BiciRace.com

• News
• Races
• Photos
• Interviews
• Inside Scoop
• Gear & Gadgets

Amstel Gold Race, Netherlands

16 April, 253.1K

Dutch One-Day Classic

Overall Map, Profile
Startlist
Photos
Report and Results
2005 Results

The 41st Amstel Gold Race marks the transition from the hellish pavé of the previous week to rolling asphalt roads. Many of the same riders that will line up for Holland's race will then go on to contend in La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the following seven days.

Last year's Amstel was a spooky affair: Mist and fog created low visibility for riders, causing many to go through fields of grass, and lack of quality television coverage. Organizers and tifosi will not likely have the same weather conditions, but will see a tightly contested race, as has been the case over the last forty years of this Dutch one-day classic.

The Amstel Gold Race twists and turns on itself, making for a very tifosi-friendly course... So if you're near Holland stop by and have a beer (preferably Amstel) and enjoy the day. The route of the Amstel favors climbers who can sprint, or sprinters who can climb, i.e. Danilo Di Luca (not racing) or Erik Dekker. There are 31 categorized climbs over the 253.1 kilometer route, before the winner is decided on the 1000 meter Cauberg climb to Valkenburg.

The Amstel parcours brings about quick and punchy riding, some of the 'lighter' riders that performed well in the Tour of Flanders could win here, like Pippo Pozzato or Alessandro Ballan. But the peloton will look to the home team, Rabobank, to control the race. This year the orange squadra might actually be able to rule the roost, judging by their performances in Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano Sanremo.

Rabobank will bring out Juan Antonio Flecha, Oscar Freire, Michael Boogerd, Thomas Dekker and Erik Dekker. With the help of Freire and Boogerd, 21 year-old Thomas Dekker took the overall honors in Tirreno-Adriatico, and he will be aiming to prove his goods on home ground. Flecha is flying, as evidenced from Paris-Roubaix, but his compatriot, Freire, will likely lead the squadra. And never count out home favorite, Boogerd, he is a past winner and has come oh-so-close on numerous occasions.

Past Winners: