Bredewold and SD Worx Seek ‘De Klik’ in Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition

Valkenburg, Netherlands — As the peloton prepares to roll out of Maastricht for the 2026 Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition, one of the sport’s most decorated teams finds itself in unfamiliar territory: searching for the intangible bond that typically defines its spring campaigns. Lotte Bredewold and SD Worx-Protime enter the Limburg hills not as the overwhelming favorites they’ve been in recent years, but as a unit actively working to reestablish the cohesion — what Dutch fans and media call “de klik” — that has powered their dominance in races like this one.

The phrase, used repeatedly by Bredewold in pre-race interviews with Dutch media, captures a frustration simmering beneath the surface of a team that has won four of the last five editions of this race. After a spring marked by tactical misfires, missed opportunities, and a rare absence of victories in the opening WorldTour classics, the Dutch squad arrives in Valkenburg aware that its usual seamless execution has been elusive.

“We know what we’re capable of when everything clicks,” Bredewold said in a recent team call, her first public comment since finishing outside the top ten in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. “But it hasn’t been there consistently. We’re not panicking, but we’re honest: we need to locate it again, and this race is a big chance to do that.”

Why the Amstel Gold Race Matters for SD Worx’s Reset

For a team that has built its identity on spring classics dominance, the Amstel Gold Race is more than just another points opportunity. Since 2019, SD Worx-Protime has won the Limburg edition four times — Anna van der Breggen (2019, 2020), Demi Vollering (2021, 2022), and Bredewold herself (2023). The only interruption came in 2024 when Katarzyna Niewiadoma snatched victory on the Cauberg, denying the Dutch squad a fifth straight title.

That loss still stings, not just because it ended a streak, but because it exposed vulnerabilities in a team that had reach to rely on overwhelming force. Niewiadoma’s win came on a day when SD Worx appeared disjointed, unable to control the pace despite having multiple riders in the front group. It was a rare tactical lapse for a squad known for its meticulous race management.

This year, the stakes feel different. With Vollering focusing on the Giro d’Italia Femmes and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift later in the season, the burden of leadership in the Ardennes has shifted more squarely onto Bredewold’s shoulders. The 24-year-old from Drunen has shown flashes of brilliance this spring — including a strong showing in the Strade Bianche Femmes where she finished sixth — but has yet to convert those performances into wins.

“Lotte is ready to lead,” said SD Worx-Protime sport director Kim de Baat in a team preview. “She’s had the results in training, and she’s raced smartly. Now it’s about putting it all together on one day, and the Amstel is the perfect stage for that.”

The Challenge: Rebuilding Trust in Real Time

What makes “de klik” so critical for SD Worx isn’t just about individual form — it’s about the team’s ability to function as a single unit during the race’s chaotic final hours. In past victories, the squad has demonstrated an almost telepathic understanding: when to send a rider up the road, when to sit and wait, how to absorb attacks without overcommitting.

This spring, that synchronization has faltered. In the Tour of Flanders Femmes, SD Worx had three riders in the lead group with 25 kilometers to go but failed to capitalize, allowing Elise Chabbey to bridge and eventually win. In Liège–Bastogne–Liège, a miscommunication during a late attack left Bredewold isolated, forcing her to chase alone before being swallowed by the peloton.

Those moments haven’t gone unnoticed internally. De Baat acknowledged after Liège that the team “needed to reset its communication protocols” under pressure. Since then, SD Worx has reportedly held additional video sessions focused on decision-making in the final 30 kilometers, simulating scenarios where split-second choices determine outcomes.

“It’s not about blame,” de Baat said. “It’s about making sure everyone knows their role when the race hits its hardest minutes. That’s where we’ve been off — not in the legs, but in the head.”

Key Rivals and Tactical Considerations

The road to Valkenburg presents both familiar challenges and recent variables. The 157.2-kilometer route, starting in Maastricht and finishing on the Cauberg, features three categorized climbs in the final 50 kilometers: the Eyserbosweg, the Fromberg, and the decisive Cauberg — a 600-meter ascent averaging 8.9% gradient that has decided the race in seven of the last ten editions.

Weather forecasts indicate partly cloudy conditions with temperatures around 14°C (57°F) and light winds — ideal for aggressive racing. Unlike some years where rain has softened the cobbled sections and neutralized attacks, this year’s dry roads should favor powerful accelerations on the climbs.

Among the rivals, Demi Vollering remains a threat despite her reduced Ardennes program. The reigning world champion has won the Amstel twice and knows the Cauberg better than almost anyone. Though she’s prioritizing stage races, her presence adds a psychological layer — SD Worx will still benefit from her experience in pre-race reconnaissance and team meetings.

Elsewhere, the field is deep. Niewiadoma, now riding for Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto, arrives with renewed confidence after a strong spring that included a podium finish in the Ronde van Vlaanderen Femmes. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) and Katarzyna Niewiadoma are both proven Cauberg specialists, while emerging talents like Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl–Trek) and Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto) aim to break through.

Tactically, SD Worx will likely employ a two-pronged strategy: using Bredewold as the primary finisher on the Cauberg while deploying riders like Mischa Bredewold (no relation) and Julie Van de Velde to control the pace on the Eyserbosweg and Fromberg, preventing rivals from launching solo attacks too early.

“We don’t need to win every battle,” de Baat explained. “We just need to be in the right place at the right time. If Lotte has her legs, and we’ve done our job setting her up, that’s often enough.”

What’s Next: A Defining Moment for the Season

For Bredewold and SD Worx-Protime, the Amstel Gold Race represents more than a chance to add another trophy to the cabinet. It’s an opportunity to validate their approach after a spring of near-misses and to rebuild the confidence that has been shaken by uncharacteristic errors.

A victory here would not only restore their hold on a race they’ve dominated but too serve as a statement ahead of the WorldTour’s summer calendar. Conversely, another disappointing result could prompt deeper questions about whether the team’s recent struggles are tactical, psychological, or symptomatic of a broader shift in the women’s peloton’s competitive balance.

Either way, the Cauberg will provide answers. As the final kilometer unfolds and the gradient bites, the world will see whether SD Worx has found its “de klik” again — or if the search continues.

The 2026 Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition begins at 11:30 CEST (09:30 UTC) in Maastricht, with the finish on the Cauberg expected around 15:45 CEST (13:45 UTC). Live coverage will be available via the UCI’s official platforms and major broadcasters including NOS, Eurosport, and GCN+.

What do you think — can Bredewold and SD Worx rediscover their rhythm in Limburg? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation.