Usually, the Amstel Gold Race starts in Maastricht and winds through the hills of the southern Limburg region in the Netherlands, but the route has been modified because of the coronavirus pandemic. The race kicks into gear in Vilt and includes two different rounds.
The first circuit features the Geulhemmerberg, the Bemelerberg and the Cauberg. It is 16.9 kilometres long and is tackled twelve times before a final circuit of almost 16 kilometres rounds out the route.
Following the last passage over the Cauberg – 800 metres at 6.5% – the riders cross the line for this final lap. Just after cresting the Geulhemmerberg – 1 kilometre at 5% – the riders take a right-hand turn and race on narrow roads to the foot of the Bemelerberg. The ultimate climb is 900 metres long and averages 4.5%. Shortly, the riders take a left-hander onto the alley-like Franse Steeg and after moving through Terblijt the route re-enters the wide road to arrival place Vilt.
The last edition, in 2019, served a dramatic finale. Julian Alaphilippe and Jakob Fuglsang had been on the attack for tens of kilometres and were playing cat and mouse when Michal Kwiatkowski rejoined them just before the flamme rouge. But the biggest surprise was yet to come. The remains of the peloton converged with the leaders inside the last 300 metres and Mathieu van der Poel sprinted to victory.
The Amstel Gold Race is expected to finish around 17.45 local time (CEST).
GPX file of the 2021 Amstel Gold Race
Other interesting reads: results and start list 2021 Amstel Gold Race.
Amstel Gold Race 2021: route, profiles, more
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