The Amstel Gold Race returns on Sunday 19 April 2026 for its 60th edition, with defending champion Mattias Skjelmose leading a stacked field through the hills of Dutch Limburg. The only UCI WorldTour one-day race held in the Netherlands, this Ardennes classic covers 257 kilometres and 33 climbs, finishing atop the iconic Cauberg in Berg en Terblijt.
What is the Amstel Gold Race?
The Amstel Gold Race is a prestigious one-day professional road cycling race and the first of the three Ardennes classics, followed by La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Classified as a UCI WorldTour event since 2011, it is the only race of its kind staged in the Netherlands, giving it a unique place on the spring calendar.
The race is renowned for its punchy, repetitive climbs through the rolling landscape of southern Limburg. Unlike the cobbled classics of Flanders, the Amstel Gold Race rewards explosive climbing ability and tactical awareness. The route features multiple laps of a finishing circuit around Valkenburg, with the Cauberg, Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg tackled several times in the closing stages. The final ascent of the Cauberg serves as the launchpad for the race’s decisive moments.
When is the Amstel Gold Race?
The 2026 Amstel Gold Race takes place on Sunday 19 April. The men’s race starts at 11:10 local time (CEST) from Maastricht, with an expected finish at approximately 16:55. The women’s race begins earlier at 10:10, covering 158 kilometres with 22 climbs. The amateur sportive, the Amstel Gold Race Toertocht, is held on Saturday 18 April for those who want to ride the climbs themselves before watching the professionals the following day.
Where is the Amstel Gold Race?
The race starts in Maastricht, the capital of the Limburg province in the south-eastern corner of the Netherlands. The route winds through the hilly terrain of Dutch Limburg before finishing in Berg en Terblijt, at the top of the Cauberg climb near Valkenburg. The Cauberg itself is a short but steep ascent of around 1.2 kilometres at gradients of up to 12%, and it has been central to the race’s identity for decades. Valkenburg, a popular tourist town nestled in the Geul valley, provides an excellent base for spectators, with numerous cafés, restaurants and vantage points along the finishing circuit.
Key Contenders
Defending champion Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) returns to the race where he produced the biggest result of his career in 2025, outsprinting Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel on the line after the trio came together with eight kilometres remaining. The Danish rider will be eager to prove that victory was no fluke.
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) is the perennial favourite for any race he enters and will be looking to go one better after finishing second in 2025. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) was third last year and has the punchy climbing ability suited to the Cauberg circuit. Tom Pidcock (Q36.5), a former winner, brings strong Classics form, while Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) has shown increasing maturity in the hilly classics. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) is another name to watch as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom, the Amstel Gold Race is broadcast on TNT Sports, which has migrated its streaming content to HBO Max from March 2026. The TNT Sports add-on within HBO Max costs £30.99 per month and covers all major cycling events alongside other live sport.
In the United States, FloBikes holds the broadcast rights for the Amstel Gold Race as part of its Flanders Classics package, available for $29.99 per month. In Australia, SBS On Demand provides free-to-air coverage of major cycling events. French viewers can follow the race on France Télévisions, which offers selective free-to-air coverage. Eurosport and Discovery+ carry the race across much of continental Europe.
History and Records
First held on 30 April 1966, the inaugural Amstel Gold Race was won by Frenchman Jean Stablinski, who prevailed in a sprint from a field of 120 starters on a gruelling 302-kilometre course from Breda to Meerssen. The race has been held annually since, growing into one of the sport’s most respected one-day events. Jan Raas holds the record for most victories with five wins between 1977 and 1982, while Philippe Gilbert won four editions between 2010 and 2017, earning the nickname “Mister Cauberg” for his devastating acceleration on the famous climb. Eddy Merckx took two victories in 1973 and 1975. One of the most memorable recent editions came in 2019, when Mathieu van der Poel produced a stunning late surge to catch the leaders and win on his home roads. The 2025 race delivered another classic, with Skjelmose’s shock sprint victory over Pogačar and Evenepoel after the Slovenian star had ridden solo for dozens of kilometres before being caught.
Tickets and Attendance
The Amstel Gold Race is a free-to-watch roadside event for most spectators. Fans can line the route at any point along the 257-kilometre course, though the Cauberg and the finishing circuit around Valkenburg draw the largest crowds. For a premium experience, official VIP hospitality packages are available through the race organisers. The “Experience and Enjoy” package (from approximately €360) provides access to the VIP pavilion near the finish, while the “From Start to Finish” package (from approximately €440) includes breakfast at the start village in Maastricht and full-day VIP access. Third-party tour operators also offer guided spectator packages that combine race viewing with accommodation in the Limburg region.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Amstel Gold Race start?
The men’s race starts at 11:10 CEST on Sunday 19 April 2026 from Maastricht, with the finish expected at approximately 16:55.
Where is the Amstel Gold Race held?
The race runs from Maastricht through the hills of Dutch Limburg, finishing atop the Cauberg climb in Berg en Terblijt, near Valkenburg.
How can I watch the Amstel Gold Race?
In the UK, watch on TNT Sports via HBO Max. In the US, FloBikes holds the broadcast rights. SBS On Demand covers the race in Australia, while Eurosport and Discovery+ broadcast across much of Europe.
Who won the Amstel Gold Race last year?
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) won the 2025 edition, outsprinting Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel in a thrilling three-up finish.