What is Tibor Del Grosso planning for the Amstel Gold Race?

Prior to the race, Del Grosso knew the competition would be watching him. "Brabantse Pijl is a beautiful race and I hope to be involved at the front, but it's a race that is difficult to predict."

In the pre-finale, Del Grosso rode across to a group containing his teammate Ramses Debruyne, who then emptied his tank for the Dutchman. However, in the final uphill kilometres, the peloton managed to overhaul them, and Del Grosso eventually crossed the finish line in Overijse in nineteenth place.

"That's racing," was the first thing Del Grosso said at the finish. "It was a good attempt, I think. But we had a headwind on that last section, and then it’s difficult with six men. I still tried to get stuck in for the sprint, but they came past and I was a bit boxed in."

"We already had to ride pretty hard on that last part, so I didn't have everything left for the sprint," the Dutchman stated. "I didn't have a miracle day either, and I felt that on the climbs. Out of those six, I was perhaps one of the better ones for the sprint, but in the end, I didn't have much left for that larger group sprint."

On Sunday, the Amstel Gold Race follows for Del Grosso, who won the Volta NXT Classic in South Limburg two weeks ago. "The form is still good, but the Amstel Gold Race is certainly a bit tougher and longer. So it’s a matter of seeing how far we can get there."

Regardless, his first appearance in the biggest cycling race in the Netherlands can help him learn more about his future prospects. "It's still a bit of a discovery to see where my limits lie, but now that I've ridden a few Flemish Classics, I notice that I can do something there," said the Dutchman, who will be the spearhead for his team on Sunday alongside Emiel Verstrynge.