Enrico Gaparotto Wins Amstel Gold Race

Last updated : 17 April 2016 By CNS Sport

Enrico Gaparotto of Wanty Group has won the Amstel Gold Race.

A 251.8km race over 34 climbs from Maastrict to Cauberg and had  De Vreese (Astana), Devriendt (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Didier (Trek), Howes (Cannondale), Montaguti (AG2R), Bono (Lampre), Reza (FDJ), Warbasse (IAM), Cerny (CCC) , Grellier (Direct Energy) and Berlato (Nippo) form a break after 35kms.

They were soon five minutes ahead but had their lead whittled down to 4.10 with 132kms remaining.

With 84kms to go and more than four hours and eleven minutes having been race, the gap stood at 3.16.

Thirty kilometres later and a group including Meersman, Van der Sande, Bonifazo and Thurau had gone after the escapers who were now only 2.03 ahead.

As the rain came down, the gap was down again to 1.35 as the front group was reduced to six riders who took on the steepest road in the Netherlands with a lead of a minute.

Onto the final lap and Bob Jungels and Battaglin from LottoNL joined those on the front and with fourteen kilometres left, those in the break were caught.

Tim Wellens of Lotto Soudal put in a stunning move and got fourteen seconds clear with 5.3kms left.

Wellens was caught with 2.2kms left and Gasparotto led with Vakoc just behind him.

Inside the final two hundred metres and Enrico Gaparotto made his move and took the win in 6.18.02 ahead of Michael Valgren of Tinkoff, followed by Sonny Colbrelli of Bardiani - CSF, Bryan Coquard of Direct Energie and Michael Matthews of Orica GreenEDGE.