Sunday’s event is one of the longest of the season – 253.6 kilometers between Maastricht and Berg en Terblijt.
Amstel Gold Race is scheduled at the end of the week, signalling the start of the Ardennes Classics, and will once again put on the table a demanding parcours comprising more than thirty climbs. The most iconic of these remains the Cauberg, the 800m hill averaging 6.5% that once was the finish of the race, but its role in the final outcome won’t be as important as in the past now that it comes around 20 kilometers from the line.
Instead, the Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg – set to be tackled shortly after – are the two ascents where the race-winning attack could come, especially as from the top of the latter only a couple of kilometers remain until the finish of this 58th edition.
Just like in Brabantse Pijl, Soudal Quick-Step will bring a young squad to this 17th World Tour event of the season, consisting of neo-pros Gil Gelders, Antoine Huby, AlUla Tour runner-up William Junior Lecerf, and Pepijn Reinderink, who will be joined by Mauri Vansevenant, Louis Vervaeke and Jordi Warlop.
“The injuries have forced us to make some changes, and as a result we will start with a young team, but that doesn’t mean we’ll lack the motivation and desire to do a good race. It’s good for these young guys to get an opportunity in such an important race like Amstel, where they will rely on the guidance of Louis, our road captain. We know it won’t be easy, but we keep the Wolfpack spirit and the determination to give our best on Sunday”, said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Geert Van Bondt.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
