Amstel Gold Race (1988) - Jelle Nijdam

The 1988 Amstel Gold Race covered 242 kilometres. Jelle Nijdam spearheaded a good 190 of these. At first he put up with the presence of a few companions, but for the last part of the race Nijdam pedalled solo. Behind him, a group of eager chasers including teammates Claude Criquielion and Marc Sergeant, were busy in pursuit of the cyclist. Nijdam really suffered but refused to budge. This is how he successfully finished a breakaway that he, according to himself, worked up because od the team. His sally was also a form of self-protection: he avoided a gruelling battle for a place in an echelon in this gusty episode of the Limburg classic. The support vehicle behind Nijdam was driven by a man with bags of experience when it comes to winning the Amstel Gold Race. Sports Manager Jan Raas won the biggest race in the Netherlands no fewer than five times.