Tuesday 21 April 2015 16:47, UK
World champion Michal Kwiatkowski claimed victory at Amstel Gold as the Dutch one-day classic came down to a bunch sprint.
World champion Michal Kwiatkowski claimed victory at Amstel Gold as the Dutch one-day classic came down to a bunch sprint.
The Pole timed his kick to perfection in the closing metres to fend off the challenge of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) at the line.
Attacks on the final ascent of the Cauberg saw the Etixx - Quick-Step rider initially struggling to retain contact with 2014 winner Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) and Matthews. Yet the race came back together on the flat final 1.8 kilometres and Kwiatkowski positioned himself perfectly to take his first victory in the rainbow jersey.
Team Sky's Lars Petter Nordhaug opened up the sprint but faded in the final metres as a larger than normal group battled it out for victory after 258 kilometres and 34 punishing climbs.
The race had settled into a rhythm before the penultimate loop as significant attacks fired on the Eyserbosweg. Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Tony Martin (Etixx - Quick-Step) and Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) were among the big names who tried to go clear.
BMC Racing and Movistar committed heavily to the chase and helped ensure the race was back together as a sizeable peloton hit the Cauberg for the final time.
After an early attack from Team Sky's Wout Poels, six riders built out a gap of over 10 minutes as the race departed Maastricht in bright sunlight.
Gradually the pace increased and Laurens De Vreese (Astana), Jan Polanc (Lampre-Merida) and Linus Gerdemann (Cult Energy) were the last of the six breakaway riders to be caught with 37km to go.
That coincided with attacks on the Eyserbosweg, with Aussie duo David Tanner (IAM Cycling) and Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge) combining to great effect before being joined by Nibali, Martin and co. ahead of the penultimate passage over the Cauberg.
A lack of cohesion put paid to their chances, much to the dismay of Nibali, with Clarke the final man to be caught with 8km to go - setting up an exciting finish.
