Gasparotto victorious in Amstel Gold Race for second time

Enrico Gasparotto won the 51st edition of the Dutch cycling classic Amstel Gold Race on Sunday.

After 248.7 kilometers from Maastricht to Valkenburg, with a total of 34 small hill climbs in the Dutch province of Limburg, the fourth and final climb of the Cauberg, three kilometers from the finish, was decisive.

The 34-year-old Italian rider Gasparotto (Wanty) attacked on the final ascent and took the victory in a two-man sprint with Danish rider Michael Valgren Andersen (Tinkoff). Italian Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani) was the fastest of the remainder of the bunch.

Gasparotto had also won the Amstel Gold Race in 2012. After that race he was winless for four years, until Sunday.

The victory was not only emotional for that reason. Three weeks ago Belgian Wanty team-mate Antoine Demoitie lost his life after a crash during Gent-Wevelgem and therefore Gasparotto pointed at heaven after passing the finish of the Amstel Gold Race.