40th Amstel Gold Race - PT

Netherlands, April 17, 2005

Photography

Race Day

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

• The break gets up the road early on.
• A windmill creates the scenic backdrop for the peloton.
• All smiles at the start.
• Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) powers the break.
• Fog created an eerie background for today's racing.
• Erwin Thijs (MrBookmaker - SportsTech) leads Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) on the Bemelerberg.
• Erwin Thijs (MrBookmaker - SportsTech) leads the break again.
• The bunch makes its way up the climb near Noorbeek.
• Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) seemed in good form today.
• Roberto Petito (Fassa Bortolo) calls for a new wheel.
• Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) on the Bemelerberg.
• The bunch on one of the many climbs.
• George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) looking good during the day.
• Nicolas Jalabert (Phonak) makes his way up.
• Bradley McGee (Française des Jeux) amazes the crowd.
• Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) leads teammate Davide Rebellin.
• The bunch climbs after the break.
• Up they go.
• George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) crosses the line a little worse the wear.
• Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) shows who's boss.
• Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) gladly accepts the winner's spoils.
• Big crowds showed up for the finish in Valkenburg.

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• The peloton rides en masse.
• The peloton stayed largely together until the race's final moments.
• Twists and turns all are part of the Amstel Gold Race.
• The early breakaway formed at around the 10 kilometre mark.
• A rather relaxed peloton let the leaders dangle, some 13 minutes ahead at one stage.
• Good crowds still lined the roads, despite the damp conditions.
• Not 200 metres to go just yet...
• Andriy Grivko (Domina Vacanze) leads the four-man break.
• One of the pre-race favourites, Michael Boogerd (Rabobank).
• Riders in the mist. (Is that a new movie?)
• Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) thoroughly enjoying his 220km escapade.
• Erik Zabel (T-Mobile Team) sits in second wheel, followed by Erik Dekker (Rabobank).
• Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) has T-Mobile's Alexandre Vinokourov glued to his wheel.
• Our Amstel coverage wouldn't be complete without the obligatory windmill shot...
• or two...
• Okay, that's enough windmills - back to the race!
• That's one big bunch
• The Rabo boys pile the pressure.
• Erik Dekker (Rabobank) is well-placed, but Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) isn't far behind...
• Di Luca's team-mate Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas - Bianchi) was some way off the pace today.
• Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas - Bianchi) puts on his race face up the Cauberg.
• Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas - Bianchi) takes a comfortable win ahead of Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) and Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze).
• Yeeaaah!
• Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) awaits the official results.
• Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) really enjoyed that.
• So did Erik Zabel.
• Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) still did okay in the end, finishing in 68th place.
• It's easy to smile when you've won.
• Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas - Bianchi) soaks up the applause.
• Now, what should I win next...
• The podium - and a little fella.
• 2005 is turning out to be Danilo Di Luca's year.
• Well, at least Daddy's happy...
• This is my equipment.
• Good thing Danilo's not camera-shy.

Images by Elmar Krings

• Last year's winner Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) keeps a close eye on proceedings.
• The breakaway containing Moreau is caught after a 220km escape.
• Jens Voigt (CSC) on his way to a top 30 finish.
• Uros Murn (Phonak) hits the front on the Cauberg.
• Pieter Weening's lanky figure wasn't quite suited to the Cauberg climb.
• The bunch split to pieces on the Cauberg
• Not the front group.
• Definitely not the front group.
• Walter Beneteau (Bouygues Telecom) shows the wrong way to climb the Cauberg.
• Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas - Bianchi) checks out his opposition.
• Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas - Bianchi) goes for it!
• George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) gets a lift.
• Jussi Veikkanen (Française des Jeux) enters the Palace of Pain.
• Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) and Sergei Ivanov (T-Mobile Team) finished more than three and a half minutes down.
• All over - time to go to the pub and sink a few Amstels.
• What goes up - A horde of spectators make their way back down the Cauberg.

Images by Andrea Hübner/www.velo-photos.com

• Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile)
• Erik Zabel (T-Mobile)
• Ryder Hesjedal (Discovery Channel)
• Igor Astarloa (Barloworld)
• Unai Yus (Bouygues Telecom)
• Jussi Veikkanen (La Francaise des Jeux)
• Patrick Sinkewitz (Quickstep) smiling before the start
• Bradley McGee (La Francaise des Jeux)
• Benoit Poilvet (Crédit Agricole)
• World Champion Oscar Freire (Rabobank)
• Joost Posthuma (Rabobank)
• Winner of the Amstel Gold Race 2005 Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas)
• Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears)
• Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
• George Hincapie (Discovery Channel)
• Isidro Nozal Vega (Liberty Seguros) on the way to the start
• Jörg Jaksche (Liberty Seguros)
• The peloton on the Cauberg in Valkenburg
• Joost Posthuma (Rabobank)
• Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears)
• Christophe Moreau (Crédit Agricole)
• The last 300 metres before the finish on the Cauberg
• Pieter Weening (Rabobank)
• Bradley Wiggins (Crédit Agricole)
• Nicolas Loda (Liquigas)
• Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze) is happy with 3rd place
• Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas)
• Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) and his son on the podium
• Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) and Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas)
• Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) in an interview after the race

Pre-race

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Elmar Krings

• Crowds gathered at the start
• Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) is a past winner here
• Ready, set...
• The peloton streams out of Maastricht
• This Euskaltel rider looks really happy
• The peloton streams out of Maastricht
• Boogerd and Dekker setting off
• The team cars leave

Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com

• This is the Amstel Gold Race
• Looking out over the start place in Maastricht's Markt
• South African champ Ryan Cox (Barloworld-Valsir)
• Laurent Brochard is one of Bouygues' main men
• The Discovery boys negotiate the media crush
• Lemme through!
• Team cars ready to go in Maastricht's Markt
• The crowd had to be squashed in here
• Jörg Jaksche and former director Bjarne Riis chat
• Davide 'Tintin' Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), the defending champ
• Oscar Freire (Rabobank) gets some last minute race tactic advice
• Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) could surprise
• Erik Dekker (Rabobank) reads the route map with the kiddies
• Kim Kirchen will be Fassa's spearhead today
• Danilo di Luca (Liquigas) hopes for a win
• Frank Schleck (CSC) ready to roll
• Filippo Pozzato (Quick.Step) being friendly with Alessandra Di Stefano (RAI)
• Quo vadis for Ryder Hesjedal (Discovery)
• Leon van Bon (Davitamon-Lotto) ready for a big one
• Vladimir Gusev (CSC) is focused
• Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) interviewed
• George Hincapie (Discovery) rides up to the start
• George Hincapie (Discovery) with his wife Melanie and daughter Paris
• George Hincapie (Discovery) bids wife Melanie and daughter Paris goodbye, with many kisses
• Bram Tankink (Quick.Step) raring to go
• Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues) getting ready to ride
• Matt White (Cofidis) and Maarten den Bakker (Rabobank) meet at the start
• Be afraid be very afraid
• The Rabo team car gets ready to go
• Rabobank leading the peloton 12'20 behind the break on the Cauberg
• Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) in the peloton at the top of the Cauberg on lap 1