Preview Women's Amstel Gold Race 2024 | Race director Van Moorsel wants to shake up the race!

The cobblestones have given way to the hills, even among the women. This Sunday brings a competitive field to the Women's Amstel Gold Race, where Demi Vollering aims to defend her title. Let IDLProCycling.com give you some insights!

Since its return to the calendar in 2017, the Women's Amstel Gold Race has seen top athletes like Anna van der Breggen make their mark, a feat Annemiek van Vleuten has yet to achieve. But champions like Chantal van den Broek-Blaak, Marianne Vos, last year's victor Vollering, along with Kasia Niewiadoma and Marta Cavalli, have all graced the podium.

Practical information Women's Amstel Gold Race 2024

• Sunday, April 14, 2024
• Participants 
• Classification: WorldTour

In this article

• Most recent winners
• Course, weather and times
• Favorites
• TV information

Most recent winners Women's Amstel Gold Race

2023 Demi Vollering
2022 Marta Cavalli
2021 Marianne Vos
2020 Edition cancelled
2019 Kasia Niewiadoma
2018 Chantal van den Broek-Blaak
2017 Anna van der Breggen

Course, weather and times Women's Amstel Gold Race 2024

For the 2024 edition, race director Leontien van Moorsel announced an exciting update: the race has been lengthened by thirty kilometers, pushing the total distance towards 160 kilometers. This change was made by popular demand from the riders themselves.

The additional kilometers are introduced through an initial loop towards Sittard Geleen and an extra lap of the final eighteen-kilometer circuit. Throughout the race, the cyclists will face 1700 meters of elevation spread across 21 challenging hills.

Key points in the race will likely include the local loop featuring the Geulhemmerberg, Bemelerberg and Cauberg. With 100 kilometers left, the riders will tackle the Kruisberg, Keutenberg, Fromberg and Eyserbosweg, leading into the crucial local circuits. The decisive Cauberg climb will be at 2.7 kilometers from the finish line.

Van Noorsel further explains, "To ensure the Amstel Gold Race for women doesn't just come down to the final Cauberg climb, we've made a strategic tweak. After the Bemelerberg in the final loop, the course veers left onto narrower roads, setting the stage for the descent of the Daalhemerweg before the final assault on the Cauberg. We're aiming for an earlier break in the finale, giving attackers a better shot at success — an effect we've observed in the men's race and hope to replicate with the women."

Climbs

1. The Maasberg - 147.5 km to go - 700 meters - 3.7% average - 10% maximum
2. Adsteeg - 126.3 km to go- 700 meters - 4.7% average - 8% maximum
3. Bergseweg - 109.4 km to go - 2600 meters - 3.4% average - 8.4% maximum
4. Wheat road - 107.5 km to go - 900 meters - 5.7% average - 10.2% maximum
5. Kruisberg - 96.5 km to go - 800 meters - 8.4% average - 17% maximum
   
6. Eyserbosweg - 94.6 km to go - 1100 meters - 8.1% average - 16% maximum
   
7. Fromberg - 90.4 km to go - 1600 meters - 4% average - 9% maximum
   
8. Keutenberg - 85.9 km to go - 1700 meters - 5.6% average - 22% maximum
   
9. Cauberg - 75.9 km to go - 900 meters - 7% average - 12% maximum
10. Geulhemmerweg - 71.3 km to go - 1000 meters - 6.2% average - 10% maximum
11. Bemelerberg - 65.0 km to go - 1200 meters - 4% average - 6% maximum
12. Cauberg (second time) - 58.0 km to go - 900 meters - 7% average - 12% maximum
13. Geulhemmerweg (second time) - 51.8 km to go - 1000 meters - 6.2% average - 10% maximum
    
14. Bemelerberg (second time) - 47.1 km to go - 1200 meters - 4% average - 6% maximum
15. Cauberg (third time) - 40.1 km to go - 900 meters - 7% average - 12% maximum
    
16. Geulhemmerweg (third time) - 35.5 km to go - 1000 meters - 6.2% average - 10% maximum
    
17. Bemelerberg (third time) - 29.2 km to go - 1200 meters - 4% average - 6% maximum
    
18. Cauberg (fourth time) - 22.2 km to go - 900 meters - 7% average - 12% maximum
    
19. Geulhemmerweg (fourth time) - 17.6 km to go - 1000 meters - 6.2% average - 10% maximum
    
20. Bemelerberg (fourth time) - 11.3  km to go - 1200 meters - 4% average - 6% maximum
    
21. Cauberg (fifth time) - 2.7 km to go - 900 meters - 7% average - 12% maximum
    

Weather
As for the weather, Sunday looks promising for the racers. Conditions in South Limburg in the Netherlands are expected to remain dry, with temperatures hovering around 15 degrees Celsius and a gentle breeze, setting the stage for an exciting race day.

Times
Start: 10 AM
Finish: 2:10 PM

Favorites Women's Amstel Gold Race 2024

Spring's top female cyclists are gearing up for a showdown in South Limburg, and it is shaping up to be an event not to miss! This past Wednesday, the Flèche Brabançonne served as a fantastic prelude, with Elisa Longo Borghini taking the win. The Lidl-Trek powerhouse outlasted Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) in a head-to-head battle, once again shining a spotlight on herself and her formidable German-American team. Shirin van Anrooij, who played a key role in Longo Borghini's victory in Flanders, should brace for some serious help from the Italian in Amstel.

But SD Worx-Protime isn't just standing by. They're bringing a stellar lineup to the race, led by reigning champion Vollering. With Lotte Kopecky, last year's Paris-Roubaix winner and Amstel runner-up, the swift Lorena Wiebes, Blanka Vas, and European champ Mischa Bredewold in the mix, the team is a force to be reckoned with, particularly with Vollering and Kopecky on their roster.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike is fielding a strong squad as well, especially with Marianne Vos in their ranks. Fem van Empel and Riejanne Markus are also representing this Dutch powerhouse. Team director Jan Boven has pegged the Amstel Gold Race as their second highest priority, right after Paris-Roubaix.

The race is wide open with several notable outsiders. Kasia Niewiadoma, for instance, who was a close second in the Tour of Flanders, will be one to watch. With support from her Canyon/SRAM teammates Elise Chabbey, Soraya Paladin and Chloé Dygert, they're definitely bringing depth to the competition. dsm-firmenich PostNL, another Dutch team, has its hopes pinned on Pfeiffer Georgi and Juliette Labous.

Amber Kraak, along with Loes Adegeest and Grace Brown, are looking to make waves for FDJ-Suez, despite Cecillie Uttrup Ludwig facing some challenges. Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) and Alexandra Manly (Jayco AlUla) also pack enough punch to go for it, while Fenix-Deceuninck's Yara Kastelijn and Christina Schweinberger could emerge as longshots. Rounding out the list, we've got Aisleigh Moolman (AG Insurance), Arlenis Sierra (Movistar) and Thalita de Jong of Lotto-Dstny to keep an eye on.

Who are the favorites for Women's Amstel Gold Race 2024, according to IDLProCycling.com?

Top favorites: Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)

TV Women's Amstel Gold Race 2024

Anyone wanting to watch the Women's Amstel Gold Race on Sunday should switch their TV on from lunchtime onwards. NOS will start broadcasting on NPO 1 at 12:45 PM, with Sporza (VRT 1) and Eurosport (main channel and online platforms) joining in fifteen minutes later.

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