Cauberg returns as the final climb in Amstel Gold Race: "It has something magical"

That is what the NOS has learned. Until 2012, the Cauberg was the final climb of the Amstel Gold Race, but to increase the amount of race action along the way, the finish line was moved to two kilometers after the hill. In 2017, the finish line was pushed even further from the Cauberg. But race director Leo van Vliet is now reversing that decision. "The Cauberg has something magical, of course," he says.

"With the type of riders who nowadays start attacking early in the race, and then the climb of the Cauberg just 2 kilometers from the end, we are again expecting a thrilling finale." A finale that the spectators in Valkenburg and on the Cauberg will experience up close and personal. With this change, the final lap in the only Dutch WorldTour classic will be the same as that of the women's edition. The men will face the final climb three times, while the women must tackle it four times.

The previous formula proved very successful with the Cauberg further from the finish. With great races such as the 2019 edition, when Mathieu van der Poel won, or the 2023 edition, when Tadej Pogacar broke away solo on the Keutenberg, the intended result was achieved: the riders no longer waited until the last climb. Due to the changed course, thanks to top riders like Pogacar and Van der Poel, who do not shy away from long breakaways, Van Vliet hopes the race will still be competitive. We will find out on April 20.

It was still uncertain whether the Amstel Gold Race could proceed, thanks to the lack of police escort in connection with the NATO summit in The Hague this summer. Last month, the race was finally promised that there would be enough support for the classic to proceed. "It is, of course, extremely unfortunate that there are many cycling races that cannot have police escorts," Van Vliet added.