Profile & Route Amstel Gold Race 2026

On the 19th of April the men's peloton takes on the first of three Ardennes classics. It is a one-day World Tour race and the most prestigious out of all that take place on Dutch territory. It is the Amstel Gold Race! We take a look at its profile, with it being expected to start and finish at 11:10 and 17:10 CET.

The race's first edition was in 1966 when Frenchman Jean Stablinski took the victory in the streets of Limburg. Only a few years later, Eddy Merckx would go on to take two wins. Jan Raas famously took five wins - almost all consecutive in the 70's and 80's, with none other than Bernard Hinault interrupting that streak. Joop Zoetemelk and Adrie van der Poel also won here for the Dutch, and of course the latter's son Mathieu took a memorable win back in 2019 that transcended fans of the sport.

It is a hilly race but one which was not always decided amongst the classics specialists, with Erik Zabel featuring amongst the winners list. However many big names were crowned here, with Philippe Gilbert being nicknamed the king of the Cauberg back when the climb was at the finale of the race. Nowadays it is more open, but the list of winners have, if anything, only become even more prestigious.

Wout Van Aert, Michal Kwiatkowski, Tadej Pogacar, Tom Pidcock and Mattias Skjelmose have taken the most recent wins. In 2025, the Dane took an astonishing win, beating Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel in a three-up race in what was the highlight of the Ardennes.

As always, a race of endurance. Taking place in the hilly area around Valkenburg, it's a race that doesn't feature a single long ascent, but instead dozens of small climbs. There will be over 3400 meters of climbing in what is the most gentle of the Ardennes, but it's a race for the classics specialists - both puncheurs and those who typically thrive in the cobbled classics as well.

257 kilometers on a menu. A test of endurance, a race that features small but repetitive climbs in Limburg to make for what is one of the most unique days of the season. It is the first of the three Ardennes classics, and the one that suits the most the rouleurs and riders who are coming straight from the cobbled classics campaign.

Climbs come thick and fast throughout the whole day, it is unlikely that serious action will come before the final hour though as it will be crucial to spend as little bullets as possible In order to have the legs towards the finale.

Gulperberg (47Km to go; 60mm at 6%), Kruisberg (42.5Km to go; 700m at 7.3%), Eyserbosweg (40Km to go; 1.1Km at 7.6%), Fromberg (36Km to go; 1.7Km at 3.8%) and the Keutenberg (31.5Km to go; 1.6Km at 5.2%) will set things up and may see some attacks. Both in anticipation of the Cauberg, but also as some of the main favourites may find the right timing to make a move. Every climb provides an opportunity, and in these 16 kilometers you’ll see a lot of action off the front as it’s very hard to control.

The Cauberg comes with 22 kilometers to go, it’s the climb that used to close off the race and this year it will once again be - however not on this lap. 800 meters at 6.5%, which then see a set of rolling roads where to make differences will be very complicated. The riders takckle the Geulhemmerberg (900 meters; 5.7%) with 17Km to go and then the Bemelerberg: Just 500 meters at 5.6% with 10 kilometers to go. It used to be the final climb, but now should be a transition moment once again.

This year the route returns to it's more traditional finale, still ending in Berg en Terblijt but right after the Cauberg. There will be a very fast descent leadingt into the climb which summits with 2 kilometers to go. The last chance for the climbers to make a difference, although the final stretch to the line does still provide the opportunity for moves if there is a group.