Date | April 19, 2026 |
Start location | Maastricht |
Finish location | Valkenburg |
Distance | 158.1km |
Start time | 10:10 CET |
Finish time | 14:00 CET |
Category | Women’s WorldTour |
Previous edition | |
Previous winner | Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) |
Amstel Gold Race Women: Paula Blasi fights off strong chasers to upset the favourites and claim impressive solo victory / As it happened
It was unexpected but not entirely surprising victory for the Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) in the 2026 Amstel Gold Race, with the Spaniard confirming the clear upwards trajectory she's been on for the last year with a big win in the Netherlands.
Blasi went solo with 20km to go, attacking brief breakaway companion Nienke Vinke (SD Worx-Protime) and quickly built a gap of a minute, which ultimately could never be closer.
Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) and Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) launched an attack on the final ascent of the Cauberg, but ultimately it was too little, too late and they settled for second and third behind the solo and delighted Blasi.
Blasi, who was making her debut, said that she wasn't even due to race Amstel, and when she attacked she had not long been dropped and did not know how long was left in the race, but just wanted to be out of the chaotic bunch. In the end, she was rewarded by becoming the first Spanish winner of the women's race, and breaking FDJ's winning streak in the Classics.
Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition information
Scheduled for April 19, the 2026 Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition is the first of the three Ardennes Classics. It is followed by the mid-week La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes on Sunday April 26.
Find out How to Watch the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition.
Held on the same day as the men’s race, the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition began in 2001, and for three years, the course covered nine climbs, including the Cauberg. Organisers then suspended the women’s race, stating that they did not have enough resources to support both events on the same day, and the Holland Hills Classic was held in Limburg to fill the gap.
In 2017, the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition returned to the schedule as part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour with Anna van der Breggen taking the win. The race was not held in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, and had a modified 17-km circuit event in 2021.
Won by Marianne Vos, the 2021 edition turned out to be one of the most dynamic editions of the women’s race with an explosion of attacks from start to finish. The technical aspects of the circuit and the punchy climbs, 21 in total, offered cycling fans an aggressive style of racing.
In 2022, Marta Cavalli attacked from a group of seven riders and held off the chase and had enough time to raise her arms in victory. Demi Vollering was second and Liane Lippert took third in a tight sprint for the final podium spot.
After two back-to-back runner-up placings, Vollering finally claimed victory in 2023 after making her move on the Cauberg and riding to the line solo. Her teammate Lotte Kopecky beat Shirin van Anrooij in the sprint for second place.
In 2024, Vos returned to the top step taking the victory with a bike throw as Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) started her celebration too soon. Wiebes took second and Ingvild Gåskjenn (Liv-AlUla-Jayco) finished third.
in 2025, Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) won alone just seven seconds ahead of a group of four, where Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) came around Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) in the final metres to take the runner-up spot.
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2026 Amstel Gold Race Ladies route
See the full details of the 2026 Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition route
2026 Amstel Gold Race Ladies Teams
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