The 35-year-old is aiming for a third win in all in the annual one-day race, which he also won in 2012.

Among those expected to challenge Gasparotto is Bahrain-Merida team-mate and compatriot Sonny Colbrelli, who finished third last year.

Spain's Alejandro Valverde, winner of the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour of the Basque Country this season, is also likely to be in contention along with three-time champion Philippe Gilbert of Belgium.

The Amstel Gold Race runs a little more than 260 kilometres in total from Maastricht to Berg en Terblijt near Valkenburg.

It opens a series of hilly one-days that continues in Belgium with La Flèche Wallonne on April 19 and the Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 23.

A women’s race is due to take place as part of the meet for the first time in 14 years as Coryn Rivera of the United States looks to defend her place at the top of the UCI WorldTour standings.

Backing up Rivera, who already has wins at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda and the Tour of Flanders to her name this season, is Team Sunweb team-mate Ellen van Dijk of The Netherlands.

Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini, winner of the season-opening Strade Bianche, and fellow countrywoman Elena Cecchini are also seen as strong contenders.

Cecchini is Rivera's closest challenger in the WorldTour standings, trailing the American by 60 points.

The Netherlands' Annemiek van Vleuten is a further 11 points back in third.

Great Britain's Nicole Cooke won the third and most recent edition of the women’s race in 2003.

This year's route is around 121km.