It was the 50th edition but for Roompot Orange peloton it was the debut in the biggest Dutch classic Amstel Gold Race. The team delivered a performance that lived up to expectations of  team leaders Erik Breukink and Michael Boogerd. "We attacked, was in the breakaway for a long time and had a young rider Maurits Lammertink in the finale against the best riders in the world. For us this was a great day in which we did better than some WorldTour teams," said Boogerd after the Amstel Gold Race.

The rider who took the attentions soon after the start of the 258-kilometer classic with 34 climbs, was Mike Terpstra. After two previous attempts, the Dutchman got clear with five other riders and rode in the break for more than 180km, gaining lots of tv time.

"It took a while to get away with the right guys. It was really a fight in that first hour, but it worked out beautifully," he said. "I have always felt good here in the Limburg hills, but of course this was a top day. All the people on the climbs, all the encouragement. I did not know I was so popular."

Terpstra was dropped on the Gulpenerberg. At that time, the big names came to the fore and Michel Kreder (who finished 61st) and Maurits Lammertink stayed in the lead group. "It was very hectic and chaotic, and actually I do not like it, but I was always there," said Lammertink who was 21st and finished as best Dutchman. "Unfortunately I was also a bit too far behind on the last descent towards the Cauberg so I wasn't there in the finale. Anyway, this is a result that I can build on in the future."