2017: Gilbert closes in on Raas' record
Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) added a fourth Amstel Gold title to his palmares in 2017 in a particularly exciting edition of the Ardennes Classics opener, which seemed to benefit from the much-discussed removal of the Cauberg as the final climb of the day. Gilbert's fourth win in the Dutch Classic placed him one win behind all-time record holder Jan Raas, who won the race five times between 1977 and 1982. Gilbert followed 2015 winner Michal Kwiatkowski's attack on the Bemelberg. The duo had half a minute heading into the final kilometre, where Kwiatkowski opened the sprint but left too much road ahead of himself and allowed for another chapter to be written in Gilbert's Amstel Gold story.
2016: Gasparotto surprises again
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Enrico Gasparotto (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) rolled back the years to win Amstel Gold Race for a second time in 2016. The Italian attacked on the final ascent of the Cauberg and was quickly joined by Michael Valgren (Tinkoff Team). The pair traded turns on the front before Gasparotto's experience and faster finish shone through, with the 2012 winner taking another victory in a two-man sprint. Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF) led the peloton home in third place.
2015: Kwiatkowski sprints to victory
Michał Kwiatkowski claimed his first road race win as world champion with a perfectly executed sprint at the end of the 2015 Amstel Gold Race. The Pole was briefly distanced on the final ascent of the Cauberg by defending champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) and sprinter Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge), but the Etixx-QuickStep rider fought back with several other riders, including Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) as the leading contenders crested the climb. Kwiatkowski was almost dead-last with around 500 metres to go but he ambled his way through a gap behind Tony Gallopin before unleashing a long-distance sprint. Valverde was second, and Matthews third.
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