Amstel Gold Race

The ‘hills trio’ of classics starts with arguably the most tense, demanding and open of the three, with the men’s Amstel Gold Race always offering a challenging course including 33 hills, the short ascents in the Limburg race which have starred this race for almost six decades.

The most characteristic part of this event is the last 77 kilometers, starting from the first passage through the finish in Valkenburg (or Berg en Terblijt, up from the Cauberg). After a local loop -over the Geulhemmerberg, Keerderberg and Bemelerberg; the first and third climbs will be overcome again on the last 16km loop-, six ascents will be covered in barely over 20km (from -51 to -28 km) to likely decide the final outcome: Loorberg, Gulperberg, Kruisberg, Eyserbosweg -watch out for its steep ramp!-, Fromberg and most importantly the Keutenberg, with a maximum of 20%.

From the Keutenberg, the peloton goes down to Valkenburg for a second, final ascent of the Cauberg. Over the last few years, after a second climb of the Geulhemmerberg (steeper) and Bemelerberg (gentler), the race takes a flat shortcut, with no final descent to the city, to cross the finish.