April 22, 2008 – The Amstel Gold race is an amazing, insanely undulating and sinuous classic that opens up a tough week of racing in the Ardennes. The weather has been cold and wet in Northern Europe since the start of the year so we were pleasantly surprised to wake up to sunny clear skies and warm temperatures after going to bed with rain beating against the ice cold window pane.

As there are corners and climbs every five kilometers or less, dry roads are a bonus as it makes the racing somewhat easier with fewer crashes. But, as good weather makes the race less difficult, there are more finishers, and the peloton tends to be more chaotic and nervous on the small farm roads.

I woke up on Sunday with a sore throat, which the team doctor diagnosed as strep, so I was only supposed to ride the first 100km and then pack it in and rest up for Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday (Apr. 23). However, by the day’s end I had done much more than that.

At the 60km mark a breakaway of three had formed and had about 14 minutes so, along with four other riders, under our director’s instructions, I began riding at the front of the peloton to bring the break back and to set up the race for our leader Kim Kirchen.

I love riding on the front and enjoy working for the team and giving myself to the race and the effort – although it’s uncelebrated as you usually end up with a DNF beside your name in the results or finishing in the gruppetto. The satisfaction is derived in the effort and the congratulations and appreciation the team gives for the hard work.

Once I got up there and began swapping off I felt good enough to push on, even though I still couldn’t swallow and my swollen glands ached on my neck where my helmet straps rubbed up against them. My legs were great, and that’s all that mattered, so I committed to a 4-hour effort at the front in the wind, pulling over dozens of the 30 climbs in the race.

The crowds in Amstel are tremendous and on a warm sunny day they were some of the largest I have ever seen here so it was all the more encouraging as we rode through them while climbing the bergs or passing through the villages.

With a couple of days of recovery and some antibiotics I hope to be better for Flèche and if not will focus on Liège Bastogne Liège (Apr. 27), the queen of the Ardennes Classics.

We are all convinced Kim Kirchen can win one of the two races as he knows he will only get better as the week goes on and after a strong performance yesterday he should be well up in the results at Flèche on Wednesday as the course suits him better.

Yesterday, after the race, his disappointment was evident – he had attacked a little too early and paid the price in the last twenty kilometers by missing the group of nine that got away. In a classic every ounce of energy counts so to win you can’t waste it and need to use it sparingly when it is most crucial. Kim realizes his mistake and has said he won’t make it again.