“This victory is for Antoine Demoitie’s family,” he said. “Today, I had an angel on my shoulder. When I thought about Antoine, I went faster.”

He added: “I had incredible legs today. Everything went as we planned. It is the most beautiful victory for the team.

“The team did a really good job. We had a rider in the break and then Bjorn Thurau in a chase group. The rest of the team protected me very well. It was perfect.”

The remnants of the day’s 11-man break, which had been out front since the fourth of the day’s 34 climbs, were already in sight and when they were caught former winner Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff) jumped clear.

Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) caught and passed the Czech rider with ease though, and established a 20-second lead of his own, but Albasini again upped the tempo and caught him on the lower slopes of the Cauberg.

The attacking was far from over though, and Gasparotto pulled clear next with Valgren joining him over the top of the final climb.

Despite only having a very small lead, and with the peloton bearing down behind them, the two worked very well together with Valgren happy to pull from the 800m to go mark.

It allowed Gasparotto to sit on the wheel until the final sprint, and from there he passed the Dane and pointed to the sky as he crossed in first place.

Amstel Gold Race 2016: result

1) Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) – Wanty-Groupe Gobert – 6.18.03hrs
2) Michael Valgren (DEN) – Tinkoff – ST
3) Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) – Bardiani-CSF +4”
4) Bryan Coquard (FRA) – Direct Energie – ST
5) Michael Matthews (AUS) – Orica-GreenEDGE
6) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – Etixx-QuickStep
7) Diego Ulissi (ITA) – Lampre-Merida
8) Giovanni Visconti (ITA) – Movistar
9) Loic Vliegen (BEL) – BMC Racing
10) Tim Wellens (BEL) – Lotto-Soudal