Sunday April 19: Amstel Gold Race - Maastricht - Valkenburg (255.9 km) 

Sunday, April 19 – The Amstel Gold Race once again offers a familiar menu. The route is almost identical to last year’s edition, meaning the Cauberg will again play a key role in the finale. Over a distance of 257.2 kilometres, the riders will tackle 33 climbs. After the final ascent of the Cauberg, just 1.7 kilometres remain to the finish line in Valkenburg.

Last year’s race featured one extra climb: the Adsteeg, which appeared after only thirty kilometres. That small difference is unlikely to affect the race dynamics. For the rest, the course is a near blueprint of last season’s.

After starting in Maastricht, the peloton heads north. The Maasberg appears after 13 kilometres as the first test, followed by the Bergseweg in Voerendaal after 47 kilometres. Beyond that lies more than 200 kilometres packed with 31 short, punchy climbs. On their own they may seem harmless, but their succession turns the Amstel Gold Race into a true war of attrition.

The toughest section begins roughly 50 kilometres from the finish. Within eleven kilometres, the riders tackle the Gulperberg, Kruisberg, Eyserbosweg and Fromberg, a sequence that always leaves its mark. Shortly after comes the Keuterberg, which ramps up to a brutal 16%. Ten kilometres later, the penultimate ascent of the Cauberg follows: 900 metres at an average of 7%, with ramps up to 11.7%.

The final circuit covers 19.9 kilometres. After crossing the finish line for the first time, the riders face the Geulhemmerberg (900 m at 6.3%), then the narrow Kuitenbergweg leading to the Bemelerberg (900 m at 4.8%). From there, a twisting back road leads them to the foot of the Cauberg once more — where the race’s decisive moments traditionally unfold.

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