2021 Amstel Gold Race Race Preview
The details of this year's 2021 Amstel Gold Race are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The spring classics season reaches its climax in the hilly Limburg region of the Netherlands this weekend as the peloton tackles one of the most demanding one-day races on the calendar. The Amstel Gold Race returns to its traditional slot after last year's edition was cancelled due to the pandemic, and the anticipation among riders and fans alike is palpable.
The course winds its way through the rolling terrain around Maastricht, featuring the punishing climbs that have made this race so beloved. The Cauberg, the Gulperberg, and the fearsome Bemelerberg will all feature prominently, testing the legs of even the most seasoned classics specialists. The final ascent of the Cauberg, positioned just a few kilometres from the finish in Berg en Terblijt, could prove decisive once again, though the exact finishing arrangement has seen some tinkering over recent editions.
Mathieu van der Poel arrives as perhaps the most hotly anticipated favourite. The Alpecin-Fenix rider has been in scintillating form throughout the spring and will be riding on home soil with thousands of Dutch fans willing him to victory. His ability to accelerate on steep gradients and his raw power make him perfectly suited to the demands of Limburg.
Wout van Aert represents the most obvious threat to Van der Poel's ambitions. The Jumbo-Visma star has shown consistently brilliant form this spring and will have a strong team behind him to control the race in the closing kilometres.
Alejandro Valverde, a five-time winner of this race, cannot be discounted despite his advancing years, while Tom Pidcock, David Gaudu, and Benoît Cosnefroy all represent intriguing wildcards capable of causing a surprise on the climbs.
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