Amstel Gold Race Report 2024: Tom Pidcock made up for his Amstel Gold Race loss in 2021 to Wout van Aert by the smallest of margins. The INEOS Grenadiers rider crossed to the successful break after which received the dash from Marc Hirschi (UAE Crew Emirates) and Tiesj Benoot (Visma | Lease a Bike). Prime favorite, World champion, Mathieu van der Poel was trapped within the bunch to complete twenty second.

Amstel’24 last

The 58th Amstel Gold Race was received by Tom Pidcock. After an thrilling finale of assaults and counter-attacks, the British rider beat the opposite escapees: Marc Hirschi and Tiesj Benoot. Mathieu van der Poel completed within the chase group and can now be trying ahead to Liège-Bastogne-Liège subsequent Sunday.

The win for Tom Pidcock and by simply greater than a tyre’s width

The Parcours:
The route is kind of the identical as final 12 months, though there’s one change. From this 12 months, the Amstel Gold won’t begin from the Vrijthof, however from the Maastricht Market. The race has been ranging from the capital of Limburg since 1998, however since 2019 the riders have been offered on the Vrijthof. From this 12 months, the presentation will return to the Market.

2024 Amstel Gold Race map

After the beginning, the riders head north to Sittard and may have the primary impediment of the day, the Maasberg, a brief cobbled climb. The Adsteeg, Bergseweg and Korenweg come later. There is no such thing as a Cauberg within the early a part of the race, as there was earlier than 2023. The well-known climb in Valkenburg might be climbed twice as a substitute of thrice. The primary passage is after 172 kilometres. Between kilometres 95 and 130 there are some longer climbs, together with the Camerig, which is among the longest climbs in South Limburg and the Netherlands, and the one to the Drielandenpunt in Vaals. Then the powerful Gulperberg from Gulpen, the climb the place Mathieu van der Poel attacked in 2019, on the best way to his victory. After the primary passage on the end in Berg en Terblijt, simply after the primary climb of the Cauberg there are 80 kilometres to go.

2024 Amstel Gold Race profile

The true finale begins with simply over 40 kilometres to go together with the Gulperberg, now from Gulpen. From the descent on the opposite aspect from Gulpen, the riders then go through the Geuzeweg and Cappucijnenweg on slim, twisting roads to the foot of the Kruisberg. Instantly afterwards there’s the Eyserbosweg, after which the Fromberg and the very steep Keutenberg come in a short time. After the Cauberg has been climbed for the second and last time, the ultimate lap begins 16 kilometres earlier than the end. The Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg, which needed to be climbed earlier, may very well be the deciders. The highest of the Bemelerberg is 7 kilometres from the end. As soon as on the summit, the riders flip left in direction of Terblijt. By way of the Rijnsbergweg to the Sibberweg, the place the riders will move beneath pink flag of the final kilometre. The end line is on the Rijksweg.

Climbs
1. Maasberg (0.3km at 5.1%) – 241km
2. Adsteeg (0.7km at 4.7%) – 222km
3. Bergseweg (2.5km at 3.3%) – 205km
4. Korenweg (0.9km at 5.7%) – 203km
5. Nijswillerweg (1.3km at 2.7%) – 198km
6. Nationwide street N278 (3km at 2.9%) – 189km
7. Wolfsberg (0.km at 3.4%) – 168km
8. Loorberg (1.4km at 5.3%) – 165km
9. Schweibergerweg (2.3km at 4.6%) – 154km
10. Camerig (3.7km at 4.2%) – 147km
11. Drielandenpunt (3km at 3.8%) – 135km
12. Gemmenich (0.9km at 6%) – 130km
13. Vijlenerbos (1.4km at 5.5%) – 127km
14. Eperheide (2.4km at 4.7%) – 118km
15. Gulperberg from Get together (0.5km at 9.8%) – 109km
16. Plettenberg (1km at 3.5%) – 105km
17. Eyserweg (2km at 4.6%) – 103 km
18. St. Remigiusstraat (1.4km at 5.2%) – 99km
19. Vrakelberg (0.5km at 7.6%) – 94km
20. Sibbergrubbe (1.8km at 4%) – 86km
21. Cauberg (0.8km at 6.6%) – 81km
22. Geulhemmerberg (0.7km at 6.6%) – 76km
23. Keerderberg (1.8km at 3.6%) – 70km
24. Bemelerberg (1km at 4.4%) – 66km
25. Loorberg (1.4km at 5.3%) – 51km
26. Gulperberg from Gulpen (0.9km at 5.5%) – 43km
27. Kruisberg (0.7km at 7.3%) – 38km
28. Eyserbosweg (1.1km at 7.6%) – 37km
29. Fromberg (1.7km at 3.8%) – 33km
30. Keutenberg (1.6km at 5.2%) – 29km
31. Cauberg (0.8km at 6.6%) – 18km
32. Geulhemmerberg (0.7km at 6.6%) – 13km
33. Bemelerberg (1km at 4.4%) – 7km.

Mathieu van Der Poel Mathieu speaking to race organiser Leo van Vliet initially

Prime favorite, Mathieu van der Poel spoke earlier than the beginning of Amstel Gold Race: “I’m 100%! The battery is definitely full. I haven’t competed in lots of races, however the races I’ve competed in are spectacular. There are various new guys who’ve made this their purpose. The earlier races usually go well with me a bit higher, however it’s plenty of twisting and turning and actually a form of curler coaster. So we’ll see.”

One of many possibles: Irish champion, Ben Healy Ben (EF Training-EasyPost)

The Amstel Gold Race, the Netherland’s largest bike race, has had some huge winners prior to now: Tadej Pogačar, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. The World champion was the one a type of three current and was the highest favorite for victory. But it surely wouldn’t be simple as he was up in opposition to Tom Pidcock, Ben Healy, Benoît Cosnefroy, Mattias Skjelmose and Matteo Jorgenson.

Might Tom Pidcock go one place greater than 2021?

There have been plenty of riders who needed to be within the early break, however the first attackers have been unsuccessful. Ultimately 4 riders managed to take a lead: Tosh Van der Sande (Visma | Lease a Bike), Enzo Leijnse (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Alexander Hajek (BORA-Hansgrohe) and Zeb Kyffin (Tour de Tietema-Unibet).

The primary climb of the day

These 4 leaders labored nicely collectively, however on the best way to the third climb of the day, the Bergseweg, the information of a critical accident involving a police officer within the ladies’s race got here by way of and the organisers needed to change the course of the lads’s race. The Bergseweg needed to be faraway from the route. The race now went to the Korenweg through a detour. Van der Sande, Leijnse, Hajek and Kyffin managed to extend their result in practically 5 minutes.

INEOS Grenadiers have been staying to the entrance

5 minutes was the utmost lead of the 4, who have been caught simply after the Geulhemmerberg, 70 kilometres from the end. There had already been plenty of motion within the peloton. On the primary passage of the Cauberg the tempo had lifted, however the race stayed collectively. On the Keerderberg and Bemelerberg, Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Fast-Step) tried to separate the race. Vervaeke tried a number of occasions and finally on his third try, he escaped with Mikkel Honoré (EF Training-EasyPost) and Paul Lapeira (Decathlon AG2R). These three got some house, however they solely had 30 seconds on the run-up to the Gulperberg. On the quick, powerful climb, the World champion, Van der Poel, needed to check his legs, however he didn’t persevere together with his effort.

There needed to be a windmill

After Van der Poel’s semi-attack, the tempo slowed once more within the peloton and the three leaders took a couple of extra seconds. Vervaeke, Honoré and Lapeira had the Kruisberg, Eyserbosweg and Fromberg nonetheless to return and the peloton weren’t far behind. It was a harmful second for the favourites and so Alpecin-Deceuninck took the lead within the peloton.

Tosh Van Der Sande, Enzo Leijnse, Alexander Hajek and Zeb Kyffin within the break

On the Kruisberg there was no assaults after which on the Eyserbosweg, Richard Carapaz put in an assault. The Olympic champion’s transfer was closed down, however there have been others to take his place. Marc Hirschi attacked and was joined by Roger Adrià, Valentin Madouas and Bauke Mollema.

The peloton passing the end line

The variations have been nonetheless small after the Fromberg and within the run-up to the Keutenberg. Honoré and Lapeira, Vervaeke had been dropped, have been nonetheless forward of the pack with 30 kilometres to go. Earlier than the Keutenberg, the whole lot seemed to return collectively once more, however Benoot and Pidcock jumped to the group of chasers with Mollema, Mauri Vansevenant, Madouas and Hirschi. Van der Poel was within the peloton and didn’t, or couldn’t make a transfer.

Vervaeke, Honore and Lapeira acquired the actual last began

The World champion was in a tough scenario as the opposite favourites; Pidcock and Benoot had a 30 second lead initially of the Keutenberg. Benoot pushed exhausting on the climb, however the whole lot got here collectively on the windy climb. On the plateau above the Keutenberg, Van der Poel was remoted with none teammates at 30 seconds. The highest favorite would want assist from different groups, however this was unlikely.

Had Healy and Van der Poel missed the transfer of the day?

The 12 off the entrance have been in an excellent scenario and so began to work nicely collectively. Benoot, Pidcock, Hirschi, Honoré, Vansevenant, Adrià, Mollema, Lapeira, Vauquelin, Madouas, Quentin, Pacher and Pello Bilbao took extra time on the chasers. With 20 kilometres to go, the lead was already virtually 1 minute. Within the peloton; Jayco-AlUla and Alpecin-Deceuninck tried to chase.

Tiesj Benoot Tiesj needed to be in that entrance group

The distinction within the run-up to the final climb of the Cauberg was nonetheless closable. Skjelmose determined to assault on the climb, however the Danish champion was unable to make the crossing. An anticipated counter from Van der Poel didn’t occur, though the World champion was staying close to the entrance, this induced the chase to sluggish. This suited the break, however Honoré had now been dropped.

Bauke Mollema and Marc Hirschi too

Because of the Dane shedding his tempo within the break, EF Training-EasyPost had nobody on the entrance they usually needed to chase within the Van der Poel group. The co-operation within the break had disappeared. Benoot, Pidcock, Hirschi and Vansevenant had the strongest legs and broke away from the others after the Geulhemmerberg. This seemed just like the successful 4.

Was it too late for the World champion?

The 4 leaders have been using away from the primary chasers, whereas the Van der Poel group, nonetheless led by EF Training-EasyPost, was nonetheless at 30 seconds. On the Bemelerberg, the ultimate climb of the day, Lapeira put in a do-or-die assault. The Frenchman seemed like he would possibly catch the 4 leaders, however Pidcock put the stress on.

Pidcock, Hirshi and Benoot fought it out within the dash

On the Bemelerberg, the INEOS rider accelerated. Benoot and Hirschi have been in hassle, however fought their manner again. Vansevenant additionally managed to return because the 4 approached the final kilometre. Benoot couldn’t maintain again and was the primary to leap, however this got here to nothing. Pidcock was the quickest finisher within the lead group and held Hirschi and Benoot off to the road.

It was shut, however not as shut as 2021

2024 Amstel Gold Race winner, Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers): “Lastly successful right here means rather a lot to me. I truly wish to say: it feels good to win right here a second time, however I received’t try this It feels excellent. This 12 months has been so exhausting with nice sacrifices and plenty of time away from residence. Lastly placing my arms within the air may be very good. This race definitely means rather a lot to me. I’m usually good right here and at this time the crew was using for me. They absolutely supported me. Kwiatkowski himself was additionally high, however he additionally rode full pace forward of me. Half-half confidence, I might say. I had problem sprinting after Roubaix due to my arms. I had plenty of shoulder ache as a result of I couldn’t maintain the handlebars correctly. So I didn’t have plenty of confidence, nevertheless it turned out nicely. I believe everybody checked out one another earlier than the Keutenberg, after which I adopted the decisive choice. Throughout the race part it isn’t all the time concerning the legs, but additionally about inserting the correct assault on the proper time. Now the stress is off, so it will likely be enjoyable racing and doing our greatest. I truly wish to say that we are able to take pleasure in ourselves, however it might not really feel that manner throughout the race.”

Beer for everybody!

Amstel Gold Race Consequence:
1. Thomas Pidcock (GB) INEOS Grenadiers in 5:58:17
2. Marc Hirschi (Sui) UAE Crew Emirates
3. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
4. Mauri Vansevenant (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step
5. Paul Lapeira (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
6. Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Lidl-Trek
8. Quentin Pacher (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
9. Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain-Victorious
10. Michael Matthews (Aus) Jayco AlUla at 0:11.

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