The Amstel Gold Race kicks off in Maastricht to roll out in northerly direction. The first hill, Maasberg, appears as early as kilometre 12. With this the tone is set. The route takes in a number of loops through the hilly Limburg region in the south of the Netherlands, zigzagging from one short and sharp climb to the next. Loorberg, Cauberg, Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg make a double appearance.
The steepest ramps in the Amstel Gold Race are clustered in the run-up to the finale. Just after reaching kilometre 210 the Gulperbergweg, Kruisberg, Eyserbosweg and Fromberg follow in rapid succession. Albeit short, these climbs are brutal. And yes, the double digit ramps are going to hurt. Especially since the Keuterberg comes next with its 22% section. And on they go to the drag up the Cauberg.
Following the last passage over the Cauberg the riders cross the line for the final lap of 16 kilometres. Just after cresting the Geulhemmerberg – 1 kilometre at 5% – the riders take a right-hand turn and race on narrow roads to the foot of the Bemelerberg. The last climb of the day is 900 metres at 4.5%. Shortly, the riders take a left-hander onto the alley-like Franse Steeg (Dutch for French alley) and after moving through Terblijt the route re-enters the wide road to arrival place Vilt.
Last year, Tiesj Benoot accelerated on the Keutenberg and only Tom Pidcock, Kasper Asgreen, Michal Kwiatkowski, Dylan Teuns, Mathieu van der Poel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Marc Hirschi, Stefan Küng, Alexander Kamp and Michael Matthews were able to follow. Just after entering the final lap Kwiatkowski attacked, while Cosnefroy tracked him down on the Geulhemmerberg. The chase never really took off and it came down to a photo finish sprint with The Pole winning the Amstel Gold Race for the second time is his career.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX Amstel Gold Race 2023.
Other interesting reads: results and start list 2023 Amstel Gold Race.
Amstel Gold Race 2023: route, profiles, more
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