CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

“Third time third - particularly with third last year - is a little disappointing. I would have loved to have improved my result. The goal was to win today, so anything less would always have felt like we had fallen a bit short, "...

Photo: Sirotti

AMSTEL GOLD RACE

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS

PIETER WEENING

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS

SIMON GERRANS

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS

TEAM JAYCO ALULA (FORKERT)

TEAM PROFILE
|
NEWS
20.04.2014 @ 21:14 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

Simon Gerrans emerged as one of the strongest riders in today's Amstel Gold Race but failed to respond to Philippe Gilbert's searing attack the final time up the Cauberg. Having taken his third 3rd place in the race, the Australian was slightly disappointed not to have improved on his past results but admitted that the best rider had won the race.

 

Simon Gerrans rounded out the podium at the Amstel Gold Race. The Australian National Champion matched his previous best result, making it three times third in Valkenburg. Gerrans’ acceleration up the Cauberg capped off a plan perfectly executed by his ORICA-GreenEDGE teammates.

 

“Everyone did their job today,” said Gerrans. “We all did everything we could. We were beaten on by a stronger guy on the day. We couldn’t have done much more, so we have to be proud of that.”

 

“Third time third – particularly with third last year – is a little disappointing,” Gerrans added. “I would have loved to have improved my result. The goal was to win today, so anything less would always have felt like we had fallen a bit short but to finish on the podium of Amstel Gold is still a pretty satisfying result.”

 

An eight rider move provided the early action. Pim Ligthart (Lotto Belisol) accelerated off the line, inspiring the formation of the escape that included Alexey Lutsenko (Astana), Manuel Belletti (Androni Venezuela), Matej Mohric (Cannondale), Pirmin Lang (IAM Cycling), Nicola Boem (Bardiani CSF), James Van Landschoot (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Preben Van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen).

 

The group swelled to include ten when Christophe Riblon (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Jaroslaw Marycz (CCC) bridged across to the leaders.

 

“We said in the meeting that if there were several riders from the big teams, we had to be there, too,” explained Sport Director Laurenzo Lapage. “There weren’t too many big teams in the break, so it wasn’t necessary for us to be there."

 

“Eventually, we had to put someone on the front to chase,” Gerrans added. “Albasini took on that responsibility, and he did a great job.”

 

BMC and Movistar had already begun the chase work by the time Albasini assumed his position at the front of the bunch – and that’s where he would stay for the next 100+ kilometres. Their combined efforts saw the gap tumble in the second half of the race. Forty kilometres from the finish, the breakaway had splintered, and the lead group was reduced to three. The trio clung to a three minute advantage.

 

“Mat Hayman had looked after me for the majority of the day,” noted Gerrans. “He stayed with me for the first 200 kilometres. When we hit the climbs, Mat moved me to the front. I needed to stay there from that point on so that I would be in a good position to respond to any attacks that it might be necessary for me to cover.”

 

When Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) attacked over the Kruisberg, in an attempt to bridge across to the three leaders, Pieter Weening spotted the danger move and jumped on the wheel. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) and Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol) had a similar idea.  A six rider chase group with a small but steady advantage emerged.

 

“Everybody has his own thing to do in the race,” said Weening. “My thing was to go with breaks later in the final. When we’re not in the breaks, we have to chase, so it’s always better to have someone in it. The break was perfect for us. The other guys wee safe in the bunch, and they didn’t have to do anything.”

 

“I was there, and I was riding a bit,” Weening added. “I was not riding full to stay away. If I did too much work, we could have two minutes in front, and then it wouldn’t be possible for the other teams to bring us back. If Gerro had said in the end that he wasn’t feeling ok, then I would have gone full gas to stay away.”

 

With the third ascent of the Cauberg looming, counter-attacks began to come from the bunch. Weening’s group grew to include nine before the peloton upped the ante, overtaking the chase group and remnants of the break in the run in toward the line. Seven kilometres from the final passage of the finish, the race had come back together.

 

When ORICA-GreenEDGE put all remaining riders on the front of the field, it looked as if a small but mightly team time trial had taken shape to place Gerrans in the best possible position ahead of the final ascent. An army of blue, white and green jerseys massed ahead of the rest of the bunch, drilling the pace as they charged toward the Cauberg.

 

“Coming into the finish, Pieter and Simon placed me perfectly into the bottom of the climb,” Gerrans explained.  “They gave me the opportunity to attack the last time up the Cauberg. Philippe attacked right past me, and he got a gap straightaway. There wasn’t any cooperation behind, so we were left racing for the minor places.”

 

Jelle Vanendert (Lotto Belisol) edged out Gerrans for best of the rest. Gerrans snared the final spot on the podium. Michael Matthews was the team’s next best placed rider in 12th in the race

 

“The teamwork today was perfect,” said Lapage. “We were never under any pressure. Our plan worked, but the strongest guy won. We’re happy with the teamwork, and we’re happy with the result – third in a WorldTour event. I’m really proud of the team.”

 

“I had felt really good coming into the race,” added Gerrans. “I was happy with my preparation. I wasn’t expecting a result, but I was certainly hoping for one. I was confident in the team and myself coming into the race today, and we all did a fantastic job. We would have liked to have won, but when you race the way we raced and come away with the podium, it’s a good day.” 

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Richard MARDLE
44 years | today
Damien MARQUES
27 years | today
Martin FRANK
28 years | today
Lorenz FIEGE
32 years | today
Amaia MALATSETXEBARRIA IBAIBARRIAGA
24 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com