Welcome to live coverage of the Amstel Gold spring classic – the first of three races in the Ardennes taking place over the next eight days. I’m Felix Lowe – aka Eurosport blogger Blazin' Saddles – and I'll be taking you through the race 251km race from start to finish. You can also follow me on Twitter, @saddleblaze

Result: 1. Roman Kreuziger (Saxo - Tinkoff) 6:35:21" 2. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +22" 3. Simon Gerrans (Orica) 4. Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing) 5. Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) 6. Pieter Weening (Orica) 7. Bjoern Leukemans (Vacansoleil) 8. Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) 9. Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha) 10. Fabian Wegmann (Garmin).

Alejandro Valverde won the sprint for second place ahead of Simon Gerrans, Gianni Meersman and Philippe Gilbert.

First win for a Czech rider in Amstel Gold - and the move to Saxo Bank-Tinkoff has paid off for Kreuziger.

Roman Kreuziger takes the win! An astonishing ride - they all underestimated him, that's for sure.

What a ride from Kreuziger! He will hold on and win this one.

Now Valverde goes! But it looks like Kreuziger will hold on as he passes the one to go banner.

Kreuziger still has about 10 seconds. Gilbert is the lone chaser, with Gerrans and Valverde not combining well in pursuit.

Here come the peloton! Caruso has gone off alone, but it's Gilbert and Gerrans who lay it down thick. Caruso slips a chain and almost takes out both riders as they pass. Valverde is there too, but no sign of Sagan!

Kreuziger onto the final ascent of the Cauberg... with five riders in pursuit, and RadioShack's Ben Hermans in lone pursuit, and the peloton powering behind.

This is an inspired ride by Kreuziger, who now has 26 seconds. Hesjedal has bridged the gap ahead of the Cauberg. Kreuziger is giving it some welly down this descent - he doesn't want to tire himself out ahead of the final ascent though.

Kreuziger has 21 seconds over the peloton - and now Caruso has a dig. Grivko, Nordhaug and Weening follow his wheel, and Hesjedal is closing in too.

Hesjedal has one RadioShack rider in pursuit, but the peloton is not yielding much. On the front, Kreuziger has opened up a gap, with Caruso, Grivko and Weening in pursuit. They're bickering though, with Weening not happy with Caruso's lack of work ethic.

Now Kreuziger goes alone! The Czech rider has dropped his fellow escapees and is in time trial mode.

Grivko is now back with the four leaders, but it looks like Marcato has caled it a day. Back with the peloton, thers's an attack by Ryder Hesjedal of Garmin-Sharp, the reigning Giro d'Italia champion.

Back on the Bemelerberg and Grivko puts in a big dig. Astarloza and Marcato are being shed off. Now it's Nordhaug who rides on the front. Grivko, who put in the early dig, has dropped himself - he's now been passed by Marcato off the back. Kreuziger takes up the pace with Weening, Caruso on their wheel with Nordhaug. Astarloza has been caught by the pack. Chapeau for effort.

Omega Pharma-Quick Step have come to the front of the streamlined pack. We haven't seen anything of Gianni Meersman today - he'll be a factor in the finale.

The chase is back as one as the pack rides 27 seconds down on the leaders. It looks like it will come down to the final ascent of the Cauberg.

The seven-man leading group is: Astarloza, Weening, Caruso, Marcato, Grivko, Nordhaug and Kreuziger. Six men are riding in pursuit just off the front of the peloton, including Peter Velits of Omega Pharma and Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol). Simon Gerrans is there too. But the peloton isn't giving them any headway. The seven leaders only have 25 seconds now.

Kreuziger leads the chasing riders on the Bemelerberg with Weening in his wheel. They catch Astarloza just over the summit. Pliuschin and Tanner have been caught by the pack and there are numerous digs from Astana and Vacansoleil.

The two chasing groups are coming together now with 17km remaining. It's a strong chasing group, it has to be said. They will catch Astarloza soon. He's onto the Bemelerberg.