"He could not win anymore, but he won anyway" - Amstel director recalls the Mathieu van der Poel's victory as the most iconic moment of last three decades
Cycling
With its 59th edition set to take place this year, Amstel Gold Race is one of the most iconic races on the schedule and the biggest race in the Netherlands. Just like any race in the country, Amstel too faced its fair share of obstacles in recent years. But it's thanks to one man in particular that the race still exists in 2025.
Leo van Vliet took over from Herman Krott in 1995 and over those three decades, he faced it all - from natural elements, through pandemics, to uncooperative municipalities. "At such moments I come into my power. I do not think in problems, but in solutions," he told De Telegraaf.
"No air traffic was possible, but we had to send a helicopter into the air for the race," Van Vliet reflects on the 2010 edition that was nearly called off due to volcanic eruption in Iceland. "We had a clear blue sky, but we were not allowed to fly a helicopter. But the father of Minister of Transport rode the race, and I called him. It was arranged within three hours and we were able to start anyway."
Then came the next big challenge: the corona pandemic. And if that wasn't enough, the municipality of Vaals decided to work against it. "Without a touring version, the races on Sunday are also in danger. So no 20 million euros economic impact for the region and no income for all those volunteers and associations. They came up with wrong figures and facts, which I was able to refute, which made the municipality of Vaals come to its senses."
But the 69-year-old can also look back at many iconic moments as he gets ready to pass the baton next year.
Just think of that one edition in 2019, in which a young Dutch champion showed something phenomenal – and who is currently the rider of the spring. "He could not win anymore, but he won anyway. With three kilometers to go, the difference with Julian Alaphilippe and Jakob Fuglsang was still more than a minute. Mathieu closed a gap that you normally need four domestiques for."
These are images that will stay with us as cycling fans for years to come – and will continue to give us goosebumps every time we talk about them in the run-up to the Amstel Gold Race. "Those images went around the world, because that was truly legendary," the now race director concludes his story, while he burst into tears at that moment. Something that every fan with a big heart for the sport will understand.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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