Outside

VeloNews News Road

Road

Gallery: Gilbert’s star continues to shine in Ardennes kickoff

Belgian champ Philippe Gilbert picks up fourth Amstel Gold win of his career and second Spring Classic since winning Flanders two weeks ago.

Don't miss a moment from Paris-Roubaix and Unbound Gravel, to the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and everything in between when you join Outside+.

Amstel — Olympic champion Greg van Avermaet (BEL) and European champion Anna van der Breggen (NED) saluted the crowd prior to the men’s and women’s Amstel Gold Race starts in Maastricht. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Three-time race bronze medalist Simon Gerrans ready to post a higher result on the podium. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Former world champion Philippe Gilbert (BEL) enjoying a pre-race chat with former junior and U23 world champ Matej Mohoric (SLO) in Maastricht. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — The 261-kilometer race from Maastricht to Berg en Terblijt marked the 52nd edition of the Ardennes Classics kickoff. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Belgian Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) has racked up four cobbled wins prior to the start of the Ardennes in 2017. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Enrico Gasparotto hit the deck hard and was forced to leave the race early. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Classic Dutch windmills line the roadside at Amstel Gold. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Katusha-Alpecin’s Mads Wurtz Schmidt driving on the front en route to an eventual 96th-place finish. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Orica-Scott’s Mathew Hayman (AUS) and Roman Kreuziger (CZE) back in the pack, but still in the mix. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — The peloton begins the 1200m ascent up the Cauberg in Valkenburg. The infamous climb averages nearly 6 percent and maxed out at over 12. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — The Amstel Gold is sponsored by the Dutch premium beer manufacturer of the same name. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Sky’s Michal Kwiatkowski begins to test the water prior to the Cauberg with 7km to go. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Michal Kwiatkowski takes in the damage done with his opening salvo. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Philippe Gilbert continued to show his stellar spring form as he trades moves with his Polish rival. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Starting the season in perhaps his own best form to date, Australian Nathan Haas remained in contention in the closing kilometers. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Veteran Philippe Gilbert tactically marked every move posted by Michal Kwiatkowski in the closing kilometers of the race. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — In the end, Philippe Gilbert proved too cagey and too fast for Michal Kwiatkowski to hold him off. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Philippe — Belgian champion Philippe Gilbert flashes four fingers to signify his number of Amstel Gold Race wins as he crossed the line ahead of fellow former world champion and 2015 race winner Michal Kwiatkowski. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — It’s been a ‘renaissance’ of sorts for Philippe Gilbert this season with wins at Amstel Gold and Flanders, along with runner-ups at E3 Harelbeke and Dwars Door Vlaanderen. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Photo: Tim De Waele [FILE]

Amstel — Newly crowned four-time race winner Philippe Gilbert was greeted by organizer Leo van Vliet immediately after the Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — An exhausted and dejected Nathan Haas after his bravely fought fourth-place finish. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — Philippe Gilbert’s fourth race trophy sits at his feet atop the podium. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Amstel — To the victors go the spoils as race winner Philippe Gilbert is joined by Michal Kwiatkowski and Michael Albasini in a celebratory swig of Amstel Gold’s finest. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Philippe Gilbert says goodbye at Paris-Tours

Philippe Gilbert passes torch to Remco Evenepoel: ‘He is the image of a new generation’

Grand tour winners, world champions, monument kings: Retirement class of 2022 marks end of era