Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was one of the strongest of riders in today's Amstel Gold Race and as the best of the rest he took second behind the lone Roman Kreuziger (Team Saxo-Tinkoff). Having gained confidence by his ability to follow Gilbert on the Cauberg climb, he now turns his attention to his biggest spring goal: the Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Last year Alejandro Valverde returned to the Ardennes classics for the first time after his suspension but the double winner of Liege-Bastogne-Liege was a shadow of his former self. This year he was back to get his revenge and with his best ever performance in the Amstel Gold Race in the area in which he took bronze at last year's world championships prove that the Spaniard is now maybe stronger than ever before.

What he lacked in the spring last year was endurance in the long race. He was victorious in the early season with victories in the Paris-Nice, the Vuelta a Andalucia and the Tour Down Under but his long absence from competition had made him unable to handle the longest classics. Hence, his delight at his added endurance overshadowed the disappointment of the loss of his first Amstel victory.

"It was sad Kreuziger was still at the front, but he did an impressive work and deserves this victory," he said. I'm really happy with my second place. I'm not disappointed at all, because we could perform well and my feelings were good. I feel like I have more stamina and reach the finale of such long races in better condition than in the past."

At last year's world's Valverde was unable to respond to Gilbert's blistering acceleration on the Cauberg, and he had to settle for third after having been beaten by Edvald Boasson Hagen in the sprint for second. This time he crested the top of the climbs just seconds after the world champion and when he put down the hammer moments later, he managed to close the gap to the Belgian.

Insisting that Gilbert was as strong today as he was in September, Valverde was happy to see him getting closer to his rival.

"The finale was similar to the Worlds one, because Gilbert went away with equal strength and made the difference there," he said. "This time I was able to follow him and beat him at the finish."

Valverde had been a little cautious going into this week's racing since a cold and a crash in the Volta a Catalunya meant that he had few racing days in his legs. Hence, today's result gives him a great confidence boost ahead of the biggest of the Ardennes classics: Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

"This obviously gives me confidence for the two classics coming up. More than Flèche, which I will approach in a more cautious way, I'm focused on Liège, the one that suits me the best. We could see I was strong today. Let's hope we have some luck on Sunday to chase for that big goal."

Valverde won La Doyenne in 2006 and 2008 and if he manages to take a third victory he will be the most successful rider in the oldest classic since Moreno Argentin who took his fourth and final win in 1991. Eddy Merckx tops the victory list with 5 triumphs.