Racing

Amstel Gold Race 2016: photo gallery

Enrico Gasparotto wins for second time

Enrico Gasparotto won the Amstel Gold Race for the second time, just three weeks after Wanty Groupe-Gobert team-mate Antoine Demoitie died at Gent-Wevelgem.

The Italian’s victory – the first WorldTour win for the Belgian UCI ProContinental team, arrived courtesy of a late attack on the Cauberg in a typically action-packed race.

Enrico Gasparotto dedicated his second Amstel Gold Race win to Antonie Demoitie (pic: Sirotti)

With 34 climbs packed in, the race marks the start of the Ardennes Classics, with La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege to come.

– Enrico Gasparotto dedicates Amstel Gold Race win to Antoine Demoitie –

Relive the best of the action, in photos, below.

The Amstel Gold Race marks the first of the three Ardennes Classics (pic: Sirotti)

Team Sky and Orica-GreenEDGE looked after the early pace-setting in the peloton (pic: Sirotti)

Changeable weather conditions marked the day. Belgian champion Preben van Hecke rides in the break (pic: Sirotti)

Lotto-Soudal were typically active, with Tosh van de Sande among those to open it up on the Keutenberg (pic: Sirotti)

Joaquim Rodriguez suffered an early crash and the 36-year-old did not finish (pic: Sirotti)

Three-time former winner Philippe Gilbert suffered as a result of his broken finger and was dropped with two ascents of the Cauberg still to come (pic: Sirotti)

Defending champion Michal Kwiatkowski also found the going tough, and the Team Sky man was dropped before the final climb of the Cauberg (pic: Sirotti)

Mat Hayman may have won Paris-Roubaix a week ago, but the Aussie was back on domestique duties at the Amstel Gold Race (pic: Sirotti)

Luxembourg champion Bob Jungels was one of a number of riders to try his luck (pic: Sirotti)

Tim Wellens was also as active as ever. The Belgian seemingly knows no other way to race, but he was caught on the final climb of the Cauberg (pic: Sirotti)

Gasparotto attacked on the final ascent of the Cauberg and when Michael Valgren (Tinkoff, background) joined him the two did enough to stay clear (pic: Sirotti)

Gasparotto said he 'rode with an angel on his shoulder', paying tribute to late former team-mate Antoine Demoitie (pic: Sirotti)

Sonny Colbrelli won the sprint for third (pic: Sirotti)

Gasparotto is congratulated by his team (pic: Sirotti)

...and the Italian enjoys the spoils of victory on the podium (pic: Sirotti)

The victory is the Italian's second at the Amstel Gold Race - since his first win in 2012, he has never been outside the top ten (pic: Sirotti)

Gasparotto is flanked by Valgren and Colbrelli on the final podium (pic: Sirotti)

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