On the penultimate Sunday of the spring classics, we head to Dutch Limburg. In the Amstel Gold Race, the riders are presented with 33 (!) climbs. For the women it will be twisting and turning over 21 hills.
This is how it was last year:
After the finish photo between Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock in 2021, it was Michal Kwiatkowski and Benoît Cosnefroy’s turn last year.
The Frenchman was allowed to enjoy the victory for a good minute, until the photo showed that the Pole had timed his jump just a little better.
Kwiatkowski had not stolen the victory. Entering the final loop, the former world champion had slipped away from his breakaway companions. Only Cosnefroy was able to join his wagon after a fierce manhunt.
An industrious Tiesj Benoot crowned his race with 3rd place, former winner Mathieu van der Poel won the sprint for 4th place.
The track:
The Amstel Gold Race, that is twisting and turning in Dutch Limburg.
At 10.45 am the gathering is blown at the Vrijthof in Maastricht, the square that is world famous thanks to André Rieu. The race finishes around 5 p.m. in Berg en Terblijt, southwest of Valkenburg.
This year the riders are allowed to climb 33 times in the Amstel Gold Race. They see the Cauberg appear 2 times, but no longer as a final climb.
After the second passage on the Cauberg it is still 18 km to the finish. The Geulhemmerberg and the Bemelerberg close the series of calf biters.
The top of the Bemelerberg is 7 km from the finish line. On the Rijksweg you know the successor of Michal Kwiatkowski.
The participants:
There’s Tadej Pogacar again. The winner of the Tour of Flanders fitted last weekend for Paris-Roubaix, on Sunday he opens his triptych Amstel-Hui-Liège.
Pogacar is driving the Amstel Gold Race for the second time in his career. In 2019 he did not finish as a neo-pro.
Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel will not challenge him this time, Tom Pidcock will. He will start together with defending champion and teammate Michal Kwiatkowski.
Last year’s number 2 – Benoît Cosnefroy – is also racing along, just like Tiesj Benoot. He may communicate again with teammate Attila Valter on Sunday.
At Soudal – Quick Step they had to delete the name Julian Alaphilippe. The Swiss Mauro Schmid and the Italian Andrea Bagioli fill the gap.
More riders to look forward to in the Amstel Gold Race: Neilson Powless, Valentin Madouas, David Gaudu, Matej Mohoric, Aleksej Loetsenko and the Belgians Quinten Hermans, Dylan Teuns and Maxim Van Gils.
Live at Sporza:
The Amstel Gold Race for women:
At the request of the riders themselves, the organization has extended the race by almost 30 km to 156 km.
“A consequence of the development of women’s cycling”, explains race director Leontien van Moorsel. “You see that nowadays more and more big races are over 140 kilometers. In addition, various top riders from the peloton have also asked whether we could no longer make the race.”
In this way, the Amstel Gold Race is not only longer, but also heavier. With 3 extra climbs, the women now have 21 climbing passages, good for 1,700 altimeters.
The final loop of 18 kilometers with the Geulhemmerberg, the Bemelerberg and the Cauberg is on the menu 4 times.
The women will start their Amstel Gold Race at 10.10 am. They finish around 2.20 pm in Berg & Terblijt.
In the final, the participants have to cross the Geulhemmerberg, the Bemelerberg and the Cauberg 4 times.
Lotte Kopecky closes her spring on Sunday with the Amstel Gold Race. The winner of the Tour of Flanders is riding the Dutch classic for the first time.
Does Kopecky immediately have a prize in Valkenburg?
Lotte Kopecky drives her first Amstel Gold Race.
Live at Sporza:
