THE HAGUE, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Roman Kreuziger has surprisingly won the 48th edition of the Dutch cycling classic Amstel Gold Race on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Czech of the Saxo-Tinkoff team passed the finish alone after 251 kilometers through the province of Limburg. Spaniard Alejandro Valverde became second on 22 seconds, ahead of Simon Gerrans (Aus, Orica) and Philippe Gilbert (Bel, BMC Racing), who won the race in 2010 and 2011.
Around 35 kilometers from the finish Dutch rider Pieter Weening (Orica) escaped from the peloton and later he was joined by among others Kreuziger. With 17 kilometers remaining they passed the last rider of an early breakaway group, Mikel Astarloza (Spa, Euskaltel).
Kreuziger jumped away in the final phase of the race and started the last climb of the Cauberg alone. The group with favorites like Gilbert and Peter Sagan (Slw, Cannondale) acted too late. The Saxo rider remained paramount and after the long ride with start in Maastricht and finish in Vilt he became the first winner of the Amstel Gold Race from the Czech Republic.