Enrico Gasparotto finished eighth in Sunday's Amstel Gold Race. The Italian former winner of the Netherlands' only WorldTour Classic thus rewarded the excellent teamwork Wanty-Groupe Gobert did for its captain. 
 
“I can't say anything negative about the team at all. They have really worked hard for me and I am very happy about that," Gasparotto said about the work Mirko Selvaggi, Bjorn Leukemans, Marco Marcato, Yannick Eijssen, Marco Minnaard, Jan Ghyselinck and De Francis De Greef did. 
 
“In today's final I could follow the best 4-5 riders on the Cauberg. Last year I was dropped there. However, this new arrival doesn't really suit me. I am just too skinny to be a sprinter," the Italian smiled.
 
The story of the 50th Amstel Gold Race was a traditional one. The breakaway of the day of six riders got the green light after half an hour of racing. 
 
“The only downside of today's race was that we didn't have anyone in the break. I had given orders to Ghyselinck, De Greef, Minaard and Selvaggi to try. They tried their best but they didn't succeed," sports director Hilaire Van Der Schueren said. 
 
Jan Polanc (Lampre-Merida), Mike Terpstra (Roompot), Timo Roosen (Lotto-Jumbo), Linus Gerdemann (Cult Energy), Johan van Zyl (MTN-Qhubeka) and Laurens De Vreese (Astana) received a maximum lead of ten minutes. 
 
On the Eyserbosweg Simon Clarke (Orica-Greenedge) and David Tanner (IAM Cycling) attacked and picked up the last three remaining leaders. It was the signal that the final of the Amstel Gold Race could start.
 
Unfortunately Wanty-Groupe Gobert lost Marco Marcato just before this moment. The Italian crashed on the Kruisberg and had to abandon the race with back pain. However, Leukemans and Selvaggi did fantastic work for Gasparotto in the final lap.
 
“The team were well grouped together the entire day. Ik really saw a team ride today. Look at Selvaggi who kept riding and riding for Gasparotto. I had some doubts whether Enrico had enough race rhythm, especially with regards to the final climb today, but I am content with his eighth place. Liège-Bastogne-Liège suits him even better, especially now he has done 260 kilometres in a race situation," Van Der Schueren concludes.
 
Gasparotto himself is also confident ahead of the two remaining Ardennes Classics of the upcoming week. 
 
“I am in good shape. Furthermore I am relieved that today's race proves I trained well. I have no more doubts ahead of Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège." 
 
General manager Jean-François Bourlart spent the day with the management of bike sponsor CUBE. Both sponsor and Bourlart were happy with the teamwork they had witnessed on the Limburg roads. 

“As a team we are where we should be. A top ten was our ambition today. The team has worked well and with a little bit of luck we can do even better next week."