Italy's Damiano Cunego won the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands and took the lead in the ProTour competition.

Cunego, taking part in the race for the first time, beat Frank Schleck of Luxembourg and Alejandro Valverde of Spain in a sprint to the finish line at the summit of the Cauberg climb.

The Lampre rider cleverly positioned himself on Schleck's wheel and then jumped past him as the road eased and the finish approached.

Italy's Davide Rebellin was fourth and Thomas Dekker of the Netherlands fifth.

"I always knew I could win this race and it's hugely satisfying to do it at the first attempt," Cunego said. "I knew that Schleck would attack on the climb to the finish because he was really strong during the race but doesn't have a fast sprint finish.

"I put myself on his wheel, stayed with him, and then waited until we were about a hundred metres from the line before accelerating past him."

The 257.4-km race twists and turns through the Limburg countryside and includes 31 short climbs.

The decisive attack formed on the penultimate Kuetenberg climb when nine riders went clear.

Cunego was there and began to chase down attacks by Schleck and Rebellin, so that he could use his good sprint in the final metres of the Cauberg climb.

"It was a nervous race because of all the climbs but thanks to my team mates we kept the race together and I started to really believe I could win it when the break got away," the 26-year-old from Verona added.

"After that it was about keeping a cool head and controlling my rivals.

"I'm on form but I think I won because I'm more relaxed in the way I approach races and because I've really started to believe in my ability.

"I won the Giro d'Italia in 2004 but it was only after winning the Tour of Lombardy last October that I started to have confidence in myself in the big one-day races.

"Now we'll see what happens in Fleche-Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Wednesday and Sunday. Winning is a great way to start the week."

Results:

1. Damiano Cunego (Italy/Lampre) 6 hrs 35 mins 43 secs

2. Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg/Team CSC) 0

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Caisse d'Epargne) +2"

4. Davide Rebellin (Italy/Gerolsteiner) +2"

5. Thomas Dekker (Netherlands/Rabobank) +6"

Reuters