2024 Amstel Gold Race Preview: The cobbled Classics at the moment are simply mud within the wind and through the Brabantse Pijl, we transfer onto the hilly Classics. The Amstel Gold Race is that this Sunday, April 14th and the kind of riders modifications from the tough roads specialists to those that may climb, besides possibly one… Mathieu van der Poel. There are different potential winners, we checklist the favourites and have a look at the course and historical past.
Eddy Merckx ‘solely’ received Amstel twice
The Amstel Historical past
The Amstel Gold Race was first run in 1966, making it one of many youngest Classics. The Dutch race was a dream of Herman Krott who ran the Amstel Bier staff, a staff which nurtured riders like Fedor den Hertog, Joop Zoetemelk, Gerrie Knetemann, Gert-Jan Theunisse and Leo van Vliet, however he was engaged on a Dutch Basic. He needed a race that might be on a par with the Tour of Flanders and Milano-Sanremo. His supposed route was from Amsterdam to Maastricht, however that turned out to be unfeasible. Breda was begin city and the end was in Meerssen and held on Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag) 1966.
The primary Amstel winner – Jean Stablinski, right here with Jacques Anquetil
The winner of the primary version was Jean Stablinski. A Polish, naturalised Frenchman, was additionally a World champion, a Classics and Vuelta a España winner. It was Stablinski final large win, for Krott he was a giant fish to begin the checklist of winner. The Amstel Gold Race will not be one of many Monuments, however the checklist of winners comprises all the massive names: Eddy Merckx (twice), Gerrie Knetemann (twice), Freddy Maertens, Jan Raas (5 occasions), Steven Rooks, Joop Zoetemelk, Jelle Nijdam, Eric Van Lancker, Adrie van der Poel, Frans Maassen, Johan Museeuw, Bjarne Riis, Michael Boogerd, Erik Zabel, Erik Dekker, Michele Bartoli, Alexandre Vinokourov, Davide Rebellin, Fränk Schleck, Philippe Gilbert (4 occasions), Enrico Gasparotto, Mathieu van der Poel, Michał Kwiatkowski, Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogačar.
Three of the highest Dutch riders of the 70s and 80s: The late Gerrie Knetemann, Jan Raas and Hennie Kuiper within the 1977 Amstel Gold Race. This was the primary Amstel win for Raas when he rode for Frisol, his different 4 wins had been for Raleigh. Knetemann received twice, first in 1974 after which once more 11 years later in 1985. Kuiper by no means received his house race.
The house nation has essentially the most winners with eighteen victories, adopted by Belgium on 13 and 7 for Italy. The final house win dates from 2019, when Mathieu van der Poel was the final Dutchman to win in 2019. In 2021 Wout van Aert beat Tom Pidcock by a millimetre. In 2022 Michał Kwiatkowski out-sprinted Benoît Cosnefroy, after the Pole had attacked with 21 kilometres to go after which final yr Tadej Pogačar stamped everywhere in the race for a solo win (see beneath).
Race founder Herman Krott
Race founder Krott handed away in 2010. In 1996, Krott handed over the job of race director to Leo van Vliet, who shall be on the head of his twenty eighth Amstel race on Sunday. It can even be Leo van Vliet’s final time on the helm of the Amstel Gold Race. In 2025 the Amstel Gold Race can have a brand new organiser and Flanders Classics will take over, though Van Vliet will nonetheless stay race director. Krott’s legacy is remembered by the Herman Krott Trophy, for essentially the most combative rider within the Amstel race.
Philippe Gilbert received Amstel 4 occasions
The 2023 Amstel Gold Race
Tadej Pogačar was the highest favorite earlier than the beginning of the Amstel Gold Race and lived as much as his No.1 billing. The Slovenian put in his closing assault on the Keutenberg, 30 kilometres from the end. He dropped Tom Pidcock and Ben Healy to solo to victory. Healy was second and Pidcock simply held on for third.
The break of the day got here early. Mathias Vacek (Trek-Segafredo), Leon Heinschke (DSM), Mattéo Vercher (TotalEnergies), Ward Vanhoof (Flanders-Baloise), Tobias Ludvigsson & Alessandro Fedeli (Q36.5) and Marin Urianstad (Uno-X) acquired collectively and constructed up a lead of 5 minutes. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than UAE Crew Emirates, for high favorite Tadej Pogačar, began chasing. The break nonetheless had a lead when the began the Maasberg, Adsteeg, Korenweg and Nijswillerweg, the primary major climbs of the day. Ninety kilometres from the end, Alpecin-Deceuninck began the finalé. The Belgian staff had been with out Mathieu van der Poel, however weren’t going to sit down again and anticipate Pogačar. Gianni Vermeersch was the instigator of a really robust chasing group of 15 riders. Vermeersch was joined by high favorite Pogačar, Tom Pidcock, Magnus Sheffield, Tosh Van der Sande, Ben Healy, Lars van den Berg, Kevin Geniets, Quentin Pacher, Axel Zingle, Alexey Lutsenko, Christopher Juul-Jensen, Matteo Sobrero, Arjen Livyns and Andreas Kron. Bahrain Victorious had utterly missed the transfer and needed to chase. The 7 early escapees had already been caught and dropped. Within the peloton it was as much as Bahrain Victorious and Jumbo-Visma, who additionally needed to chase after Van der Sande dropped out.
Two assaults from Pogačar
With 50 kilometres to go, there was a giant crash within the peloton. The ten remaining entrance riders raced on to the following climbs; the Gulperberg, Kruisberg and the powerful Eyserbosweg. Simply earlier than the Kruisberg, Pogačar needed to change bikes. With Pogačar again within the first group, the climb of the Eyserbosweg was getting nearer. On the steepest sections of this climb, the massive favorite determined to make a transfer for the primary time. Because of this, the main group utterly exploded and solely Pidcock was in a position to comply with the Slovenian. It was clearly too quick for all of the others, though Ben Healy managed to return after the Eyserbosweg. Lutsenko and Kron additionally tried to drag again the chief, however Pogačar, Pidcock and Healy weren’t going to be caught. On the notably steep Keutenberg, with ramps above 20%, the race was put to the sword. Pogačar gave it one other robust effort. Healy was the primary rider to crack after which Pidcock misplaced maintain simply earlier than the highest. Pogačar was now solo with 28 kilometres to go. Pidcock and Healy had been at 15 seconds, however on the flatter highway, Pogačar stretched his lead. The Slovenian began the Geulhemmerberg, the penultimate climb, with a lead of 30 seconds. On this climb the lights went out for Pidcock, who was unable to comply with Healy. The Irishman of EF Schooling-EasyPost acquired nearer to Pogačar on his personal. Pogačar was struggling within the closing and Healy acquired inside 20 seconds, however the Slovenian didn’t let him get any nearer. He prolonged his lead within the final 10 kilometres and had loads of time to take pleasure in his first Amstel Gold Race victory. The 22 year-old Healy completed second in his first Amstel participation. A really drained Pidcock simply held Lutsenko and Kron off for third place.
Healy was second
2023 Amstel Gold Race Consequence:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Crew Emirates in 6.02.02
2. Ben Healy (Irl) EF Schooling-EasyPost at 0:38
3. Tom Pidcock (GB) INEOS Grenadiers at 2:14
4. Andreas Kron (Den) Lotto Dstny
5. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan.
The Parcours:
The route is kind of the identical as final yr, though there’s one change. From this yr, the Amstel Gold won’t begin from the Vrijthof, however from the Maastricht Market. The race has been ranging from the capital of Limburg since 1998, however since 2019 the riders had been introduced on the Vrijthof. From this yr, the presentation will return to the Market.
2024 Amstel Gold Race map
After the beginning, the riders head north to Sittard and can have the primary impediment of the day, the Maasberg, a brief cobbled climb. The Adsteeg, Bergseweg and Korenweg come later. There isn’t any Cauberg within the early a part of the race, as there was earlier than 2023. The well-known climb in Valkenburg shall be climbed twice as a substitute of thrice. The primary passage is after 172 kilometres. Between kilometres 95 and 130 there are some longer climbs, together with the Camerig, which is likely one of the longest climbs in South Limburg and the Netherlands, and the one to the Drielandenpunt in Vaals. Then the powerful Gulperberg from Gulpen, the climb the place Mathieu van der Poel attacked in 2019, on the best way to his victory. After the primary passage on the end in Berg en Terblijt, simply after the primary climb of the Cauberg there are 80 kilometres to go.
2024 Amstel Gold Race profile
The true finale begins with simply over 40 kilometres to go together with the Gulperberg, now from Gulpen. From the descent on the opposite facet from Gulpen, the riders then go through the Geuzeweg and Cappucijnenweg on slender, twisting roads to the foot of the Kruisberg. Instantly afterwards there’s the Eyserbosweg, after which the Fromberg and the very steep Keutenberg come in a short time. After the Cauberg has been climbed for the second and closing time, the ultimate lap begins 16 kilometres earlier than the end. The Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg, which needed to be climbed earlier, might be the deciders. The highest of the Bemelerberg is 7 kilometres from the end. As soon as on the summit, the riders flip left in the direction of Terblijt. By way of the Rijnsbergweg to the Sibberweg, the place the riders will go beneath crimson flag of the final kilometre. The end line is on the Rijksweg.
Tadej Pogačar on the assault final yr
Climbs
1. Maasberg (0.3km at 5.1%) – 241km
2. Adsteeg (0.7km at 4.7%) – 222km
3. Bergseweg (2.5km at 3.3%) – 205km
4. Korenweg (0.9km at 5.7%) – 203km
5. Nijswillerweg (1.3km at 2.7%) – 198km
6. Nationwide highway N278 (3km at 2.9%) – 189km
7. Wolfsberg (0.km at 3.4%) – 168km
8. Loorberg (1.4km at 5.3%) – 165km
9. Schweibergerweg (2.3km at 4.6%) – 154km
10. Camerig (3.7km at 4.2%) – 147km
11. Drielandenpunt (3km at 3.8%) – 135km
12. Gemmenich (0.9km at 6%) – 130km
13. Vijlenerbos (1.4km at 5.5%) – 127km
14. Eperheide (2.4km at 4.7%) – 118km
15. Gulperberg from Get together (0.5km at 9.8%) – 109km
16. Plettenberg (1km at 3.5%) – 105km
17. Eyserweg (2km at 4.6%) – 103 km
18. St. Remigiusstraat (1.4km at 5.2%) – 99km
19. Vrakelberg (0.5km at 7.6%) – 94km
20. Sibbergrubbe (1.8km at 4%) – 86km
21. Cauberg (0.8km at 6.6%) – 81km
22. Geulhemmerberg (0.7km at 6.6%) – 76km
23. Keerderberg (1.8km at 3.6%) – 70km
24. Bemelerberg (1km at 4.4%) – 66km
25. Loorberg (1.4km at 5.3%) – 51km
26. Gulperberg from Gulpen (0.9km at 5.5%) – 43km
27. Kruisberg (0.7km at 7.3%) – 38km
28. Eyserbosweg (1.1km at 7.6%) – 37km
29. Fromberg (1.7km at 3.8%) – 33km
30. Keutenberg (1.6km at 5.2%) – 29km
31. Cauberg (0.8km at 6.6%) – 18km
32. Geulhemmerberg (0.7km at 6.6%) – 13km
33. Bemelerberg (1km at 4.4%) – 7km.
Amstel Gold Race for Mathieu? Why not?
The Favourites
The Amstel Gold Race is the primary of the hilly Classics and is a brand new chapter within the biking season, the place completely different riders tackle the one-day races. The Amstel Gold Race will not be for the pure climbers, however the robust, punchy riders within the mould of Philippe Gilbert, Van Aert and Van der Poel. Cobble riders can double up, as these three have proven. Amstel will not be a course (nowadays) for a sprinter, however can go well with a GT rider. The race organisers had been anticipating a struggle between Remco Evenepoel and Mathieu van der Poel, however now the Belgian received’t be lining up for the Amstel because of his accidents from the Itzulia Basque Nation. The present World highway champion, Mathieu van der Poel, shall be there, however will the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider nonetheless have the outstanding kind he has had for the previous couple of weeks? Nicely, he has solely raced 5 occasions to this point this season, so he ought to nonetheless be sharp. Can his staff dominate on a hilly course? This can be his Achilles heel. However don’t overlook he received the Amstel Gold in 2019 with out a lot staff assist.
Van der Poel couldn’t imagine his 2019 Amstel win
Van der Poel has to this point received the E3 Saxo Basic, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix and has stated that his season has already been a hit and something extra is a bonus. It’s not usually you hear Amstel (and possibly Liège) being known as a bonus. However with that assertion it exhibits that MvdP will not be beneath any strain. 5 years in the past Van der Poel received the Amstel Gold simply after we thought his race was over for him, however he powered again from behind to swoop previous Simon Clarke, Jakob Fuglsang and Julian Alaphilippe for a win that even he didn’t anticipate. After all Van der Poel isn’t the one Alpecin-Deceuninck rider within the Netherlands on Sunday. Jasper Philipsen is claimed to be beginning, however it shouldn’t go well with him, however Søren Kragh Andersen, Quinten Hermans and Axel Laurance will assist their chief and may stick with it the within the excessive spirits of the staff for themselves.
Tom Pidcock must be on the entrance
Tom Pidcock almost received in 2021, it took the photo-finish to separate him and Wout van Aert. He must be in battle with Van der Poel, however after his crash trying out the time trial course of the Itzulia Basque Nation, it wasn’t recognized what situation the INEOS Grenadiers rider can be in. Pidcock didn’t undergo any fractures, however he did have a painful hip. He did trip Paris-Roubaix on Sunday and held up nicely to complete seventeenth. He must be again on kind for the Amstel Gold Race.
Michal Kwiatkowski is aware of his Amstel Gold Race
INEOS Grenadiers can even have double Amstel Gold winner, Michal Kwiatkowski. The Polish rider has to this point not proven a lot kind, however in 2022 he additionally didn’t have a lot of a spring earlier than popping out on high, That yr Benoît Cosnefroy thought he had received and was even given the win by the race jury, however after a more in-depth have a look at the photo-finish gave it to Kwiatkowski. Cosnefroy has unfinished enterprise with Amstel and has good kind for the time being. He lately received Paris-Camembert and was fourth within the Région Pays de la Loire Tour.
Benoît Cosnefroy has one thing to show – He thought he had received in 2022
Ben Healy shall be at first of the Amstel Gold Race with the ambition to complete one step increased than final yr. The Irish champion of EF Schooling-EasyPost, like Cosnefroy, has completed second. Final yr, Healy was the one rider who might put up any resistance to Tadej Pogačar. This yr it might be a two-man battle between the Irishman and a sure Dutch World champion.
Ben Healy to maneuver one step up?
Mattias Skjelmose has proven that he’s a person to be reckoned with. On Sunday it is going to be as much as higher climbers like Skjelmose to make the race as laborious as potential to place Van der Poel in hassle and hopefully distance him on the climbs within the finale.
Mattias Skjelmose to make it laborious for Van der Poel on the climbs
You’ll be able to’t dismiss the Visma | Lease a Bike staff. Wout van Aert received’t be there, however with Matteo Jorgenson and Tiesj Benoot, the staff nonetheless has an opportunity. We don’t know the way Jorgenson will deal with the Limburg hills, as he has been sick, but when he’s at 100% then he can maintain Van der Poel. Amstel additionally fits Benoot, he was third within the Amstel Gold Race two years in the past.
Matteo Jorgenson can deal with MvdP
UAE Crew Emirates wont have final yr’s winner, Tadej Pogačar because the Slovenian will solely trip Liège-Bastogne-Liège in build-up to the Giro d’Italia. The Emirates staff can have Brandon McNulty, João Almeida, Marc Hirschi and possibly Juan Ayuso. These 4 are all high performers, particularly Ayuso and McNulty, each have been profitable this season. The one downside may be that they haven’t ridden Amstel earlier than.
Brandon McNulty shall be up there in Amstel
Maxim Van Gils of Lotto Dstny and Dylan Teuns of Israel-Premier Tech might Belgium’s hopes on Sunday. Van Gils has proven nice promise this season, he was third in Strade Bianche, seventh in Milano-Sanremo, second within the GP Miguel Indurain and completed seventh within the Amstel final yr. Teuns was robust within the Tour of Flanders and completed eight.
Maxim Van Gils has regarded good
Michael Matthews rode an excellent Tour of Flanders, though he was declassed from third to eleventh on the end. Matthews was understandably disillusioned with the choice, however it may additionally push him to provide that bit additional in a race that he has had 5 high ten finishes, with a 3rd place in 2015.
Matthews likes Amstel and has the shape
These are the possible protagonists of the 2024 Amstel Gold Race, however there are others that must be talked about: Matej Mohorič has began the Dutch basic eight occasions, however his greatest place was ninth place in 2021, however the race can go well with his race model. For Movistar there are Alex Aranburu and Ruben Guerreiro, these two might trigger a shock.
Matej Mohorič is usually a shock winner as we’ve got seen previously
Then there are the ‘outsiders’. They embody: Maximilian Schachmann, who was fifth in 2019 and third in 2021 & Sergio Higuita of BORA-hansgrohe. Neilson Powless & Richard Carapaz (EF Schooling-EasyPost), Valentin Madouas, Stefan Küng & Romain Grégoire of Groupama-FDJ, Warren Barguil (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Michael Woods & Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech), Andreas Kron (Lotto Dstny), Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Motels), Alexey Lutsenko & Ide Schelling (Astana Qazaqstan), Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Andrea Bagioli (Lidl-Trek), Matteo Trentin (Tudor), Francesco Busatto (Intermarché-Wanty) and Paul Lapeira (Decathlon AG2R). Then there’s the ‘WildCard’ staff of Tour de Tietema-Unibet, they may not be there simply to make up the numbers. Be careful for Hartthijs de Vries and Jelle Johannink.
Exterior tip: Romain Grégoire
The Prime Favourites:
No.1: Mathieu van der Poel
Very Possible: Tom Pidcock, Ben Healy
Attainable: Maxim Van Gils, Juan Ayuso
Perhaps: Michael Matthews, Brandon McNulty, Dylan Teuns, Benoît Cosnefroy.
* The beginning-list may change earlier than Sunday. *
Nonetheless high – Mathieu van der Poel
# Hold it PEZ for one hell of a ‘Race Report’ on Sunday and all of the information in EUROTRASH Monday. #
* Because of ProCyclingStats and WielerFlits for information and figures. *
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