2025 Amstel Gold Race Preview: The Amstel Gold Race is the first of the hilly Classics. The cobblestone races are over and the Brabantse Pijl on Friday takes us on to Sunday’s Amstel – a new set of races with a different feel and start-list. Most fans will be looking at the World champion, Tadej Pogačar and the returning Remco Evenepoel, but there is a peloton of hopeful’s out there. Here is the PEZ Amstel preview.
2024 Amstel Gold Race
Amstel Gold Race 2024 Highlights by FloBikes
Tom Pidcock made up for his Amstel Gold Race loss in 2021 to Wout van Aert by the smallest of margins. The INEOS Grenadiers rider crossed to the winning break and then won the sprint from Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) and Tiesj Benoot (Visma | Lease a Bike). Top favourite, World champion, Mathieu van der Poel was trapped in the bunch to finish 22nd.
The first climb of the day
The Amstel Gold Race, the Netherland’s biggest bike race, has had some big winners in the past: Tadej Pogačar, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. The World champion was the only one of those three present last year and was the top favourite. But it wouldn’t be easy as he was up against Tom Pidcock, Ben Healy, Benoît Cosnefroy, Mattias Skjelmose and Matteo Jorgenson. There were a lot of riders who wanted to be in the early break. Eventually four riders managed to take a lead: Tosh Van der Sande, Enzo Leijnse, Alexander Hajek and Zeb Kyffin. These four worked well together, but on the way to the Bergseweg, the news of a serious accident involving a police officer in the women’s race came through and the organisers had to change the course of the men’s race.
Healy and Pidcock are back in 2025
The Bergseweg had to be removed from the route. The race now went to the Korenweg via a detour. Van der Sande, Leijnse, Hajek and Kyffin managed to increase their lead to nearly 5 minutes, but they were caught just after the Geulhemmerberg, 70 kilometres from the finish. On the Keerderberg and Bemelerberg, Louis Vervaeke tried to split the race. Vervaeke tried several times and eventually on his third attempt, he escaped with Mikkel Honoré and Paul Lapeira. These three only had 30 seconds on the run-up to the Gulperberg. On the short, tough climb, the World champion, Van der Poel, wanted to test his legs, but he didn’t persevere with his effort.
Not a good day for Mathieu van der Poel
After Van der Poel’s semi-attack, the pace slowed and the three leaders took a few more seconds. Vervaeke, Honoré and Lapeira had the Kruisberg, Eyserbosweg and Fromberg still to come and the peloton were not far behind. It was a dangerous moment for the favourites and so Alpecin-Deceuninck took the lead in the peloton. On the Kruisberg there was no attacks and then on the Eyserbosweg, Richard Carapaz made a move. He was closed down, but there were others to take his place. Marc Hirschi attacked and was joined by Roger Adrià, Valentin Madouas and Bauke Mollema. The differences were still small after the Fromberg and in the run-up to the Keutenberg. Honoré and Lapeira, Vervaeke had been dropped, were still ahead of the pack with 30 kilometres to go.
Pidcock will be up-against Pogačar in 2025
Before the Keutenberg, everything looked to come together again, but Benoot and Pidcock jumped to the group of chasers with Mollema, Mauri Vansevenant, Madouas and Hirschi. Van der Poel was in the peloton and didn’t, or couldn’t make a move. The World champion was in a tricky situation as the other favourites; Pidcock and Benoot had a 30 second lead at the start of the Keutenberg. Benoot pushed hard on the climb, but everything came together on the windy climb. On the plateau above the Keutenberg, Van der Poel was isolated without any teammates at 30 seconds. The top favourite would need help from other teams, but this was unlikely. The 12 off the front were in a good situation and so started to work well together. Benoot, Pidcock, Hirschi, Honoré, Vansevenant, Adrià, Mollema, Lapeira, Vauquelin, Madouas, Quentin, Pacher and Pello Bilbao took more time on the chasers. With 20 kilometres to go, the lead was already almost 1 minute. In the peloton; Jayco-AlUla and Alpecin-Deceuninck tried to chase.
Hirschi and Benoot enlivened the race
Skjelmose decided to attack on the Cauberg, but the Danish champion was unable to make the crossing. An expected counter from Van der Poel didn’t happen, although the World champion was staying near the front, this caused the chase to slow. This suited the break, but Honoré had now been dropped. Due to the Dane losing his pace in the break, EF Education-EasyPost had no one at the front and they had to chase in the Van der Poel group. The co-operation in the break had disappeared. Benoot, Pidcock, Hirschi and Vansevenant had the strongest legs and broke away from the others after the Geulhemmerberg. This looked like the winning four. The four leaders were riding away from the first chasers, while the Van der Poel group, still led by EF Education-EasyPost, was still at 30 seconds. On the Bemelerberg, the final climb of the day, Lapeira put in a do-or-die attack. The Frenchman looked like he might catch the four leaders, but Pidcock put the pressure on. On the Bemelerberg, the INEOS rider accelerated. Benoot and Hirschi were in trouble, but fought their way back. Vansevenant also managed to return as the four approached the last kilometre. Benoot couldn’t hold back and was the first to jump, but this came to nothing. Pidcock was the fastest finisher in the lead group and held Hirschi and Benoot off to the line.
The win for Tom Pidcock and by just more than a tyre’s width
Amstel Gold Race Result:
1. Thomas Pidcock (GB) INEOS Grenadiers in 5:58:17
2. Marc Hirschi (Sui) UAE Team Emirates
3. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
4. Mauri Vansevenant (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
5. Paul Lapeira (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
6. Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Lidl-Trek
8. Quentin Pacher (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
9. Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain-Victorious
10. Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco AlUla at 0:11.
Beer for everyone!
The 2025 Amstel Route
The organisers of the Amstel Gold Race announced in February that the Cauberg will once again be the last climb in the big Dutch Classic. The iconic climb where so many duels have been fought, was about 20 kilometres from the finish line since 2017, then they decided to add an extra lap with the Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg. This was because the race was often a stale-mate to the foot of the Cauberg. The Cauberg has always played a crucial role in the Amstel Gold Race. In 2003, the finish was at the top of the climb in Valkenburg. After the successful World championships, race director Leo van Vliet decided in 2013 to move the finish line to between the villages of Berg en Terblijt and Vilt due to lack of space at the top. Since then, this has been the permanent finish.
2025 Amstel map
Eight years ago, the organisers decided to partly overhaul the final and this turned out to be a success, because the previous editions of the Amstel Gold Race were particularly spectacular and unpredictable. Now they have now opted for the Cauberg as the very last and decisive climb. Apart from the final, Flanders Classics has hardly made any changes to the course. This year, the race will start again on the Markt in Maastricht. After the start, the riders head north, towards Elsloo and Urmond. On the way, they will hit the Maasberg, a short cobblestone climb, the first obstacle of the day. The Adsteeg, Bergseweg and Korenweg follow. No Cauberg in the early part, as was the case before 2023, but as mentioned, it comes in the final. The first focus point is between kilometres 95 and 130. Then there are a few longer climbs, including the Camerig, one of the longest climbs in South Limburg and the Netherlands, and the climb to the Drielandenpunt in Vaals. Next is the tough Gulperberg from Partij, this is the climb where Mathieu van der Poel attacked in 2019, on the way to his victory. After the first passage of the finish in Berg en Terblijt, just after the first climb of the Cauberg, there are 80 kilometres to go.
2025 Amstel profile
The real finale starts at 45 kilometres from the finish with the Gulperberg, now from Gulpen. From the descent on the other side to Partij, the riders then go via the Geuzeweg and Cappucijnenweg on narrow, twisty roads to the foot of the Kruisberg. Immediately after that, there is the feared Eyserbosweg, after which there is the Fromberg and the incredibly steep Keutenberg. After the Cauberg has been climbed for the second and penultimate time, the final lap begins 16 kilometres from the finish line. This final lap is the same. It includes the Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg, which were climbed earlier. The top of the Bemelerberg is 10.8 kilometres from the finish. Then instead of turning left past the Bemelerberg to the finish, the riders now go via the descent of the Daalhemmerweg to the Grendelplein in Valkenburg again and then climb the Cauberg for the last time. From the summit there are 2.5 kilometres to the finish line, drawn on the Rijksweg road between Vilt and Berg en Terblijt.
The 2025 Amstel Gold Race Climbs:
1. Maasberg (0,3 km à 5,1%) – 244,3 km
2. Adsteeg (0,7 km à 4,7%) – 225,8 km
3. Bergseweg (2,5 km à 3,3%) – 210,3 km
4. Korenweg (0,9 km à 5,7%) – 206,8 km
5. Nijswillerweg (1,3 km à 2,7%) – 201,3 km
6. Rijksweg N278 (3 km à 2,9%)- 191,8 km
7. Wolfsberg (0,9 km à 3,4%) – 171,7 km
8. Loorberg (1,4 km à 5,3%) – 168 km
9. Schweibergerweg (2,3 km à 4,6%) – 156,7 km
10. Camerig (3,7 km à 4,2%) – 150,3 km
11. Vaalserberg/Drielandenpunt (3 km à 3,8%) – 137,8 km
12. Gemmenich (0,9 km à 6%) – 133,5 km
13. Vijlenerbos (1,4 km à 5,5%) – 127 km
14. Eperheide (2,4 km à 4,7%) – 122,5 km
15. Gulperberg vanuit Partij (0,5 km à 9,8%) – 112,9 km
16. Plettenberg (1 km à 3,5%) – 108,6 km
17. Eyserweg (2 km à 4,6%) – 105,4 km
18. St. Remigiusstraat (1,4 km à 5,2%) – 102,5 km
19. Vrakelberg (0,5 km à 7,6%) – 97,3 km
20. Sibbergrubbe (1,8 km à 4%) – 89,5 km
21. Cauberg (0,8 km à 6,6%) – 85,1 km
22. Geulhemmerberg (0,7 km à 6,6%) – 80,5 km
23. Keerderberg (1,8 km à 3,6%) – 73,1 km
24. Bemelerberg (1 km à 4,4%) – 69,8 km
25. Loorberg (1,4 km à 5,3%) – 54,6 km
26. Gulperberg vanuit Gulpen (0,9 km à 5,5%) – 47,6 km
27. Kruisberg (0,7 km à 7,3%) – 42,5 km
28. Eyserbosweg (1,1 km à 7,6%) – 40,6 km
29. Fromberg (1,7 km à 3,8%) – 36,9 km
30. Keutenberg (1,6 km à 5,2%) – 33 km
31. Cauberg (0,8 km à 6,6%) – 22,3 km
32. Geulhemmerberg (0,7 km à 6,6%) – 17,5 km
33. Bemelerberg (1 km à 4,4%) – 10,8 km
34. Cauberg (0,8 km à 6,6%) – 2,5 km.
A day of attacks
The Favourites
After the cobbles, it’s time for the hilly Classics. The Amstel Gold Race is the first climber’s Classics and we will see a different set of riders on the start line. Although the big favourite for the win is the same guy who won Flanders and was second in Paris-Roubaix – Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian all-rounder only thinks about one thing at the start of a race and that is winning and that will be the case on Sunday. The Amstel Gold Race is not the race for everyone with its many climbs, twists and turns, narrow passages and street furniture, but none of that is a problem for Pogačar. He has been at the start in Maastricht twice and in his second participation, in 2023, he was the winner. That year, Pogačar was by far the strongest in Limburg, he rode away on the steep Keutenberg and then soloed to victory. Last year, Pogacar didn’t race so many Classics in his run-up to the Giro d’Italia, including Amstel. He’s back this year and all eyes will be on him, this could be to the benefit for the other UAE Emirates XRG riders. Ecuadorian champion Jhonatan Narváez, American Brandon McNulty, Belgian Tim Wellens and the very Swiss rider Jan Christen.
Hard to bet against Tadej
Pogačar was pushed to his limit in the cobbled Classics and Milan-Sanremo by Mathieu van der Poel, but he won’t be there on Sunday, In the Amstel Gold Race he will have to deal with Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian hasn’t been able to race in the first months of the season, but the Soudal Quick-Step leader has now recovered from the injuries he sustained in December. Evenepoel will make his comeback in the Brabantse Pijl on Friday and will be up-against Pogačar for the first time this season on Sunday. We don’t know if Evenepoel will be able to put the Slovenian under pressure or beat him. The double Olympic champion will be fit, or he wouldn’t be on the start line. We can hope to see a good Evenepoel, he will be Pogacar’s biggest challenger and probably the only rider who can live with the Slovenian when he attacks. With Maximilian Schachmann, who was very strong in the Itzulia Basque Country and Mauri Vansevenant, who was fourth in the Amstel Gold Race last year, Evenepoel has two strong teammates.
Evenepoel – Pogačar’s biggest rival?
We can’t overlook last year’s winner, Tim Pidcock. The British rider has been reborn with his new Q36.5 Pro Cycling team and has had success this spring. In Strade Bianche, only Pidcock was able to fight Pogačar, he was the first to attack. Pidcock did eventually blow up, but it shows his confidence and that he is prepared to take the race on.
Pidcock will be up there in the finale
Pidcock has already won Amstel Gold Race, although he considers himself a two-time winner. But after looking at the photo finish, the race jury gave the 2021 Amstel win to Wout van Aert. The Belgian will be at the start on Sunday. The Belgian has had a hard start to his spring, but is now looking sharper. He didn’t take a victory on the cobbles, but the Visma | Lease a Bike rider has his chance in the hills. Van Aert hopes to take something from the spring in the Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race. Visma | Lease a Bike does have several choices, they also have Tiesj Benoot, third last year, behind Tom Pidcock and Marc Hirschi, Attila Valter, Axel Zingle and Ben Tulett. The other Visma men will probably try to get away early, in the hope of avoiding a duel with Pogačar.
Van Aert or another Visma rider?
Of the Belgian contenders, there is young Thibau Nys. The 22-year-old rider was a promising cyclo-cross rider, but now he is a budding road-man. He took two victories in his first professional year, and then in 2024 he added nine more victories. Nys usually triumphs thanks to his explosiveness and sprint. There are few riders who can fire up a mountain as quickly as the Lidl-Trek rider. This quality that will come in very handy in the Amstel Gold Race. The question is whether Nys has the engine to survive a race of over 250 kilometres, and whether he will still have the power uphill or in a sprint. His lack of experience might also be a problem in the final, but he has got class and that could make the difference. If Nys is still there, the last time on the Cauberg, he could surprise.
Thibau Nys won the GP Indurain earlier this month
Van Aert and Nys are not the only Belgians we need to watch, there is also Maxim Van Gils. The 25-year-old is being put forward as a leader of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and a winner. Van Gils is a puncheur and has already had good results in the hilly Classics in recent years. He has a seventh place in the Amstel Gold Race, a third in Flèche Wallonne and fourth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Maxim Van Gils
There are plenty of strong riders at the start who can go for the victory. Lidl-Trek has Thibau Nys, and also Mattias Skjelmose, Andrea Bagioli and Bauke Mollema.
Never rule out Bauke Mollema
The Itzulia Basque Country saw Ben Healy come into form. The Irish rider was second in Amstel to Tadej Pogačar in 2023. He can team up with Neilson Powless to crack the opposition. Alex Aranburu was also very strong in the Basque Country. The Cofidis Spanish champion can play a significant role in the final with his attacking style. Belgian teammate, Dylan Teuns, is also a man to watch as the hilly Classics are his season aim.
Ben Healy was good in the Basque Country
Romain Grégoire is a bit of an outsider for Sunday. Amstel is the right race for the 22-year-old Frenchman, he was 12th last year and seems to have improved this year. If not Grégoire, then Groupama-FDJ also has Valentin Madouas.
Pello Bilbao leads a strong Bahrain Victorious team
Bahrain Victorious will line-up with Pello Bilbao, Santiago Buitrago and Matej Mohorič and Tudor Pro Cycling will have Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Hirschi. The Swiss rider hasn’t had his best spring so far, but he can aim to peak for specific races and came very close to victory last year. Hirschi was beaten by Pidcock in 2024, maybe this year?
Hirschi did win in Valencia this spring
Other riders to mention are: Roger Adrià (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Frank van den Broek (Picnic PostNL), Michael Matthews & Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla), Alexey Lutsenko (Israel-Premier Tech), Benoît Cosnefroy & Victor Lafay (Decathlon AG2R), Magnus Sheffield & Axel Laurance (INEOS Grenadiers), Clément Champoussin & Simone Velasco (XDS Astana) and Lander Loockx (Unibet Tietema Rockets).
Top favourite – Tadej Pogačar
Who Will Win?:
Top Favourite: Tadej Pogačar
Very Close: Remco Evenepoel and Tom Pidcock
Probable: Wout van Aert, Thibau Nys and Maxim Van Gils
Maybe: Ben Healy, Romain Grégoire, Marc Hirschi and Axel Laurance.
* The start list might change before Sunday
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