Amstel Gold Race
Number Name Kilometer Location Length ( in m ) Average climb (% )
18 Eyserweg 144 Eys 2200 4,3
19 Huls 148 Simpelveld 1000 7,7
20 Vrakelberg 154 Voerendaal 700 7,9
21 Sibbergrubbe 161 Valkenburg 2100 4,1
22 Cauberg 166 Valkenburg 1200 5,8
23 Geulhemmerweg 170 Valkenburg 1000 6,2
24 Bemelerberg 183 Bemelen 900 5,0
25 Loorberg 198 Slenaken 1500 5,5
26 Gulperberg 208 Gulpen 700 8,1
27 Kruisberg 217 Wahlwiller 800 7,5
28 Eyserbosweg 219 Eys 1100 8,1
29 Fromberg 222 Fromberg 1600 4,0
30 Keutenberg 227 Keutenberg 700 9,4
31 Cauberg 237 Valkenburg 1200 5,8
32 Geulhemmerweg 242 Valkenburg 1000 6,2
33 Bemelerberg 250 Bemelen 900 5,0
34 Cauberg 255 Valkenburg 1200 5,8
Race characteristics -- Hills
Philippe Gilbert riding up the Cauberg in the finale of the 2012 UCI Road World Championships . The present course features more than 30 short climbs which come in greater succession as the race progresses , meaning riders have little time to recover in between the hills . 25 climbs are covered in the last 165 kilometers of the race , with eight coming in the final 45 kilometers . The steepest are the Cauberg , Keutenberg and Eyserbosweg . Some ascents are as steep as 22% ( Keutenberg ) , others are more gently sloped . In contrast to the cobbled bergs in the Tour of Flanders , all the hills in Limburg are asphalted nowadays . [ 21 ] Attempting to explain the difficulty of the course Peter Easton recounts a mathematician 's calculations : ... applying logic to overcome a sense of incomprehension is the key to understanding this race . And there is truth in numbers . Six of the climbs come in the first 92 kilometers — one every 15.2 kilometers . The remaining 25 come over the final 165 kilometers . That ’ s one every 6.6 kilometers . Breaking it down further , the final hour of racing has eight climbs in 42 kilometers . Now we ’ re down to one every 5.25 km . At 40 km/h , that ’ s one every 7 ½ minutes . Not overly funny , and definitely all business . [ 22 ] The hills in the 2015 Amstel Gold Race : [ 23 ] Number Name Kilometer Location Length ( in m ) Average climb (% ) 1 Slingerberg 9 Geulle 1200 5,4 2 Adsteeg 14 Beek 500 5,4 3 Lange Raarberg 22 Meerssen 1300 4,5 4 Bergseweg 38 Voerendaal 2700 3,3 5 Sibbergrubbe 50 Valkenburg 2100 4,1 6 Cauberg 54 Valkenburg 1200 5,8 7 Geulhemmerweg 59 Valkenburg 1000 6,2 8 Wolfsberg 78 Noorbeek 800 4,4 9 Loorberg 81 Slenaken 1500 5,5 10 Schweibergerweg 93 Gulpen 2900 3,9 11 Camerig 99 Vijlen 4300 3,8 12 Drielandenpunt 110 Vaals 3700 3,7 13 Gemmenich 114 Blieberg 900 6,4 14 Vijlenerbos 118 Vaals 1800 5,1 15 Eperheide 127 Epen 2300 4,1 16 Gulperberg 135 Gulpen 700 8,1 17 Plettenbergweg 142 Eys 1000 4,2
The Amstel Gold Race is a one-day classic road bicycle race in the province of Limburg, the Netherlands. It traditionally marks the turning point of the spring classics, with the climbers and stage racers replacing the cobbled classics riders as the favourites. Since 1989 the event has been included in season-long competitions at the highest level of UCI, as part of the UCI Road World Cup (1989-2004), the UCI ProTour (2005-2010), UCI World Ranking (2009-2010) and since 2011 of the UCI World Tour. It is the only one-day World Tour race staged in the Netherlands and is considered the most important Dutch road cycling event. Dutchman Jan Raas holds the winning record with five victories. Dutch beer brewer Amstel has served as the race's title sponsor since its creation in 1966. The name does not directly refer to the river Amstel, which runs through and near the city of Amsterdam. Since 2017 a Women's Amstel Gold Race is held, after a 14-year hiatus. The event is organised on the same day and on largely the same roads as the men's race and is part of the UCI Women's World Tour.