The Team LottoNL-Jumbo-riders went on the offensive in the 50th Amstel Gold Race. Timo Roosen, 22, made the early breakaway and Wilco Kelderman rode at the front in the final of the race. However, they fell outside the top ten, which was led by World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick Step).

It was clear from the beginning that Team LottoNL-Jumbo was trying to show itself in the Dutch one-day classic, which essentially is a home race. Roosen showed that with his part in the breakaway.

“It was good for me to be in that leading group,” he said. “There was a lot of wind, which made it extra tough. In the bunch, there is a real high pace on the climbs and between them it’s a little bit easier. You’re able to save more energy when you’re in the breakaway.”

Team effort
Sports Director Merijn Zeeman was satisfied with the aggressive mindset and the way the team worked for Wilco Kelderman and Paul Martens.

“It went exactly the way we wanted it,” Zeeman said. “The fact that Wilco was able to attack at the right moment was a team effort. It is an enormous fight to be in front of the race at that point. I was glad that we successfully reached that target.”

World championship
The effort was a positive note for Kelderman after a period with difficulties. “I felt really good,” the Dutch climber explained.

“I was looking forward to this race a lot. I was waiting for the moment to attack. With the Dutch crowd on the climbs, it almost feels like a world championship for us.”

Kelderman miscalculated the turn in one of the descents afterwards. “I knew that there would be gravel, but I wasn’t thinking about it because of my adrenaline. I felt my wheel slipping away so I was forced to go straight into the field. Otherwise, I would’ve fallen.”

Favourite race
When Kelderman could not return to the front on the Keutenberg, the team gave its all for Paul Martens.

“The team did that perfectly,” German Martens said. “We were at the right place on every main point in the race and everyone was able to keep me in position perfectly.

“It went smoothly for six hours and 25 minutes, it’s just that in the last three kilometres, I suffered cramps. That was a big disappointment for me.

“The Amstel Gold Race is my favourite race and this was the first time that I was the front man of the team. You’re extra disappointed when you don’t finish the way you want to. Especially since this was the best Amstel Gold Race we ever rode as a team.”