As it happened: A solo win after a nail biting, tense finish at Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition

Good morning, it's an early start for our live coverage of Amstel Gold Race, as the peloton shifts from the cobbles of Flanders to the hills of the southern Netherlands and the province of Limburg.

Today's race is an early one, we roll out of the beautiful surroundings of the Markt in Maastricht at 10:10 local time for 1.8km of neutral before 158.1km of racing.

Of course this isn't the first of the hilly races, we had Brabantse Pijl on Friday and what a race that was!

Célia Gery (FDJ United-SUEZ) scored a real breakthrough and continued the team's domination.

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Marianne Vos is the only women to have won the race more than once, the Visma-Lease a Bike rider winning in 2021 and 2024.

Amstel Gold Race is now the only one day Women's WorldTour race in the Netherlands after the loss of the Ronde van Drenthe. Held in the far north east of the country, Drenthe ran between 2007 and '24. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) was the record winner with four victories, with Marianne Vos (VIsma-Lease a Bike ) second with three.

Both of them are on the start line today for the 12th edition of Amstel Gold Race.

They're among a star studded list of winners over the years.

And we have a birthday in the peloton today. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) celebrates pre-race with team mate and World Champion Magdeleine Vallieres.

And we're rolling for the opening 1.8km of neutral before the race gets going.

We start in the centre of Maastricht, head east across the Meuse river before looping north, then east, before heading into Valkenburg and up the race's signature climb, the Cauberg. We cross the line for the first time with 73km to go, then ride four laps.

The flag has dropped and we're racing.

158.1km to go!

Today is far from flat, in fact it's lumpy all day long, with 22 classified climbs and close to 2,000m of vertical ascent.

The first of those climbs is the Maasberg, coming after 13.2km and there are seven more before we join the closing circuit.

It's not only the repeated climbs which will present problems today, the wind could too. Blowing at around 16km/h there'll be stronger gusts, though at least there's no rain forecast.

Surely European champion, Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) is one of the favourites for today's race? She and her team have been flying this year.

Will she continue FDJ United-SUEZ's dominance?

Last year it was Mischa Bredewold's turn to take the win.

The SD Worx-Protime rider rode a brave race and held off the chasers to win alone.

It's not the been the kind of spring Classics campaign we've come to expect from SD Worx-Protime though.
It seems they've been playing catch up.

145km to go.

We're onto the day's first climb, the Maasberg. It's a gentle introduction, only 300m at 4.1% average gradient.

The bunch is flying along which is why no breakaway had been able to form so far, but now Annelies Nijssen (Lotto-Intermarché) is just over 30 seconds off the front.

It's all change at the front now.

Annelies Nijssen (Lotto-Intermarché) has been joined by Nicole Steigena (AG Insurance-Soudal), Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne-Monbana-My Pie), Heidi Franz (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) andScarlett Souren (VolkerWessels)

They lead the bunch by only 35 seconds, with Natalie Quinn (Mayenne-Monbana-My Pie) and Britt De Grave (Citymesh-Customm) in the gap chasing.

135km to go

The leaders' advantage remains less than 40 seconds, though De Grave has been caught by the peloton. Quinn remains alone in the gap.

The second climb of the day is the Bergsweg, coming with 108km remaining, so the race has some time when it can settle. Bergsweg is quickly followed by Korenweg and Nijswillerweg.

More action in the bunch. Nijssen, Steigenga, Lylyk, Franz and Souren now lead by 1.30 but they have three chasers. Quinn has been joined by Citymesh-Customm team mates, Ilse Grit and Yonna van Dam, though they over a minute behind the lead.

Van Dam has been active all spring, getting in breakaways wherever she can and showing the world her aggressive style.

There's no change reported at the front of the race, with Nijssen, Steigenga, Lylyk, Franz and Souren still leading by 1.30 and Quinn, Grit and Van Dam struggling to gain on them.

120km to go

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The peloton continue to keep the breakaway in a tight leash.

At last the break has been allowed some leeway.
Nijssen, Steigenga, Lylyk, Franz and Souren have increased their lead to 2'20 over the bunch, with Quinn, Grit and Van Dam righ tin the middle between them.

In the peloton, Katie Scott has an amazing journey to the Amstel Gold Race today.
Having stepped back from the sport for a while, this year she's been racing in the UK or the ParalloyRT club team. Last Sunday she won the East Cleveland Classic, this week she signed for the Continental DAS-Hutchinson Continental team and today she's racing a WorldTour race!

We're very close to the Bergsweg, Korenweg and Nijswillerweg now. The first is in 2km and all three are done and dusted within 7km.

110km to go

The leaders' advantage over the peloton is out to more than three minutes now, but the chasers are losing firepower, with Van Dam dropped and they've drifted out to more than two minutes from the front.

The gaps remain the same as we head onto the Nijswillerweg. This climb really isn't too tough, it's only 500m in length and less than 4% average gradient.

Nijssen, Steigenga, Lylyk, Franz and Souren continue to lead, but the peloton is closing in at only 2.30 behind. Quinn and Grit have been caught by the bunch.

100km to go

The climbs come thick and fast now. Today's Kruisberg is a different one to that in the Tour of Flanders and it's not as challenging either, but it is coming in the next few kilometres.

We've had a couple of crashes in the bunch but everyone is back up and riding.

Straight after the Kruisberg comes the Eyserbosweg, which could see some moves from behind. It one kilometre and over 8% average.

Over the Eyserbosweg and the five leaders have increased their lead marginally, it's now out to 2,49.

90km to go

Next up is the Fromberg, but this one is perhaps the easiest remaining climb of today's race.

Souren and Lylyk have both been dropped from the leading group. Only three remain now, though their lead is still a healthy one at 2.45

We're not only heading in towards Valkenburg and the closing laps, but to the Keutenberg too. This one is 1.3km at an average of 6.2% average, depending on how this is ridden some could be dropped here.

In fact, there are already some splits showing in the peloton. The pace appears to be up.

We're on the Keutenberg now and things are happening.

Nijssen, Steigenga and Franz still lead the main peloton but only by 1.45, Souren and Lylyk are about 30 seconds behind the leaders.

We're now on the higher ground above Valkenburg and about the join the finishing circuit. It features three climbs, the Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg, but the first they encounter is the Cauberg which they'll ride five times. None of these climbs are long, but they're steep and it's the repetition which makes for a hard day.

Souren and Lylyk are caught while Nijssen, Steigenga and Franz only have 50 seconds lead.

Into Valkenburg now and Cauberg is next. It might be the first the race see on the circuit but it's actually the final climb of the lap and the race. 900m at 6.9% it ramps up to 12%!

80km to go

Onto the race's signature climb, Cauberg and always the scene of some action, though this is only the first of five ascents.

Cauberg #1

The Cauberg makes for a tricky finish to Amstel. The finish in Berg en Terblijt comes 1.4km after the top, making for some fascinating tactics on the climb and the ensuing flat.
But that's still 75km away!

Once over the line we start three laps of 17.8km, the final lap is slightly longer. We have a fast descent to the bottom of the Geulhemmerberg, which is steep, but smooth and an even gradient.

Nijssen, Steigenga and Franz still have around 50 seconds lead.

Now out of the town there's a long, narrow and open descent across fields before the next climb.

70km to go

And the break away is caught. A strong and valiant ride by Nijssen, Steigenga and Franz.
Now Lidl-Trek take to the front of the bunch, with Lucinda Brand setting the pace.

All together now as Amstel gold Race Women hots up.

On the Bemerlberg and there's a small split in the bunch. This is an other 'easy' climb, but no climb is easy of it's ridden hard.

Over the top and we're back on open fields and the and is up a little from its earlier lull. At 15km/h it's a tailwind here.
World Champion Magdeliene Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly) has a mechanical and is chasing the peloton.

FDJ United-SUEZ take responsibility on the front of the bunch.

We're all together on the climb, FDJ, SD Worx and the other favourites' teams policing the front.

Cauberg #2

That tail wind on the Bemelerberg is a headwind here something which will make success a tough proposition for a late attack when the race comes up the climb for the final time.

Across the line with 55km to go and a bunch of around 50 riders. Vallieres is still desperately trying to get back on. This race suits her well, which is why she'll get no help.

Approaching the Geulhemmerberg and Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) is leading the way, that could be to allow room to slip backwards, or it could be the team are not riding for her.
These are her local roads.

Sure enough, towards the top Wiebes slips backwards. She is always an option here as the race is so unpredictable.
Of course, she came so close to winning a few years back, but celebrated early and was pipped by Marianne Vos.

On the open fields and the descent again, an Lidl-Trek take the race by the scruff of the neck, Loes Adegeest making an attack, but we're still all together.

More attacks, this time it's Blanka Vas (SD Worx) how goes hard, trying to lead a group away ahead of the Bemelerberg.
She'll be looking for redemption after being dropped from the winning move at Paris-Roubaix last week.

Vas is caught but her team mate Steffi Häberlin gets on the wheel of Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio's (AG Insurance-Soudal) attack.
The pair have a gap on three others, but the bunch are in hot pursuit!

And they're caught! Paris-Roubaix winner, German champion, Franziska Koch (FDJ) closing it down before the climb.

The pace is high but the bunch remains as one on the Bemelerberg climb.

Wiebes attacks now, then sits on the front, I think we can safely say the team won't be riding for her, but other moves are going now.

Lidl-Trek go again, this time Niamh Fisher-Black, but nothing is sticking here, so Riejanne Markus uses her time trial power to lift the intensity.

Moolman-Pasio and Häberlin's attack was one of many on the second lap.

Wiebes leads onto the climb and has a slight gap, as team mate Anna van der Breggen lets the wheel go. But she slips back now as Juliette Labous (FDJ) sets the pace.

Cauberg #3

Approaching the line with two laps and 38km to go. Wiebes's attack was her last action as she's dropped. However Van der Breggen made the steep part of the climb hard.
There's a lot of action here, plenty of riders trying to get away. Remember it's headwind here.

SD Worx and Lidl-Trek are making repeated moves while FDJ are closing everything down.

We're descending towards the Geulhemmerberg again now and still riders are trying to get away. The climb could be a good spot, though it's long and straight so it's hard to get out of sight.

Van der Breggen again. The former winner goes hard and double winner Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) is dropped on the climb.
Van der Breggen is a machine and has drawn a group of five away.

The leading group is Van der Breggen, Demi Vollelring (FDJ), Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto), Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly). And no, they caught, but now it's a smaller leading group than it was.

Van der Breggen sits on the front, but she has three team mates, Nienke Vinke, Blanka Vas and Mischa Bredewold are all there in that group.
And the pace is off.

Vos is back in that group, so a third win is still a possibility for the Dutchwoman and probably greatest of all time.

Riejaanne Markus goes and gets a gap, Vinke and Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) are clear.

Markus, Swinkels and Vinke are still clear, though with only a slight advantage. FDJ are clearly all in for Demi Vollering as they are leading the chase as we approach the penultimate ascent of the Bemelerberg.

This climb shouldn't be too much for these three, but will they be allowed to get a gap?

30km to go

Elise Chabbey is putting the power down on the climb, but it's now down to Vollering to bring the leaders back. Could be time for a counter attack now they're caught.

Yep, a counter! Bredewold, last year's winner, gives it a go, but it's shortlived.

Such is the state of the race you'll need to be attentive if you want to win, no one can afford to let a move go.
Fisher Black is at it again, but Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) shows herself with a huge attack.

This is truly breathless. Pieterse is caught but Vinke goes again and gets a gap. The chasers are looking at each other.

And while the peloton look around Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) bridges to Vinke and the duo have 14 seconds ahead of the Cauberg.

Vinke and Blasi hit the bottom of the climb with a lead approaching 20 seconds. Huge crowds on the bottom as the pair go hard on the early slopes.

Cauberg #4

Remember, it's a head wind over the top, but it's dropped. As is Vinke as Blasi storms away.
The Spanish rider is alone, Vinke in the gap between her and the peloton.

FDJ are leading the bunch, Juliette Berthet doing the work, but they're 35 seconds behind Blasi as she crosses the line.
With Vinke in the gap, 18 secnds behind Blasi, SD Worx can leave the work to Vollering's FDJ team.

20km to go

This final lap is longer than earlier ones, with a small detour after the Bemelerberg taking the distance out to 19.9km.
On the Geulhemmerberg Blasi has 46 seconds, this would be her biggest win if she can hold on.

It's down to Vollering to chase Vinke and Blasi now. The Spanish rider has 50 seconds at the top of the climb!
Chabbey is back to help Vollering and FDJ now.

Blasi has three team mates in the chasing group, as does Vinke. The Dutchwoman is 22 second behind Blasi with the peloton at 41 seconds.

Blasi is looking strong and confident in the lead, the bunch will need to do something or the Spanish woman will ride away with this.
Berthet and Chabbey are doing the work for FDJ and Vollering, but the gap is 55 seconds.
No one wants to work with FDJ as Vollering has been so strong.

We're approaching the final ascent of the Bemelerberg now and Vollering seems confident, sat quite close to the back of the 20 rider chase.
Still, they need to catch Vinke yet, she's well over 20 seconds head of the chase group.

Ah! Now Fisher-Black is helping the chase for Lidl-Trek, but Blasi's team mate is on her wheel ready to disrupt the chase.
Vinke is close to being caught.

10km to go.

Vollering moving up now, does this herald an attack?

Blasi has a lead of a minute with less than 10km to go, this is going to take something incredible.
FDJ lead with UAE monitoring the chase. SD Worx are third wheel as Vinke is still not caught.

The headwind on the finish straight is approaching 15km/h, so it's still a tough ask for Blasi.
We're on the extra part of the final lap now, it's not the straightforward descent to the Cauberg just yet.

7km to go now and Blasi's lead is still over one minute. This part of the course is more technical, she has a tailwind here too, so it's all in her favour for now.

Lidl-Trek and FDJ are leading the chase still, but they must be planning on a big effort on the Cauberg as not only is Blasi's lead still more than a minute, Vinke is still out there too.

5km to go

Expect a huge move from Vollering the moment the road tips upward at the bottom of the Cauberg.
Blasi will have lost some time as she almost took a wrong turn at a roundabout.

3km to go!

Blasi has a lead of 59 seconds while Vinke is still a handful of seconds ahead of the chase group. Let's go!

Cauberg #5

Pouring with rain as Vinke hits the bottom.
Vas leads the chase, Vollering moving up as they hit the bottom of the climb. So tense.

As Vinke is caught Niewiadoma attacks, Vollering on her wheel with Rüegg close at hand.

Volllering now, but Niewiadoma is still on her wheel. Blasi only has 37 seconds, while Van der Breggen is chasing Vollering and Niewiadoma.

Blasi has more than 30 seconds on Vollering and Niewiadoma, the Spanish rider must have this.

Flamme Rouge

400m and no one is catching Blasi.

What a win from Paula Blasi, brave, strong and her biggest ever win. It's a phot for second place.

Blasi Takes It!

A great win from Blasi with Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney in second place and Demi Vollering third.

Results from FirstCycling.

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This is a major result for Blasi who is in only her second season riding for a UCI team. It's not as though she has no winning pedigree, though. She won three third tier one day races last season, before winning the uphill time trial at the WorldTour Tour de Romandie last year.

"I think I will need a couple of weeks or even months to realise it," she said.

"Actually when I was alone and crossed the finish line I didn't even know how many kilometres I had left, hopefully I had just five to go and then suddenly they said no. I knew it was going to be a hard day in the front.

"Five minutes before I did the break out I was dropped, so I just came back and I said, 'OK let's give it a go try to help,' and suddenly I found myself in the front."

Blasi's victory is proof, it were needed, that UAE Team ADQ are one of the sport's major teams now.
All spring they have been there or thereabouts, with Swinkels winning at Trofeo Binda combining with Blasi's result they have turned effort into results.
Along with FDJ United-SUEZ and, to a lesser extent, SD Worx-Protime, they have been one of the teams of the spring.

While it's not a win, the race was also a success for Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney. It's only a few short weeks since the Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto rider suffered a horror crash at Milan-Sanremo and this was her first race back.
That she was able to out-sprint Demi Vollering shows a real step forward for the Polish champion and there likely to be more to come this season.

As for Vollering she will be disappointed she was unable to pay back the stellar work of her FDJ United-SUEZ team.
They were all in for the European champion, covering moves and defending bravely, however, they were only on the front foot on the final ascent of the Cauberg, Vollering counter-attacking Niewiadoma-Phinney's move.
Most would have exected her to out-sprint the Polish rider, and it was close, but not close enough.
Still, no one could deny their brilliance thorughout the spring campaign and no one would expect their dominance to wane.

Thanks for following along today for what was another enthralling race, a proper nail-biter in what has been a spring of excellent, exciting racing.
There its, of course more to come, so we'll see you next time.
Cheers!