The riders are over the sixth hill of the day, the Rijksweg. That’s the climbing done with for a little while, as we approach a rare flat stretch of the race.
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NIJSWILLERWEG
The riders are over Nijswillerweg. That’s five climbs completed already today.
200KM TO GO
The break’s lead is up to over four minutes They should be out for a long time from here on in.
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KORENWEG
Immediately after cresting Bergseweg they start climbing the Korenweg.
BERGSEWEG
This break therefore leads the race as they begin a flurry of climbs in quick succession, starting with the Bergseweg.
210KM TO GO
This will be our break of the day – the peloton has sat up and allowed them a lead over several minutes.
Here’s a full run-down of the eight riders in the break:
Rémi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ)
Rob Stannard (Bahrain-Victorious)
Michel Hessmann (Movistar)
Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Jarrad Drizners (Lotto)
Cedric Beullens (Lotto)
Jelle Johannink (Unibet Tietema Rockets)
Hartthijs de Vries (Unibet Tietema Rockets)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The peloton in pursuit.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The eight riders up the road, in front of an obligatory Amstel Gold windmill.
220KM TO GO
A group of eight riders has formed ahead of the peloton. Rémi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ) and the Unibet Tietema Rockets duo of Jelle Johannink and Hartthijs de Vries are among those present.
ADSTEEG
Time for the second climb of the day, Adsteeg. It’s characteristc of this race for being short (500 metres) and not too steep (4.8%). It’s the quantity of these climbs rather than their severity that is the hardest thing to cope with.
Panic over – the Pogačar group is back in the main peloton.
230KM TO GO
As things stand the Pogačar is 20 seconds adrift from the main peloton.
Two of Pogačar’s strongest teammates are also present with him – Jhonatan Narváez and Tim Wellens.
Pogačar is in the second group of the peloton split. We’re not sure yet what caused it.
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240KM TO GO
Still no breakaway has formed, but there has been a split in the peloton.
MAASBERG
The riders have reached the first climb of the day, the Maasberg (400m at 4.5%). They better get used to this sensation – the Maasberg is the first of 34 hills to be taken on today.
No sign of a breakaway forming just yet.
It’s a dry, mild start in Maastricht, with the temperature at around 13 degrees.
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The riders at the start in Maastricht.
OFFICIAL START
And they’re off!
The riders are on the move in Maastricht following the unofficial start, and await the flag to begin racing.
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While Van der Poel was Pogačar’s main rival on the cobbles, now he must contend with Remco Evenepoel in the Ardennes Classics. Though the Belgian has never before ridden Amstel Gold, it’s a race that suits his characteristics, and he’s already in remarkably good form following his injury layoff with victory at Brabantse Pijl, his first race day of the season.
Of those three riders, while Van der Poel has brought his spring to an end, both Pogačar and Van Aert are present today. Pogačar is – as he so often is – the top favourite for victory, in terrain that should suit him even more than the cobbled classics he’s just played such a starring role in.
With multiple short climbs that are neither cobbled like at the Tour of Flanders, nor as long as those found at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Amstel Gold is a alenced race that attracts a variety of different kinds of riders.
That’s reflected by the fact that it is the only classics other than Strade Bianche to have been won by all three of Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.
You join us as we await the beginning of Amstel Gold, the first of the week’s so-called ‘Ardennes Classics’ – albeit one that takes place in the Netherlands, rather than the Ardennes.
