Netherlands 19 Apr 2026 Class1.UWT – 1 day – UCI WorldTour
Website www.amstelgoldrace.nl
Amstel Gold Race One Day Race
The Amstel Gold Race 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, April 19. As a 1.UWT (UCI WorldTour) event, it features a highly competitive field led by pre-race favorites like Remco Evenepoel and defending champion Mattias Skjelmose.
Below is a breakdown of the key teams and confirmed riders from the current startlist:
Major Teams & Contenders
| Team | Key Riders |
| Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe | Remco Evenepoel, Nico Denz, Jan Tratnik, Danny van Poppel |
| Lidl – Trek | Mattias Skjelmose (2025 Winner), Quinn Simmons, Bauke Mollema |
| **Team Visma | Lease a Bike** |
| UAE Team Emirates – XRG | Tim Wellens, Benoît Cosnefroy, Pavel Sivakov, Brandon McNulty |
| INEOS Grenadiers | Kévin Vauquelin, Dorian Godon, Jack Haig, Axel Laurance |
| Bahrain Victorious | Pello Bilbao, Matej Mohorič, Attila Valter |
| EF Education – EasyPost | Ben Healy, Alex Baudin, Mikkel Honoré |
| Groupama – FDJ United | Romain Grégoire, Valentin Madouas, Kevin Geniets |
| Tudor Pro Cycling | Julian Alaphilippe, Marc Hirschi |
Full Startlist Highlights (by Number)
- Lidl – Trek (1-7): Skjelmose is back with a strong support squad including veteran Bauke Mollema and the young talent Albert Withen Philipsen.
- UAE Team Emirates (11-17): A deep roster featuring hill specialists like Cosnefroy and the steady engine of Tim Wellens.
- Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe (21-27): Evenepoel enters as a top favorite, supported by a versatile group suited for the Ardennes terrain.
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike (41-47): Christophe Laporte and Matteo Jorgenson provide a dual threat for both a late-race attack or a reduced sprint.
- Soudal – Quick-Step (131-137): Features Dylan van Baarle and Ilan Van Wilder to cover aggressive moves.
Race Info
- Date: April 19, 2026
- Category: UCI WorldTour (1.UWT)
- Distance: Approximately 257 km
- Key Climbs: Cauberg, Geulhemmerberg, and Bemelerberg.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Amstel Gold Race is the Netherlands’ premier professional cycling race. Established in 1966, it serves as the transition point between the cobbled classics (like the Tour of Flanders) and the hillier Ardennes classics (Liège-Bastogne-Liège and La Flèche Wallonne).
Despite being younger than the five “Monuments,” its prestige and WorldTour status make it one of the most sought-after victories on the calendar.
1. Origins and the “Vredestein” Years
The race was the brainchild of Herman Krott and Ton Vissers, who ran the Amstel-Brewery-sponsored cycling team. Their goal was to create a Dutch classic that could rival the great races of Belgium and France.
- The First Edition (1966): The inaugural race was nearly cancelled due to organizational hurdles. It eventually ran 302 km from Breda to Meerssen. Frenchman Jean Stablinski won the first title.
- Dutch Dominance: Jan Raas holds the record for the most wins, earning the nickname “Amstel Gold Raas” after winning four consecutive editions (1977–1980) and a fifth in 1982.
2. The Course: A Maze of Hills
Unlike races that traverse large mountain ranges, the Amstel Gold Race is defined by its “zigzag” nature through the Limburg province.
- The Bergs: The race is famous for short, sharp climbs (up to 35 in total), including the Kruisberg, Eyserbosweg, and the Keutenberg.
- The Cauberg: For decades, the finish line was located at the top of the Cauberg in Valkenburg. To make the race more tactical and less predictable, the finish was moved in 2013 to Berg en Terblijt (1.8 km past the Cauberg) and further altered in 2017 to remove the final ascent of the Cauberg entirely from the closing kilometers.
3. Historic Milestones
- 1989: The race joined the UCI Road World Cup, cementing its place among the elite one-day classics.
- 2001: Erik Zabel became the first German winner, highlighting the race’s increasing international appeal.
- 2019: Widely considered one of the greatest finishes in cycling history, Mathieu van der Poel closed a massive gap in the final kilometer to win in the Dutch champion’s jersey—the first Dutch winner in 18 years.
4. The Women’s Edition
A women’s race was originally held from 2001 to 2003 but was discontinued due to logistical clashes with the men’s race. It was successfully reintroduced in 2017 and has since become a cornerstone of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, featuring winners like Anna van der Breggen and Demi Vollering.
Winningest Riders (Men’s)
| Rider | Victories | Years |
| Jan Raas | 5 | 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982 |
| Philippe Gilbert | 4 | 2010, 2011, 2014, 2017 |
| Gerrie Knetemann | 2 | 1974, 1985 |
| Rolf Järmann | 2 | 1993, 1998 |
| Enrico Gasparotto | 2 | 2012, 2016 |
Today, the race is famous for its festive atmosphere, with hundreds of thousands of fans lining the narrow, winding roads of the Dutch hills, often referred to as “The Dutch Mountain Range.”
