Philippe Gilbert returned to form as he claimed the Amstel Gold Classic in a race that reflected the action-packed start to the classics season so far.
Gilbert attacks on The Cauberg on his way to victory over that, one of his very favourite climbs.
Photo © Bettini Photo
The Amstel Gold Race each year promises a great race, especially considering it can be a target for non-one day specialists to test their legs. This year, the likes of Alejandro Valverde, Simon Gerrans, Samuel Sanchez, Daniel Moreno and Andy Schleck all started the race, but its notoriously attritional reputation hit home hard as Schleck, Joaquim Rodriguez (crashes) and Dan Martin (allergies) all abandoned.
The race proceeded with animations from crowd favourite Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), often seen at the head of a strong breakaway group including Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Peter Weening (Orica Green-Edge) and Tim Wellens (Lotto-Belisol).
It was a group that was tightly controlled by the main peloton, though, having seen Roman Kreuziger ride to victory for Saxo-Tinkoff last year and while the group stayed out in fragments until seven kilometres to the finish, it never gained an advantage that was likely to prove decisive.
The end of the Amstel Gold Race is infamous for the Cauberg climb (often simply referred to as ‘the Cauberg’ among cycling aficionados), so with the main group back at the front of the race the favourites became the strongmen and punchy climbers with what was left of their teams.
That left BMC in an optimum position, having saved their riders for the final climb from an ensemble that could rival any classics-oriented outfit. Samuel Sanchez went off the front and sapped the energy from the chasing pack; his attack weakening their opponents who needed to respond. In the end leaving Philippe Gilbert in the perfect place to launch his assault on the climb and the finish line having been dragged back to his teammate. It seemed a well-played one-two punch.
It marks a return to form for the recently beleaguered Belgian, who two years after securing a historic quadruple in the Ardennes Classics, has had precious little to celebrate. Still, with his third win atop The Cauberg, 2014 could be the year where we see the former world champion back at the front.
On the day he was strongly challenged by Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol) and Simon Gerrans (Orica Green-Edge), they couldn’t hold a candle to him and had to settle for second and third places on the rostrum, respectively.
“My teammates really did a great job before the final ascension of the Cauberg,” said Gilbert to the waiting media.
“During the briefing, it was planned for Samuel [Sanchez] to do an attack at the foot of the Cauberg, so it was not a surprise for me, but I think it was one for my adversaries. I only had to wait for the best moment to attack,” he said.
It goes to show that pro cycling is as much about the tactics of the team as it is about the form of the nominated team leaders. BMC, who boast one of the strongest lineups of the WorldTour series, now look like a serious threat for the remainder of the major races this season. The question remains though: Will they be able to convert this awesome collection of talent into success in the grand tours and remaining classics?
Rolling Resistance 