Graham Watson gallery: Amstel Gold Race

The peloton winds through narrow roads in the 2012 Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

GreenEdge rider Christian Meier was one of over 40 riders that did not finish Sunday's race. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Ryder Hesjedal finished 15th in the 2012 Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Thomas Dekker makes a bike change in the 2012 Amstel Gold Race. He finished 18th. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

A nine-rider breakaway rode away to gain a maximum 13-minute lead on the field. It included American Alex Howes, hot off a sixth-place finish at Brabantse Pijl, Raymond Kreder, Romain Bardet, Pello Bilbao, Steven Caethoven, Cedric Pineau, Simone Stortoni, Sébastien Delfosse and Eliot Lietar. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Alex Howes leads the breakaway. Romain Bardet repeatedly attacked, until only Howes could hold on. He too eventually got dropped by the tenacious AG2R rider. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Dan Martin finished 75th in the 2012 Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

One of the favorites for the win, Milan-San Remo winner Simon Gerrans finished 20th in the 2012 Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Radio Shack leads the chase in the 2012 Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

With 6km to go, Oscar Freire took off in a solo attack. He finished fourth despite being caught 50 meters from the finish. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

With the past two AGR wins under his belt, Gilbert set off after Friere at the base of the Cauberg. He couldn't hold his sprint in the final 100 meters, though, and finished sixth. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

In a surprising finale, Enrico Gasparotto took the biggest win of his career from Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol) and Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale). Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Fans crowd the streets as the peloton rolls to the finish in the 2012 Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Enrico Gasparotto wins the 2012 Amstel Gold Race. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com