The Ardennes classics exceptionally started before Paris-Roubaix this season with the 56th edition of the Amstel Gold Race (1.UWT). In contrary to racing on local laps last season, the riders covered a parcours of 254 kilometer in the Dutch region Limburg with more than thirty categorized climbs.
A breakaway of six riders escaped immediately after the start in the streets of Maastricht and gained an advantage of 4 minutes on the first of three passages on the Cauberg after 55 kilometer. The rhythm of the peloton progressively increased until an important selection took place on the Kruisberg after 200 kilometer of racing.
The last survivor of the early breakaway was caught at the same time and Andrea Pasqualon battled to follow the first group on the Eyserbosweg and the Fromberg. After six hours of racing, the Italian rider finished in 27th place.
