Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2018: Chantal Blaak outguns Lucinda Brand and Amanda Spratt

Chantal Blaak sprints to victory in the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition. The World Champion outguns Lucinda Brand and Amanda Spratt on the line. The three are the best escapees over the Cauberg and hold off the chasers in the last 1.6 kilometres to the line. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2018 Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition

1. Chantal Blaak (nld)
2. Lucinda Brand (nld) s.t.
3. Amanda Spratt (aus) + 0.03
4. Riejanne Markus (nld) + 0.04
5. Alexis Ryan (usa) + 0.06
6. Audrey Cordon-Ragot (fra) + 0.14
7. Giorgia Bronzini (ita) + 0.41
8. Lotta Lepistö (fin) + 0.56
9. Eugenia Bujak (slo) + 1.30
10. Marianne Vos (nld) s.t.

Race report
At Keutenberg, with 65 kms to go, the peloton splits in three. A group of 40 riders take a lead of almost 1 minute before Chantal Blaak, Riejanne Markus, Amanda Spratt, Lucinda Brand, Audrey Cordon Ragot, Giorgia Bronzini, Alexis Ryan and Lotta Lepistö jump of the front. The eight race to a lead of more than 2 minutes, while the peloton re-groups.

On the penultimate climb of Cauberg, the gap has fallen below 2 minutes. Blaak strikes with Ryan on her wheel. Spratt rejoins the race-lead and after the descent the others come back, except Bronzini and Lepistö.

The front group hits Bemelerberg 1’30” ahead of the chasers, who have stopped their efforts.

On the lower slopes of the Cauberg Bronzini en Lepistö rejoin the front just to drop almost straight away. Cordon Ragot can’t follow the pace either. Blaak, Brand and Spratt are the first riders over the top and the Australian pushes on in the last 1.6 kilometres. The World Champion sits patiently on her wheel. When Brand strikes, Blaak crushes all her potential hopes and powers to a glorious win in her rainbow jersey. Her compatriot comes in second, Spratt finishes third.