Amstel Gold Race 2021

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Amstel Gold Race date: April 18, 2021
Distance: 218.6 km
Start: Valkenburg, Netherlands - 12:05 p.m. CET
Finish: Berg en Terblijt, Netherlands - 5:30 p.m. CET
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The 55th edition of Amstel Gold Race did not take place in 2020 after first being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then cancelled amid a second wave in the fall. 

The 2021 edition was still in doubt as late as early March as the coronavirus restrictions continued to bring public gatherings to a stop in the Netherlands.

However, with the agreement of the regional mayors, the Amstel Gold Race organisers managed to gain approval for a modified race taking place on a 17km circuit around Valkenburg, and Maastricht.

Upon publication of the race technical guide, however, the circuit has been reduced to 14.9km with the men racing 13 laps. Each circuit includes the Geulhemmerberg, Bemelerberg and Cauberg, with the last ascent for the men, the Bemelerberg, coming 6km from the line.

The circuit is much different from the usual worm writhings of the annual route that snakes around the Limburg region and is peppered with up to 30 climbs. But it's better than no race and has attracted some riders like Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) who would otherwise of started their post-Paris-Roubaix break were it not for the cancellation of the cobbled Classic.

In 2019, Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) won his home Classic in his debut appearance, staging a remarkable comeback in the closing kilometres to chase down a minute gap almost single-handedly in the final 10 kilometres.

Amstel Gold Race history

The Dutch one-day race, held in the south of the country, normally marks the beginning of Ardennes week, a trio of races that make up the main challenges of April's hilly classics season.

It's the youngest of the Spring Classics, having started in 1966.

The race is primarily known for the Cauberg hill, one of over 30 named ascents on the route, which hosted the finish from 2003 to 2016 and has also hosted five Road World Championships.

Since 2017, the race has enjoyed a 'flatter' finish, with the Bemelerberg being the final climb, 7km from the finish.

Amstel Gold Race winners

The man with the most wins at the Amstel Gold Race is home hero Jan Raas, who dominated in the 1970s and early 1980s, winning four in a row between 1977 and 1980 and another in 1982.

Raas remains the rider with the most Amstel Gold Race victories but Philippe Gilbert isn't far behind with four.

Amstel Gold Race 2021 Teams

• AG2R Citroën Team
• Astana-Premier Tech
• Bahrain Victorious
• Bora-Hansgrohe
• Cofidis
• Deceuninck-QuickStep
• EF Education-Nippo
• Groupama-FDJ
• Ineos Grenadiers
• Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
• Israel Start-up Nation
• Jumbo-Visma
• Lotto Soudal
• Movistar Team
• Team BikeExchange
• Team DSM
• Team Qhubeka Assos
• Trek-Segafredo
• UAE Team Emirates
• Alpecin-Fenix
• Bingoal WB
• Gazprom-RusVelo
• Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
• Team Arkea-Samsic
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team