Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2017: Van der Breggen solos to victory

At 121.6 kilometres, the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition takes in 17 hills. Anna van der Breggen attacks in the front group at the penultimate climb, Bemelerberg, to solo to victory. Her team mate Elizabeth Deignan-Armitstead finishes in second. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2017

1. Anna van der Breggen (nld)
2. Elizabeth Deignan (gbr) + 0.55
3. Katarzyna Niewiadoma (pol) s.t.
4. Annemiek van Vleuten (nld) s.t.
5. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) s.t.
6. Cory Rivera (usa) + 1.02
7. Amy Pieters (nld) + 1.51
8. Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (fra) s.t.
9. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (rsa) s.t.
10. Ellen van Dijk (nld) s.t.

Race report
First attacker Winanda Spoor is chased down by Willeke Knol, yet the two escapees are reeled in before the climb up Adsteeg. At the top Marta Tagliaferro and Sara Mustonen are off and the Italian/Swedish duo races to a maximum lead of almost 1 minute. After one hour in the saddle they are reeled in.

Van der Breggen, Blaak, Deignan-Armitstead, Longo Borghini, Niewiadoma, Rivera, Ensing and Ferrand-Prevot attack on the second climb of the Cauberg and eleven women re-join them shortly after the passage on the line. Amy Pieters pushes on to go alone, while Audrey Cordon, Roxanne Knetemann and Maaike Polspoel chase her down, yet they are brought back on the penultimate ascent of Cauberg.

Deignan-Armitstead, Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma go on the counter-attack to race to a lead of half a minute. On the last climb up Bemelerberg Van Vleuten closes the gap with Van der Breggen and Rivera on her wheel. The Olympic Champion grabs the opportunity and pushes on alone.

Van der Breggen is half a minute adrift when tackling the Cauberg for the last time. She holds off the chasing group to pocket her home race. Her team mate Deignan-Armitstead outsprints Niewiadoma on the line.

Read about the route of the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2017.