Gasparotto grabs victory in Amstel Gold Race

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　　The 30-year-old Italian took the win by beating his rivals in a sprint¹ on the final climb of the Cauberg. Belgian rider Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol) finished second and Peter Sagan of Slovakia (Liquigas-Cannondale) was third.

　　In the 47th edition of the Dutch cycling classic the competitors had to overcome 31 hills in the race over 256.5 kilometers from Maastricht to the Cauberg in Valkenburg. After 50 kilometers a breakaway group was formed with nine riders, reaching a maximum lead of 13 minutes and 20 seconds.

　　Alex Howes (USA, Garmin) and Romain Bardet (FRA, AG2R), were the last two to survive, but were caught up by the bunch with only ten kilometers remaining. Oscar Freire was the next to escape and the Spanish Katusha rider seemed on his way to victory, but he collapsed² on the final climb on which Gasparotto was the strongest.

　　"Two years ago I already finished third and last year I did not have enough patience," Gasparotto told afterwards to Dutch TV channel NOS. "I remembered that. I knew I had to be concentrated, because this race race suits me perfectly³. My team mates did a good job for me. It's my biggest victory together with my Italian title in 2005."

　　WorldTour leader Tom Boonen, who won the prestigious⁴ classics Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix this season, did not participate in the Amstel Gold Race because of a foot infection.

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