CYCLING: Amstel Gold Race 1.UWT 2025 (NED)

Netherlands 20 Apr 2025 Class 1.UWT – 1 day – UCI WorldTour

Website www.amstelgoldrace.nl

Email info@amstelgoldrace.nl

The Amstel Gold Race, held annually in the hilly Limburg region of the Netherlands, boasts a rich history as the only Dutch classic on the UCI WorldTour calendar. Here’s a look at its key milestones:  

The Beginning:

• The race was the brainchild of Dutch sports promoters Ton Vissers and Herman Krott, who aimed to create a Dutch cycling classic to rival the prestigious monuments in Flanders and Italy. They established a company called Inter Sport with this goal.  
• The inaugural edition was scheduled for April 30, 1966, coinciding with the Netherlands’ national holiday, Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day).  
• The initial plan was to start in Amsterdam and cover a 280km route finishing in Maastricht. However, logistical challenges, including numerous rivers and miscalculations of the route’s length, forced several changes to the starting location. Utrecht and Rotterdam were considered, but ultimately, the first race started in Breda.  
• Furthermore, organizers hadn’t secured permission to cross the Moerdijk Bridge, a crucial exit from Rotterdam, necessitating another route adjustment.  
• Adding to the difficulties, the Provo movement, a Dutch counterculture group, had declared a state of anarchy in 1966, raising concerns about potential disruptions on Queen’s Day.  
• Just four days before the planned start, the race was called off. However, the Dutch roads ministry intervened, granting permission on the condition that the race would never again be held on Queen’s Day.
• The first Amstel Gold Race took place on Sunday, April 30, 1966, covering a longer distance of 302 kilometers, starting in Breda and finishing in Meerssen.

Early Years and Development:

• The first winner was Jean Stablinski, a French rider of Polish origin, marking a significant start for the new race.
• For many years, the race was largely dominated by Dutch and Belgian riders.  
• The race gained prominence and became part of the UCI Road World Cup and later the UCI ProTour, leading to a more international list of winners.  

Key Characteristics:

• The Amstel Gold Race is known for its hilly parcours in Limburg, featuring numerous short, steep climbs (locally known as “heuvels”).  
• The Cauberg climb became an iconic feature, often playing a crucial role in the final outcome of the race. For a period, the finish line was located atop the Cauberg.  
• In 2017, the route was altered, moving the finish line beyond the Cauberg to Berg en Terblijt and making the Bemelerberg the final climb before the finish. However, the Cauberg remains a significant climb within the race.  
• Narrow roads and potential for strong winds add to the challenging nature of the race.  

Notable Facts and Records:

• Dutchman Jan Raas holds the record for the most victories with five, including four consecutive wins from 1977 to 1980. During his dominance, the race was often nicknamed “Amstel Gold Raas.”  
• Belgian Philippe Gilbert is a close second with four wins.  
• The oldest winner is Joop Zoetemelk, who won in 1987 at the age of 40.
• The Amstel Gold Race kicks off the “Ardennes Classics” week, followed by La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Recent History:

• The women’s Amstel Gold Race was held sporadically in the early 2000s and was reintroduced as a UCI Women’s WorldTour event in 2017.  
• The 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  
• In 2024, Tom Pidcock from Great Britain won the men’s race, and Marianne Vos from the Netherlands won the women’s race.  
• Starting in 2025, the Amstel Gold Race will be organized by Flanders Classics.  

The Amstel Gold Race continues to be a prestigious and exciting event on the professional cycling calendar, attracting top riders and passionate fans to the Limburg region every April.

Sources and similar content:

Amstel Gold Race 2025 – Cyclingnews

www.cyclingnews.com

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Amstel Gold Race: Everything you need to know – Rouleur

www.rouleur.cc

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Amstel Gold Race – Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Data powered by FirstCycling.com

Luc Wirtgen – Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Luxembourg, 26 years

https://www.instagram.com/luc_wirtgen

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Bob Jungels – INEOS Grenadiers, Luxembourg, 32 years

https://www.instagram.com/bobjungels

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Kevin Geniets – Groupama-FDJ, Luxembourg, 28 years

https://www.instagram.com/genietskevin

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