Amstel Gold Race (NED) - 20.04.2008

Holland is largely a flat country but the Amstel Gold Race is held in the hilly southern area around Valkenburg, close to the borders with Belgium and Germany.

The 250km route is squeezed into the small hilly area and twists and turns through the countryside, going over 30 short climbs that leave the riders’ legs hurting and their heads spinning as they try to follow the constant attacks. The winner is often as tactically smart as he is physically strong, because of the complicated route and the demanding uphill finish on the short but steep climb just outside Valkenburg.

It is easy to accelerate too early before the line and see another riders sprint past and win the race. In 2007 Germany’s Stefan Schumacher of the Gerolsteiner team avoided that risk by attacking two kilometres from the finish. Despite racing with 12 stitches in his knee, he powered up the final Cauberg climb and won 21 seconds ahead of his team mate Davide Rebellin.

Schumacher will be back in 2008 but will probably be closely marked by rivals such as Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and World Champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step). The Dutch UCI ProTour Rabobank team always wants to win the Amstel Gold Race, and the aggressive Thomas Dekker is likely to lead the team on home roads.