Iconic climb returns to Amstel Gold race ahead of Pogacar vs Evenepoel showdown: “We have a generation that races differently than 10 years ago”
Cycling
The 2025 edition of the Amstel Gold Race takes place this
Sunday, and anticipation is high for what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, and Wout van Aert headline a stacked field,
with the Dutch classic once again positioned as a key battle in the Ardennes
calendar.
This year’s race will feature 34 climbs across more than 250
kilometres, and notably, the iconic Cauberg will return to the final of the
race for the first time since 2016.
Now under the organisation of Flanders Classics, the
decision to reintroduce the Cauberg was a collaborative one.
"It was a joint decision," explained CEO Tomas Van Den Spiegel to
Sporza. "We have a generation that races differently than 10 years
ago."
The move reflects a broader evolution in race dynamics over
recent years, "The current generation races differently than 10 years ago,
when it was decided to take the Cauberg out of the final lap. Back then, people
waited for the final climb – like in la Fleche Wallonne – to pull out all the
stops."
"We think that the current generation will not
wait," he added. "Recent history and certainly the last few weeks of
racing have shown that they are going from very far away."
Van Den Spiegel also highlighted the significance of the
Cauberg for both the race and its fans.
"The Cauberg is also the epicentre of the Amstel, where many spectators
stand. It would be a shame not to reintegrate that if we think it is a good
idea."
As Flanders Classics takes over the reins, their approach is
one of careful, gradual development, "We now mainly want to see what is
going well and what layer we can add with our expertise," said Van Den
Spiegel.
"We think there is more in it than is currently being
achieved. We do not have to do that too quickly and force it. There is already
a very nice match, so we want to continue building on the fantastic story that
Leo van Vliet has written over the past 30 years."
The goal, he says, is to enhance the event while preserving
its heritage, "In the coming years we want to make it an even better
competition step by step, without affecting the history and recognisability of
Dutch Limburg."
Van Den Spiegel concluded by underlining the importance of
the Amstel Gold Race to Dutch cycling as a whole, "The Amstel Gold Race
must remain the engine of Dutch cycling. 15,000 people are already
participating in the tour on Saturday. We are happy and honored that we can
contribute to that."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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