39th Amstel Gold Race - CDM

Netherlands, April 18, 2004

Images by Elmar Krings (Click here for a thumbnail gallery of these images)

Winner-in-waiting - Did eventual winner Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) know today was going to be his day?
Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) tries to rid himself of Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner).
PVP power - Peter Van Petegem (Lotto-Domo) suffers on the Cauberg, but still managed fifth place.
World Cup leader Steffen Wesemann (Telekom) rides in a bunch more than one minute down.
Rolf Aldag (Telekom) on the Cauberg.
Lampre en masse tackle the Cauberg.
Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) leads a group home, more than six minutes in arrears.

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com (Click here for a thumbnail gallery of these images)

Johan Van Summeren (Relax-Bodysol) leads up the Drilandenpunt climb early in the race.
The peloton on the climb of Drilandenpunt.
The peloton on the Drilandenpunt climb.
A BankGiroLoterij rider slips off the back on the Drilandenpunt climb.
Rabobank drive the peloton at the base of the first pass of the Gulperberg climb.
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Davitamon) positions himself well at the front.
Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) and Dave Bruylandts (Chocolade Jacques Wincor-Nixdorf) on the Gulperberg.
Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) on the Gulperberg.
Beet Zberg (Gerolsteiner) tackles the second acension of the Gulperberg climb.
Nicki Sørensen (CSC) maintains his focus.
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Davitamon) sits in the middle of the pack on the Gulperberg climb, keeping a watchful eye.
Blink and you'll miss 'em.
A Lampre rider gives it his all on the Gulperberg.
Nico Sijmens (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) also finds the going tough on the Gulperberg.
Ruslan Ivanov (Alessio-Bianchi) struggles at the back.

Images by Mani Wollner/www.foto-grafik-satz.de (Click here for a thumbnail gallery of these images)

Images by Olympia Photo

Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) and Frank Vandenbroucke (Fassa Bortolo) ride together
The peloton on the Cauberg

Images by AFP Photo

Just so we all know we're in the Netherlands
Home favourites Rabobank controlled the race for Michael Boogerd and Erik Dekker
The field sweeps along the twisting parcours in the Limburg region of the Netherlands
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) and Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) formed the winning move long before the Cauberg climb
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) leads Michael Boogerd on their winning escape
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) celebrates his victory ahead of Michael Boogerd (Rabobank)
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Davitamon) took the sprint for third place
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) dedicated his win to fallen friend Denis Zanette
The podium: Michael Boogerd (2nd), Davide Rebellin (1st), Paolo Bettini (3rd)
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) held onto his World Cup jersey by one point ahead of Oscar Freire

Alain van Katwijk (BankGiroLoterij) and Peter Wuyts (Mr. Bookmaker) and set off in pursuit of the early break of Johan Van Summeren (Relax-Bodysol) and Jan Kuyckx (Vlaanderen).
Alessandro Vanotti (De Nardi)
Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) and team-mate Erik Zabel.
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile).
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) shows his race face.
Erik Dekker (Rabobank).
Frank Vandenbroucke (Fassa Bortolo).
Early breakaways Jan Kuyckx (Vlaanderen) and Johan Van Summeren (Relax-Bodysol).
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) joins Jan Kuyckx (Vlaanderen) and Johan Van Summeren (Relax-Bodysol).
Johan Van Summeren (Relax-Bodysol).
Maarten den Bakker (Rabobank) leads the peloton.
Maarten den Bakker (Rabobank).
Markus Zberg (Gerolsteiner).
Michael Boogerd (Rabobank ) came up short, but not by much.
Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) shrugs off the pressure of being race favourite.
Patrick Lefevre and Walter Goodefroot.
Peter Wuyts (Mr. Bookmaker) leaves the peloton early in the race, and was sooned joined by Alain van Katwijk (BankGiroLoterij).
Ryder Hesjedal (US Postal).
Sergei Ivanov (T-Mobile).

Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com

Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) interviewed by Mart Smeets
Marc Lotz (Rabobank) discusses his chances
Michael Rogers (Quick.Step-Davitamon) gets serious
Luca Paolini (Quick.Step) signs an autograph
Maarten den Bakker is one of Rabobank's key men today
The Illes Balears team hangin' out at the back
Michael Rogers (Quick.Step-Davitamon) enjoying the start
Frank Vandenbroucke (Fassa Bortolo) looking focused, as usual
Tomas Lovkvist (FDJeux.com) wonders what's in store
All set for the start in Maastricht
The start in Maastricht
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) looking anxious
Bart Voskamp (Jacques) checks his front wheel
Aart Vierhouten (Lotto-Domo, L) and Cristian Moreni (Alessio-Bianchi, R) just before the start
Peter van Petegem (Lotto-Domo) is ready
A diehard cycling fan waves the Flemish flag
Van Summeran and Kuyckx lead by 5'00 through Berg en Terblijt
Marc Wauters (Rabobank) leads the bunch in pursuit of the two leaders
Cristian Moreni (Alessio-Bianchi) tries to do everything at once
Jurgen Van Goolen (L) with Davide Bramati (C) and Alexandre Vinokourov (R) in Berg en Terblijt
Bert Hiemstra (Jacques) flying round a corner
Wim van Huffel (Vlaanderen T Interim)
Maarten den Bakker (Rabobank) grabs a bottle at the back of the bunch

Images by Elmar Krings

New world cup leader Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) looked happy before the start
Rabobank's Michael Boogerd calls Amstel Gold "his race"
Johan Museeuw makes his first post-retirement race appearance
Quick.Step-Davitamon's Paolo Bettini was mobbed at the start
Plenty of people on hand for the start of the Amstel Gold Race
Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) is still looking for his next World Cup win
Daniele Nardello (T-Mobile) will be a key support man for Alexandre Vinokourov
Defending champion Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) gets ready to ride for a repeat
Will Frank Vandenbroucke (Fassa Bortolo) escape the bad luck that's plagued his first World Cup races this season?
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) gives the home team another card to play after Boogerd and Dekker
Lotto-Domo's Axel Merckx is ready for the Ardennes classics