Ardennes: Endless hills, fickle weather

Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s trademark celeste green Bianchi machines were ready for the Ardennes opener in Maastricht at the 51st editon of Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

After a recent injury due to an altercation with a motorist while out training, Philippe Gilbert made his return to racing at the 2016 Amstel Gold Race under a watchful eye. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

The early kilometers of the Amstel Gold Race gave photographers, fans, and the riders plenty of scenery to enjoy. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

The peloton descended into the sweeping left-hand turn that marks the bottom of the Cauberg climb in Valkenburg with the 11th century castle ruins looming above. Photo: Léon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

As the peloton climbed the Gulpenerberg for the first time, LottoNL-Jumbo’s Mike Teunissen looked back over his shoulder while teammate Paul Martens struggled with an ill-timed mechanical. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

The fans of the Amstel Gold Race have some favorite spots on course such as the Bemelerberg in front of the Hotel Bergrust which hosts a party for the race every year. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

The Amstel Gold Race was full of turbulent weather that ranged from sun to clouds, to rain, hail, and even some snow flurries throughout the day. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Michal Golas of Team Sky set the pace up the Gulpenerberg in defense of his leaders Michal Kwiatkowski and Wout Poels. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

With ruddy cheeks from the sudden bracing cold, Tim Wellens of Lotto – Soudal climbed the last pass up the Gulpenerberg. After a solo attack late in the race he would eventually be caught by race winner Enrico Gasparotto. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

Etixx – Quick-Step’s new recruit Bob Jungels showed his improving form for the Ardennes classics with a late race attack up the penultimate pass of the Cauberg. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Nobody was watching former Amstel Gold Race winner Enrico Gasparotto until his attack on the finale of the Cauberg, where he rode away from all the favorites. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Enrico Gasparotto managed to hold off Tinkoff’s Michael Valgren and take the victory in dedication to deceased teammate Antoine Demoitié. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

Sonny Colbrelli and Michael Valgren happily doused winner Enrico Gasparotto with lemon Amstel beer duirng the award ceremony. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

The start presentation commenced in Marches-en-Fammene with tributes to cycling’s recent losses of Antoine Demoitié and Daan Myngheer — both tragically died in races earlier this spring. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

Paris-Roubaix winner Matthew Hayman received a surprise birthday serenade on the Flèche Wallonne stage before the race start. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

The BMC team took the stage at the start of the 2016 Flèche Wallonne behind team leader Philippe Gilbert. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Under sunny skies in Marche-en-Fammene, local musicians celebrated the race start. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

En route to Huy and the several circuits of climbs, the peloton rode through the lush pastures of Wallonie countryside. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

The odds-on favorite Alejandro Valverde bided his time safely in the bunch as the men climbed the Mur de Huy for the second of three passes. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Robert Gesink illustrated the steepness of the Mur de Huy as he made his way up the last 400 meters of the second pass. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

The front of the race arrived gruppo compatto at the base of the Mur with favorites Valverde, Rodriguez, Martin, and Alaphilippe all in line for a chance at the final. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

On the top of the Mur de Huy, Alejandro Valverde showed, for the third year in a row, that there is no one faster than the Spaniard. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

The climbing duo of Alaphilippe and Martin showed the strain and effort of trying to match the power and speed of race-winner Valverde. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Amstel Gold Race winner Enrico Gasparotto left nothing behind on the Mur de Huy as he took another solid result with a fifth place in the Wallonnie classic. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

In what was quickly renamed ‘Neige-Bastogne-Neige’ on Twitter, the riders went through numerous extreme weather patterns which included kilometer-short pockets of snowfall, hail, rain, ice, and sunny blue skies across the day. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

The breakaway of eight survived much of the 248 kilometers out front, facing the wildly erratic temperatures and weather that presented itself along the way. Photo: Leon van Bon / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com /

Lotto – Soudal fans on the Côte de Saint-Roch brought their party with cases of bubbly and beer. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

The peloton reached the summit on the Côte de Saint-Roch, probably the most iconic moment in cycling’s oldest monument. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

Michael Albasini sped over the Côte de Wanne at kilometer 185. With 60km left ride, the race had yet to truly commence. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

At the 2016 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, weather was the story of the day, which saw the peloton race through bright sun, freezing tempertures and at some points near white-out conditions from snow. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Small Belgian fans literally hung along the barriers at the newly added climb of the cobbled Côte de la Rue Naniot, just kilometers away from the finish in Ans. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

After Albasini, Costa, and Poels made their move on the Côte de la Rue Naniot, chasers Valverde, Kreuziger, Rosa struggled to keep up on the 10.5 percent pavé climb. Photo: Iri Greco / BrakeThrough Media | www.brakethroughmedia.com

Wout Poels confirmed his place amongst the big stars in cycling with his first monument victory at the 2016 Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

The nornally quiet and reserved Wout Poels shouted in ecstacy as he took victory in Ans from his breakaway companions Albasini and Costa. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Michael Albasini showed the strain of a hard fought battle into Ans and the challenge of the conditions the riders faced all day in the Ardennes. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com

Wout Poels shined as the 2016 winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Photo: Jim Fryer / BrakeThrough Media | brakethroughmedia.com