Sunday April 19th, the 45th edition of the Dutch classic, Amstel Gold Race is due. The course takes place in an undulating landscape on roads so narrow that the riders are no longer able to ride side by side. 31 hilltops are to be ascended on the course over 258, 6 kilometers where Eyserbosweg, Cauberg and Wolfsberg are the most famous and dreaded climbs.

With Amstel Gold Race coming up, the international peloton now takes on another type of Classic where the less robust and more powerful mountain riders will be favored.

Team Saxo Bank’s Fränk Schleck won the race in 2006 ahead of Stefan Wesemann and Michael Boogerd. Team Saxo Bank owner, Bjarne Riis won the race in 1997 wearing the Danish national champion jersey after an impressive solo performance over the last 25 kilometers.

Both Bjarne Riis and Frank Schleck are present in the race this Sunday. Bjarne Riis however, will be behind the peloton in the car with sports director, Kim Andersen, who has a second place from 1984 on his resume from the race in his active career.

In 2009, Sergio Ivanov (Katusha) was first man across the finish line ahead of former Team Saxo Bank rider, Karsten Kroon. Sergio Ivanov (Katusha) also participates in this year’s edition with 191 other riders divided into 24 teams of which Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) and Chris Horner (Radioshack) are the biggest favorites.

Team Saxo Bank brings a top motivated line-up including Laurent Didier, Jakob Fuglsang, Andy Schleck, Nicki Sørensen, Jens Voigt, André Steensen, Jonas Aaen Jørgensen and Fränk Schleck who became a father on his 30th birthday yesterday.