The Classics

['Dale]

The unity of the break fractures on the climb of the Gulpenerberg. Nicola Boem, who seemed to be flagging ten kilometres ago, accelerates off the front, with a group of five chasing just 10 seconds behind.

['Dale]

The main group now hits the 15% slopes of the Gulpenerberg. BMC, QuickStep and Astana are all well-represented at the head of the peloton, just under three minutes down on Boem

['Dale]

These last series of series of climbs will eina the legs

 

['Dale]

Tommie Voeckler being positioned while BMC os clearly looking to set up Gilbert

['Dale]

CRASH

 

OPQS lose a team member at the road furniture

Panic as he tries to get back.

Who?

['Dale]

Tony Martin is forced off into a hedge on the roadside as the bunch negotiates a traffic island. The German seems unhurt but his slow bike change means he'll be hard-pressed to play any further part in supporting Michal Kwiatkowski in the finale.

['Dale]

Boem's forcing has left six riders at the head of the race. He is joined by Lutsenko, Ligthart, Van Hecke, Riblon and Belletti.

['Dale]

Giant-Shimano have taken up pace-setting at the front in support of Tom Dumoulin as the bunch tackles the Kruisberg. The break, meanwhile, is already on the slopes of the tough Eyserbosweg.

[dev null]

Deze video is helaas niet beschikbaar. Onze excuses voor het ongemak.

['Dale]

The bunch is now hurtling towards the base of climb 27, the Kruisberg. That's followed promptly by the Eyserbosweg, the climb which Damiano Cunego reckons heralds the real beginning of Amstel Gold Race.

['Dale]

Break at 2:44

39 kms to go

['Dale]

Tony Martin fights back

Surely to be lost from the OPQS effort

['Dale]

Over the top of the Kruisberg, Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) springs into action and attacks out of the main peloton. As he swoops down the descent, the Frenchman has five riders for company.

['Dale]

Zdenek Stybar (QuickStep), Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Pieter Weening (Orica-GreenEdge), Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol)and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) are the riders who have bridged across to Voeckler, and they start the Eyserbosweg just 2:40 down on the leaders.

['Dale]

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['Dale]

This is a strong chasing group and a well-balanced one, too, with representatives from QuickStep, GreenEdge, Astana and BMC. The onus will surely now fall upon Movistar to lead the chase from the main peloton behind, given that Gilbert, Gerrans, Betancur, Nibali and Kwiatkowski all have proxies out in front.