Michael Valgren (Team Astana) upsets favourites to win Amstel Gold Race 2018
The riders gathered in Maastricht under clear blue skies for the 53rd edition of the Amstel Gold Race, the first part in the Ardennes Classics triptych, even if the race takes place in the hills of Limburg, Holland, rather than the Belgian Ardennes.
After a minute’s silence in memory of Michael Goolaerts, who tragically died after Paris-Roubaix last week, the riders rolled out, with 263 kilometres ahead of them. The course would twist its way through the Limburg countryside, with no fewer than 35 climbs on the menu. The organisers replicated last year’s format – where the Cauberg preceded the Guelhemmerberg and Bemelerberg instead of acting as the final climb – and even chose some narrower roads in the finale in hope of repeating the spectacle of 12 months ago.
1, Michael Valgren (Denmark) Astana Pro Team6:40:07,
2, Roman Kreuziger (Czech) Mitchelton-Scott,
3, Enrico Gasparotto (Italy) Bahrain-Merida0:00:02,
4, Peter Sagan (Slovakia) Bora-Hansgrohe0:00:19,
5, Alejandro Valverde (Spain) Movistar Team,
6, Tim Wellens (Belgium) Lotto Soudal,
7, Julian Alaphilippe (France) Quick-Step Floors,
8, Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark) Astana Pro Team0:00:23,
9, Lawson Craddock (USA) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale0:00:30,
10, Jelle Vanendert (Belgium
