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THE HAGUE (AFP) –
Czech Republic’s Roman Kreuziger celebrates on the podium after winning the 19th stage of the Giro d’Italia, on May 25, 2012 in Alpe di Pampeago. Kreuziger made a solo break for home to win the Amstel Gold race after 251.8km from Maastricht to Valkenburg.
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Czech Roman Kreuziger made a solo break for home to win the Amstel Gold race on Sunday after 251.8km from Maastricht to Valkenburg.
The Saxo rider broke clear on the final climb from a group of escapees and then held off the chasing pack to win by 20 seconds.
Spaniard Alessandro Valverde won a sprint finish for second.
It was the first time the 26-year-old Kreuziger, a former winner of the young rider jerseys at both the Tour de France and Tour of Italy, has won a Classic.
He broke clear with seven kilometres to ride and never looked back.
At the foot of the final ascent of the short but punishing Cauberg climb, three kilometres from the end, he had a 30-second lead over the peloton.
World champion Philippe Gilbert attacked out of the group to try to hunt down Kreuziger but he never got close and once over the top of the Cauberg he was chased down by the pack.
