Damiano Cunego favored to defend his Amstel Gold title on Sunday

By Agence France Presse

Defending champion Damiano Cunego is among the favourites going into Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race, the only spring classic which takes place in the Netherlands.

The 258.6km road race leads from Maastricht to Valkenburg in the hilly Limburg region in the south of the country, near the borders with Belgium and Germany.

It features 31 torturous climbs, culminating in a 1000m ascent of the notorious Cauberg, and makes a grim mockery of the Netherlands’ reputation as a flat country.

Cunego, who rides for the Lampre team, triumphed in 2008 and will once again be expected to feature at the business end of the race after finishing sixth in last week’s Tour of the Basque Country.

“I’ve been able to prepare as I had hoped to,” said the Italian, whose victory in last year’s race was his first in a classic held outside his homeland.

Italy’s Davide Rebellin tasted Amstel Gold glory in 2004 and also proved his credentials with a second-placed finish in 2007 and fourth-placed finishes in 2005 and 2008, while Spain’s Alejandro Valverde was third last year.

Both cyclists, however, missed the Tour of the Basque Country and sought to downplay their prospects here.

“I’m in shape but I’ve not raced since the Lombard Cycling Week (April 5),” said Rebellin, who in 2004 secured the Grand Slam of the three Ardennes classics.

Valverde was equally cautious.

“I only have 13 days of racing behind me,” said the Caisse d’Epargne rider.

Luxembourg’s Frank Schleck won the Amstel Gold Race in 2006 and finished runner-up to Cunego last year.

The 29-year-old heads a strong challenge from the Denmark-based Saxo Bank team which also features his younger brother Andy.

“I feel really good,” Frank Schleck said. “I’m not going to say that I’ll win, but I’ll do everything I can.”

Tom Boonen will not feature after taking a heavy fall in the midweek Grand Prix de l’Escaut in his native Belgium, while Spanish climbing specialist. Alberto Contador is taking a break to begin his preparations for this year’s Tour de France.