VALKENBURG, Netherlands, April 17, 2011 – In-form Belgian rider
Philippe Gilbert won the Amstel Gold race for the second successive year on
Sunday to add to his win in the Fleche-Brabanconne earlier this week.

The 28-year-old came home well clear of Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez while
Australian Simon Gerrans was third in the 260km ride through the hilly Limburg
region.

Gilbert Gets The Best of Rodriguez At Amstel Gold Race 2011

“For me this is the most important week of the season,” said Gilbert, who
after winning jumped a barrier and cuddled his child in his arms.

Gilbert Defends His Amstel Gold Race Title in 2011

“I had planned to be at 100 percent at this particular spell and it has
proved to be the case.

“Since Wednesday I have had the most wonderful sensations.

“I am starting to have extraordinary experiences in the one day races, both
in training and in the races themselves.

“I also have a very strong team who helped me a lot, physically and
mentally.

“During the race I was always very calm, I allowed my team to do the work.”

Gilbert, who has targeted the Liege-Bastogne-Liege next weekend as his main
objective, seized command on the final climb after Rodriguez had made a vain
attempt to go clear himself.

The first three home had overtaken two-time Tour de France runner-up Andy
Schleck on the climb after the Luxembourg star had gone clear 11km from the
finish but having looked set for victory he came unstuck on the steep ascent.

His older brother Frank – Amstel champion in 2008 – fared worse as he and
Swiss star Fabian Cancellara were held up 23km from the finish by a crash in
front of them losing any chance of winning the race.

“The fall of Frank and of Cancellara ruined our plans,” said Andy.

“If Frank had been there on the final climb, it would have been another
matter.

“I think I have performed well here and it gives me a confidence boost for
next Sunday.

“Liege-Bastogne-Liege is more my type of race,” added Schleck, who is eying
a second win in the classic after his triumph in 2009.

Gilbert – who numbers two Paris-Tours and Tour of Lombardy races among his
major wins – was helped in his challenge by the hard work put in by his

Omega-Pharma team-mate Jelle Vanendert, who managed to restrict Andy Schleck’s
lead to just over 10 seconds.

“I wasn’t forced to go on the attack, I only had to make an extra effort in
the final three kilometers, which allowed me to win,” said Gilbert.

“When Andy (Schleck) made a break, he chose his moment wisely, after the
Keutenberg (the penultimate of the 32 climbs).

Andy Schleck Tries To Shake Lose And Win Amstel Gold Race 2011

“I still had Vanendert with me, and I was confident and did not panic.

“When he had built up a lead of 15 seconds, I decided to help because
Vanendert was at the end of his tether. I asked for help from the Rabobank
team, but they didn’t want to help.

“It was up to me to assume my responsibilities as favorite
and that is what I did.”

RESULTS
1. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) OLO 6hr 30min 44sec, 2. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP)
KAT at 2sec, 3. Simon Gerrans (AUS) SKY 4, 4. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) LEO 5, 5.
Alexandr Kolobnev (RUS) KAT 5, 6. Oscar Freire (ESP) RAB 5, 7. Bjorn Leukemans
(BEL) VAC 7, 8. Ben Hermans (BEL) RSH 18, 9. Robert Gesink (NED) RAB 19, 10.
Paul Martens (GER) RAB 26
11. Andy Schleck (LUX) LEO 28, 12. Johnny Hoogerland (NED) VAC 36, 13.
Jelle Vanendert (BEL) OLO 48, 14. Daniel Moreno (ESP) KAT 1min 38sec, 15.
Damiano Cunego (ITA) LAM 1:39, 16. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) QST 1:44, 17.
Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) AST 2:09, 18. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) OLO 2:09,
19. Bram Tankink (NED) RAB 2:10, 20. Fabian Wegmann (GER) LEO 2:13.

Article: AFP
Photo:Corvos