Halfway through April and the Ardennes Classics are upon us. Coming off a breakaway win for BMC’s Ben Hermans at De Brabantse Pijl, the World Tour will make its way into Dutch territory for the Amstel Gold Race.

The course:

The route is broken up into 4 separate sections that all end going through the finish line. Starting from Maastricht, the path climbs up 25 different hills in 258 kilometers until going over the Cauberg in Valkenburg for a 4th time, finishing with about 2 kilometers of flat after the summit. The only change from last years route is instead going straight from Gulpen to Wittem, the riders will take a detour through Wijlre during the 2nd and 3rd sections. It will be important for the riders to keep in good position throughout the race, as they go through many villages with cars parked on the side of the road and lots of traffic furniture.

The contenders:

These races usually come down to climbers who can sprint and sprinters who can climb. Not surprisingly, one of those describes most of the favorites.

Defending winner Philippe Gilbert looks to get his 4th victory at Amstel, and his BMC squad will have a lot of firepower to help. In between Ben Hermans (8th in 2011, De Brabantse Pijl winner), Samuel Sanchez (7th in 2012), Greg Van Avermaet (2nd at Strade Bianche, 3rd at both Paris-Roubaix and Ronde van Vlaanderen), and Dylan Teuns (3rd at the Volta Limberg Classic), the team will have a full hand of cards to play.

squad will have a lot of firepower to help. In between Ben Hermans (8th in 2011, De Brabantse Pijl winner), Samuel Sanchez (7th in 2012), Greg Van Avermaet (2nd at Strade Bianche, 3rd at both Paris-Roubaix and Ronde van Vlaanderen), and Dylan Teuns (3rd at the Volta Limberg Classic), the team will have a full hand of cards to play. Aussie Michael Matthews is seen by most as the best sprinter that has a chance to win. He has shown good form so far this season, getting on the podium at both Milano-Sanremo and De Brabantse Pijl as well as getting stage wins at Paris-Nice and the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco. He has also proven he can get over the climbs that Amstel will throw at him, getting 12th last year. If he does get dropped before the finish, Orica GreenEDGE has another great option in Simon Gerrans. He hasn’t had good luck so far this year, but he’s been 3rd here 3 times before, so an in-form Gerrans could capture his 3rd classic win. Pieter Weening (8th in 2013) and Michael Albasini lead Orica’s support group.

has another great option in Simon Gerrans. He hasn’t had good luck so far this year, but he’s been 3rd here 3 times before, so an in-form Gerrans could capture his 3rd classic win. Pieter Weening (8th in 2013) and Michael Albasini lead Orica’s support group. Joaquim Rodriguez proved that he’s in great race shape after winning 2 stages and riding the time trail of his life to get the overall win at the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco earlier this month, and he’ll try to capitalize on that by equaling or improving on his 2nd place finish in the 2011 edition of Amstel. Also starting for Katusha are Giampaolo Caruso (top-20 finishes the last 2 years, 10th at Strade Bianche) and Alexandr Kolobnev (5th in 2011, 6th in 2009).

are Giampaolo Caruso (top-20 finishes the last 2 years, 10th at Strade Bianche) and Alexandr Kolobnev (5th in 2011, 6th in 2009). Michal Kwiatkowski is still looking for his 1st win in the rainbow jersey, and he has a good chance of getting it here after getting top-5 finishes the last 2 seasons. Among the Etixx-Quickstep riders backing him up are Tony Martin and Matteo Trentin.

riders backing him up are Tony Martin and Matteo Trentin. Alejandro Valverde has been great in GC all year, getting 4th, 3rd, and 2nd at Dubai Tour, Tour of Oman, and Volta Ciclista a Catalunya respectively. 3 stage wins at Catalunya and a 3rd place at Strade Bianche coupled with 4 top-ten at Amstel, getting as high as 2nd in 2013, mean Sunday could be good day for the Movistar rider. Gorka Izagirre (top-10’s at the Tour Down Under and Paris-Nice) will be Valverde’s right hand man, doing everything he can to get him the win.

rider. Gorka Izagirre (top-10’s at the Tour Down Under and Paris-Nice) will be Valverde’s right hand man, doing everything he can to get him the win. Jelle Vanendert, now with 2 2nd place finishes here, will want to get to the top step of the podium this year. Lotto Soudal will also hope for good results from Tony Gallopin (fourth in De Brabantse Pijl, ninth in Milano-Sanremo) and Tim Wellens.

will also hope for good results from Tony Gallopin (fourth in De Brabantse Pijl, ninth in Milano-Sanremo) and Tim Wellens. Dan Martin has never had good luck in the Netherlands, but having wins in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Il Lombardia shows he has the ability to put in a great performance. Other Cannondale-Garmin riders with a chance to get a good result are Ryder Hesjedal (2nd in 2010), Nathan Haas (6th in De Brabantse Pijl), and Ramunas Navardauskas.

riders with a chance to get a good result are Ryder Hesjedal (2nd in 2010), Nathan Haas (6th in De Brabantse Pijl), and Ramunas Navardauskas. Giant-Alpecin has stated that their goal is to get Tom Dumoulin to a top-10 finish after finishing 20th last year. There to support him are climbers Warren Barguil and Georg Preidler.

has stated that their goal is to get Tom Dumoulin to a top-10 finish after finishing 20th last year. There to support him are climbers Warren Barguil and Georg Preidler. Despite having success in other classics, Vincenzo Nibali has never gotten higher than 19th at the Amstel Gold Race. Last year’s Tour de France winner from Astana will try to change that, along with Jakob Fuglsang (4th in 2011), Diego Rosa (5th at Strade Bianche), and Lieuwe Westra.

will try to change that, along with Jakob Fuglsang (4th in 2011), Diego Rosa (5th at Strade Bianche), and Lieuwe Westra. AG2R La Mondiale ‘s Jan Bakelants has had a sub-par start to his season save for a 6th place at Criterium International, but will try to turn that around with aid from Rinaldo Nocentini (9th in 2012), Christophe Riblon, and Mikael Cherel.

‘s Jan Bakelants has had a sub-par start to his season save for a 6th place at Criterium International, but will try to turn that around with aid from Rinaldo Nocentini (9th in 2012), Christophe Riblon, and Mikael Cherel. Bauke Mollema, coming off of his 2nd overall at Tirreno-Adriatico, will try to continue his 3-year streak of top-10 finishes of his home race, highest being 7th last year. Trek Factory Racing will also send Frank Schleck (winner in 2006), Fabio Felline (7th in De Brabantse Pijl), and Julian Arredondo.

will also send Frank Schleck (winner in 2006), Fabio Felline (7th in De Brabantse Pijl), and Julian Arredondo. Wilco Kelderman will take part in his homeland’s classic for the 1st time after top-10 places in both the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and the Volta Limburg Classic. The home team, LottoNL-Jumbo , will also feature Paul Martens (10th in 2011).

, will also feature Paul Martens (10th in 2011). 2013 winner Roman Kreuziger is coming off a top-10 overall at Tirreno-Adriatico and 11th at Strade Bianche, so he will be Tinkoff-Saxo ‘s hope to save their classics season after disappointment’s on the cobbles. Domestiques include Manuele Boaro and Robert Kiserlovski.

‘s hope to save their classics season after disappointment’s on the cobbles. Domestiques include Manuele Boaro and Robert Kiserlovski. Martin Elmiger will attempt to continue his surprising classics season and improve on his two top-20 finishes after getting 5th at Paris-Roubaix and 10th at Ronde van Vlaanderen. IAM Cycling will also expect good results from Sylvain Chavanel (16th in 2010/2011) and Dries Devenyns (14th in 2012, 10th in De Brabantse Pijl).

will also expect good results from Sylvain Chavanel (16th in 2010/2011) and Dries Devenyns (14th in 2012, 10th in De Brabantse Pijl). Rui Costa has impressed thus far into the year with 4th place at Paris-Nice and 7th at Pais Vasco, and he’ll try to use that to better his places in the Ardennes after having his best Amstel last year with 17th. Rafael Valls will be 2nd in command for Lampre-Merida during his breakout season of winning the Tour of Oman and getting 8th in Paris-Nice and Catalunya.

during his breakout season of winning the Tour of Oman and getting 8th in Paris-Nice and Catalunya. Sky ‘s Sergio Henao is fresh off a great week in Spain, leading for most of Pais Vasco until getting 2nd. To help him earn higher than his 2013 finish of 6th will be Wout Poels (7th with a stage win at Tirreno-Adriatico) and Lars Petter Nordhaug (15th in 2013).

‘s Sergio Henao is fresh off a great week in Spain, leading for most of Pais Vasco until getting 2nd. To help him earn higher than his 2013 finish of 6th will be Wout Poels (7th with a stage win at Tirreno-Adriatico) and Lars Petter Nordhaug (15th in 2013). Arnold Jeannesson will try to build on his 23rd from last year. Most of the support FDJ will give him will come from Anthony Roux (15th in 2014).

will give him will come from Anthony Roux (15th in 2014). Notable names from wild card teams include: Bardiani-CSF‘s Enrico Battaglin (4th in the Volta Limburg Classic); CCC‘s Davide Rebellin (winner in 2004, 5th in De Brabantse Pijl), Stefan Schumacher (winner in 2007), and Maciej Paterski (2nd in the Volta Limburg Classic, 9th in De Brabantse Pijl, stage win at Catalunya); Cult Energy‘s Fabian Wegmann (8th in 2012); Nippo-Vini Fantini‘s Damiano Cunego (winner in 2008, 9th in the Volta Limburg Classic, 16th in Strade Bianche); Roompot‘s Johnny Hoogerland (12th in 2011), Michel Kreder (15th in De Brabantse Pijl), and Maurits Lammertink (8th in De Brabantse Pijl); Wanty-Groupe Gobert‘s Enrico Gasparotto (winner in 2012), Bjorn Leukemans (7th in 2005, 2011, 2013), and Marco Marcato (8th in 2010, 17th in De Brabantse Pijl).



My Top Ten:

Bauke Mollema – Trek Joaquim Rodriguez – Katusha Michael Matthews – Orica Philippe Gilbert – BMC Alejandro Valverde – Movistar Enrico Battaglin – Bardiani Michal Kwiatkowski – EQS Sergio Henao – Sky Dan Martin – GarminDale Maciej Paterski – CCC