The classics action moves to the Ardennes this week, and three Irish riders are down to start in Amstel Gold this Sunday.
Nicolas Roche (Team Sky), Dan Martin (Cannondale-Garmin) and Matt Brammeier (MTN-Qhubeka) have all been listed on the provisional start list for the Dutch classic.
The race has attracted a lot of big names, and amongst the favourites are World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick Step), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Joaquin Rodriguez and Daniel Moreno (Team Katusha), Bauke Mollema (Trek Factory Racing), Enrico Gasparotto (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team).
Last year’s race was won by Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team) who took victory for a third time, ahead of Jelle Vanendert and Simon Gerrans.
The race starts in Maastricht and finishes in Valkenburg, approximately 1.8kms after the top of the Cauberg, which is the same finish as the 2012 World Championships. The riders will face 34 climbs in total, including four ascents of the Cauberg.
Although the Ardennes week is Martin’s favourite time of the year, he has admitted that Amstel is the least preferred of the three races which make up the Ardennes classics (along with Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege), so it may not offer his best chance for victory this week.
