After seven editions without it playing a key role in the finale, the legendary Cauberg is back as the last climb of the day. The last time that happened was in 2016, with Enrico Gasparotto taking the spoils. Tim Wellens had been out front solo since the Bemelerberg, but his story ended on the Cauberg when Gasparotto jumped clear from the peloton. Michael Valgren and Jan Bakelants followed his move, but the latter soon lost contact. In the sprint, Valgren was no match for Gasparotto, who also won the Amstel Gold Race back in 2012.
Whether it’ll come down to the Cauberg this time remains to be seen. To be frank, a grand finale on the Cauberg doesn’t seem the most likely scenario with the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel on the start list. There’s a good chance they’ll light it up (much) earlier. The Slovenian won the Amstel once before, in 2023, with a 30-kilometre solo from the Keutenberg. Just like Evenepoel, he’s got a knack for blowing races apart early.
Pogacar’s one-man show aside, the Amstel Gold Race has delivered its fair share of nail-biting finishes in recent years. Four years ago, Wout van Aert edged out Tom Pidcock by a hair’s breadth (Maximilian Schachmann also sprinted but didn’t make the photo), and the year after, Michal Kwiatkowski did the same to Benoît Cosnefroy. Last year, Pidcock got his revenge for the 2021 loss (even though he still insists he was the rightful winner back then) by outsprinting Marc Hirschi, Tiesj Benoot, and Mauri Vansevenant.
Pogacar’s one-man show aside, the Amstel Gold Race has delivered its fair share of nail-biting finishes in recent years. Four years ago, Wout van Aert edged out Tom Pidcock by a hair’s breadth (Maximilian Schachmann also sprinted but didn’t make the photo), and the year after, Michal Kwiatkowski did the same to Benoît Cosnefroy. Last year, Pidcock got his revenge for the 2021 loss (even though he still insists he was the rightful winner back then) by outsprinting Marc Hirschi, Tiesj Benoot, and Mauri Vansevenant.
As already mentioned, Pogačar and Evenepoel have a habit of blowing races apart early on. If they join forces, the big question will be: who can follow? And if not, do the dropped riders have any teammates left to help with the chase? Obviously, a strong partnership with fellow sufferers could also be beneficial.
Favourites 2025 Amstel Gold Race
***** Remco Evenepoel, Tadej Pogacar
**** Thibau Nys, Wout van Aert, Tom Pidcock
*** Michael Matthews, Ben Healy, Marc Hirschi, Pello Bilbao
** Maxim Van Gils, Maximilian Schachmann, Santiago Buitrago
* Tiesj Benoot, Mattias Skjelmose, Neilson Powless, Mauri Vansevenant