Netherlands 19 Apr 2026 Class 1.WWT – 1 day – UCI Women’s WorldTour
Website www.amstelgoldrace.com
Amstel Gold Race Ladies One Day Race
The Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2026 is set for Sunday, April 19. As the opening act of the Ardennes week for the women’s peloton, the 158 km course features 21 climbs and a star-studded lineup.
The startlist is headlined by the return of Anna van der Breggen to the Ardennes and the dominant defending champion Mischa Bredewold.
Key Teams & Star Riders
| Team | Major Contenders |
| Team SD Worx – Protime | Mischa Bredewold, Anna van der Breggen, Lorena Wiebes |
| FDJ United – SUEZ | Demi Vollering, Elise Chabbey, Amber Kraak |
| **Team Visma | Lease a Bike** |
| Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto | Kasia Niewiadoma, Neve Bradbury, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig |
| Lidl – Trek | Lucinda Brand, Riejanne Markus, Niamh Fisher-Black |
| Fenix – Premier Tech | Puck Pieterse, Yara Kastelijn, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado |
| Movistar Team | Liane Lippert, Cat Ferguson, Olivia Baril |
Full Startlist Highlights (by Number)
- Team SD Worx – Protime (1-6): Defending champion Bredewold shares leadership with the legendary Van der Breggen and sprinter Wiebes, who will look to make amends for her premature celebration in 2024.
- Lidl – Trek (11-16): A powerful Dutch-heavy squad featuring Lucinda Brand and Riejanne Markus. Note that Anna Henderson and Shirin van Anrooij were late withdrawals from the final roster.
- Canyon//SRAM (41-46): Kasia Niewiadoma remains a perennial favorite on this terrain. She is supported by top young climber Neve Bradbury.
- EF Education – Oatly (51-56): Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner is the rider to watch here, alongside the punchy Cédrine Kerbaol.
- FDJ United – SUEZ (61-66): Demi Vollering is the clear leader, seeking to assert dominance before the mid-week races. Franziska Koch, fresh off a massive spring, is also in the lineup.
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike (111-116): Two-time winner Marianne Vos is the sentimental and tactical favorite, bringing immense experience to the hilly Limburg roads.
Race Details
- Date: April 19, 2026
- Distance: 158.2 km
- Total Climbs: 21 (Finishing in Valkenburg)
- Start Time: 10:10 CET
Spanish rider Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) claimed a stunning solo victory at the 2026 Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition today. In what is the biggest win of her career to date, the 23-year-old launched a decisive attack with 20km remaining and maintained her lead through the final laps of the Valkenburg circuit.
2026 Podium Results
| # | Rider | Team | Time / Gap |
| 1st | Paula Blasi | UAE Team ADQ | 4h 04′ 11″ |
| 2nd | Kasia Niewiadoma | Canyon//SRAM Racing | + 34″ |
| 3rd | Demi Vollering | FDJ-SUEZ | + 34″ |
Race Highlights
- The Winning Move: Blasi initially attacked alongside Nienke Vinke (SD Worx-Protime) on the descent of the Bemelerberg. She then dropped Vinke on the penultimate ascent of the Cauberg to go solo for the final 19km.
- The Chase: Despite a peloton featuring five former winners, the chase lacked coordination. Blasi built a lead of over a minute, though a late surge from the favorites on the final climb reduced the gap by the finish line.
- Podium Battle: Kasia Niewiadoma and Demi Vollering broke away from the reduced peloton on the final climb to secure the remaining podium spots, with Niewiadoma just edging out Vollering in the sprint for second.
- Historical Context: Blasi becomes the first Spanish winner of the women’s edition, denying Marianne Vos a third title and Mischa Bredewold a back-to-back victory.
The history of the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition is unique because it consists of two distinct eras separated by a 14-year hiatus. While the men’s race has run continuously since 1966, the women’s event has navigated a more turbulent path to becoming a top-tier classic.
1. The Early Years (2001–2003)
The race was first introduced at the start of the millennium, aiming to provide a high-level Dutch classic for the burgeoning women’s professional peloton.
- The Debut (2001): The inaugural edition was won by Dutch rider Debby Mansveld.
- World Cup Status: By 2003, the race had achieved UCI Women’s Road World Cup status, the highest level at the time. It was famously won that year by a young Nicole Cooke.
- The Disappearance: Despite its success, the race was discontinued after 2003. Organizers cited logistical difficulties in running the women’s and men’s races on the same narrow, winding roads of Limburg on the same day.
2. The Modern Revival (2017–Present)
After over a decade of absence, the race was rebooted in 2017 as part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour. This revival was significant as it completed the “Women’s Ardennes Triple,” aligning the women’s calendar with the men’s (Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège).
- The “Triple” Crown: In the comeback year (2017), Anna van der Breggen made history by winning the inaugural reboot and then going on to win all three Ardennes classics in a single week—a feat known as the “Ardennes Triple.”
- Marianne Vos: The legendary Dutch rider holds the record for most wins in the modern era, with victories in 2021 and 2024.
- Course Evolution: Much like the men’s race, the finale has evolved. It centers around the Cauberg, which the women often climb multiple times (four times in recent editions) before a flat finish in Berg en Terblijt.
3. Historic Winners List
The winners list is a “Who’s Who” of cycling legends:
| Year | Winner | Nationality |
| 2001 | Debby Mansveld | Netherlands |
| 2002 | Leontien van Moorsel | Netherlands |
| 2003 | Nicole Cooke | United Kingdom |
| 2004–2016 | Not Held | — |
| 2017 | Anna van der Breggen | Netherlands |
| 2018 | Chantal Blaak | Netherlands |
| 2019 | Kasia Niewiadoma | Poland |
| 2021 | Marianne Vos | Netherlands |
| 2022 | Marta Cavalli | Italy |
| 2023 | Demi Vollering | Netherlands |
| 2024 | Marianne Vos | Netherlands |
| 2025 | Mischa Bredewold | Netherlands |
Did You Know?
- The 2017 Dead Heat: The 2017 race featured a historic photo-finish for third place. Officials were unable to separate Annemiek van Vleuten and Kasia Niewiadoma, resulting in a rare dead heat for the final podium spot.
- Dutch Dominance: Since its revival in 2017, Dutch riders have won 7 out of the 9 editions (including the upcoming 2026 race), reflecting the nation’s stronghold on women’s professional cycling.
