Oh, now Tafi now has brought up the other four, and immediately launches a big attack. Once again, Gianetti is left to chase him down, but can't get there. Tafi's hanging out 4 seconds ahead of them.

19km: Riis has 41 seconds on Tafi. Roux and Gianetti now get up to Tafi. This is getting confusing.

16km: Bjarne is now approaching Climb 27 (Halembaye) on a wide main road, with a max gradient of 16% (ouch). On the climb, Zberg gets up to Tafi, Roux and Gianetti. Riis still looks not too bad, but he knows he can't relax for a second. This hill temporarily blows the chasers apart, Gianetti is a few seocnds ahead, Tafi last but still stamping on the pedals. The descent brings them back together. It's still wet, and they're taking some risks now on the corners.

13km to go: The chasers have lost a little bit of focus - no-one wants to kill himself bringing Riis back. I guess there'll be another attack soon.

Last big climb (St Pierre, max 8%). Riis is still on the big ring, sitting down, looking really powerful. Now he's out of the saddle making an extra effort at the top. Riis now has 44 seconds, and it seems that he may stay away.

There's a cobbled corner on the descent, and Riis has to put unclip and put his foot down to get round it. The next four have trouble too. The descent leads to a suspension bridge that crosses the wide river Maas.

With about 10km left, DD has finally got Telekom's Rudi Pevenage (sp?) on the phone, who tells us that Telekom had planned to ride this race for Riis, because Riis knew he was feeling good.

8km to go: Riis is back in time-trial mode, open-mouthed and grimacing. The chasing group are now working better, but there is still a 44 second gap.

6km: Back in the outskirts of Maastricht. Riis is riding very carefully over the traffic-calming ramps. There is one final climb and at the top he looks a little ragged, but the gap is up to 55 seconds.

Now Bartoli is coming up very fast: He's on the same hill with the remnants of the original break of eight. We didn't see how he got there, but Jalabert is with him. Bartoli must be looking to defend his World Cup jersey, and is apparently happy to tow Jalabert to the finish.

Riis is on the very long finishing straight. He looks back a few times to make sure there's no-one there. There isn't ! Tons of time to straighten the jersey, and give plenty of victory salutes before he crosses the line.

Jalabert and Bartoli are now about 50 metres behind the group of Tafi, Zberg, Roux and Ferrigato, but don't quite get there. The bunch arrives about 10 seconds later, DD says that's Andre Tchmil winning the sprint for 8th.

So, a very impressive performance from Riis, saying two things to his peers:

1) My plan isn't just like Indurain's, I can win Classics as well as the Tour.

2) But, by the way, watch out for me in July...

Another Report

His win at this 32nd edition of the Amstel Gold Race, disputed over 258 kms, gives 33 year old Riss, his first victory in a Classic. Plus Riis made history by becoming the first cyclist since Bernard Hinault, to get a win in one of the "Spring Classics" after winning the Tour de France last year and becomes the first rider from Denmark to win this race. In previous editions victory has gone to Holland on 15 occasions, to Belgium on 9, France and Switzerland on 2 and Germany, Australia and Italy each one on one occasion.

Riis in company of Gianetti, Roux, Tafi, Leon Van Bon, Jo Planckaert, Andrea Ferrigato and Zberg, attacked on the climb of Cauberg, at 60 kms. from the finish. A little after, the Tour winner left behind his breakaway companions and went on to the finish line alone.