Amstel Gold Race 2018: Michael Valgren outsprints Roman Kreuziger

Results 2018 Amstel Gold Race

1. Michael Valgren (den)
2. Roman Kreuziger (cze) s.t.
3. Enrico Gasparotto (ita) + 0.02
4. Peter Sagan (svk) + 0.19
5. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
6. Tim Wellens (bel) s.t.
7. Julian Alaphilippe (fra) s.t.
8. Jakob Fuglsang (den) + 0.23
9. Lawson Craddock (usa) + 0.30
10. Jelle Vanendert (bel) + 0.36

Race report
After the first climb, Slingerberg, home-riders Tankink and Riesebeek open up a gap with Bono, Van Hecke , Grmay, Tizza, Craddock, Dumbar and Smit. The nine widen their lead to more than 15 minutes ahead of the peloton.

On Eyserbosweg Tankink, Tizza and Smit are dropped and the lead falls below 2 minutes.

Kreuziger jumps of the front of the peloton with 27 kms to go when the gap is down to less than 1 minute. Gasparotto tracks him down and they hit Cauberg 15 seconds after the front group and 25 seconds ahead of the chasers. Matthews punctures and is out of contention.

Kreuziger and Gasparotto catch the front group on the climb and on the top Van Avermaet and Mollard go after them, but they are brought back before Geulhemmerberg. On the climb itself Valverde speeds up with Sagan, Valgren and Alaphilippe on his wheel. Wellens and Fuglsang rejoin at the top and they gobble up the front group.

Valgren strikes twice in the finale. His first attack with 5 kms to go is neutralized by Sagan, but when he goes again 2 kms before the line Kreuziger is the only rider to join him. Gasparatto goes after them, but it’s too late. The race comes down to a two-up sprint with the 26-year old Dane by far the fastest.

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