16/04/2023

Demi Vollering seals Amstel Gold Race win ahead of Lotte Kopecky for SD Worx one-two

Team SD Worx continued their Classics dominance with yet another one-two victory as Demi Vollering took a home victory ahead of Lotte Kopecky in second and Shirin van Anrooij in third.

The 155-kilometre-long race saw the roads of Valkenburg on display. It's the hilliest area of the Netherlands and it's quite apparent why it's one of the Ardennes classics. With tough climbs early on, the final four-lap circuit including the Geulhemmerberg (800 meters, 6.4%), Bemelerberg (700 meters, 5.3%) and the Cauberg (600 meters, 9.2%) were expected to prove decisive.

Prize Money Amstel Gold Race Ladies 2023 - €40.000 total

As the race entered the final 25kms, a lead duo of Lucinda Brand and Sabrina Stultiens had a minor lead of just 13 seconds. Just a couple of kilometres after they had been caught and the peloton was once again the leading group in the race.

On the final lap of the circuit, Kristen Faulkner made a big move which momentarily put the bunch in difficulty although with 16km to go she was back in the pack.

Annemiek van Vleuten, riding in her final Amstel Gold Race tried and failed to launch a long-range attack with 13km left as a washing machine effect of attack and counter-attack continued at the front of the race.

Soraya Paladin of Canyon//SRAM Racing was the first rider to really make their attack stick as she powered away from the front of the peloton gaining a 15-second time-gap in double quick time. She was soon joined by Grace Brown in a potentially decisive move.

With 2.5km to go the race reached the Cauberg for the final time and Liane Lippert led the charging favourites as they caught up with Paladin at the top of the hill. Then it was time for Demi Vollering to make her move, flying over the top as the pace began to stall.

Through the flam rouge and a disorganised chase group were making little impact into Vollering's lead. The Dutch rider seemingly with an unattainable lead at the front of the race and so it turned out with the Team SD Worx rider sealing victory with teammate Lotte Kopecky making it a one-two finish. Shirin van Anrooij was best of the rest in third.