Amstel Gold Race Weekend

PROGRAM

Friday: meeting at Brussels airport, Liège train station or Maastricht train station

After our meeting point we will bring you to our hotel where we will spend the next 3 nights. The first job is to assemble your bike and the staff of Go4Cycling will be there for you if you have mechanical problems or need other help. Then we will leave for a short ride to explore the area around where we are staying. Tonight the tour guides will explain the whole route and present the program of the next three days. It will also be explained how we ride as a group, the pace, the organized evening city tours, and so on. This is a good opportunity to ask any questions, but of course also to get to know the people with whom you will spend your vacation.

Saturday: riding the “Tour version of the Amstel Gold Race”

The “Tour version of the Amstel Gold Race” is one of the most popular rides on the amateur event calendar, with an annual enrollment of 12,000 riders (limited!). The six distances offered (60, 100, 125, 150, 200 and 250 kilometers) all start and finish in the village of Valkenburg, about 12 kilometers from Maastricht. The different routes appeal to a wide range of riders and fitness levels, and the sliding start times offer flexibility and ensure that the routes are passable for participants. Unique to this race is the beautiful surroundings. The province of Limburg in the Netherlands is a paradise for cycling enthusiasts. The rural surroundings, the often very steep, short climbs and the large height differences within a few kilometers, make the Limburg hills a real challenge. We are also only a few kilometers away from Vaals. This town is known as the place where the borders of three countries meet, giving the summit the name “Drielandenpunt.” The countries that touch are the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Sunday: watching the “Amstel Gold Race” in VIP style

The first Amstel Gold Race was announced for April 30, 1966, the national holiday of the Netherlands. The first start was in Breda. To reduce the distance to the hills in Limburg, the start was moved first to Helmond, then to Heerlen and finally to Maastricht, where the race has been starting for several years. The course has changed many times over the years. In 2005, the race took place almost entirely within the borders of the province of Limburg, but there have also been editions that covered significant parts of Belgium. Since 2003, the finish has been at the top of the Cauberg, in the municipality of Valkenburg. The race is tough and selective, mainly because of the 31 hills that must be climbed, some with a 20% gradient (Keutenberg). The Amstel can be confusing for novice riders because the course has many turns. Some spots are visited more than once during the race.

Monday: a farewell to Go4Cycling.

The journey ends and we go our separate ways. Maybe we will see you again at another tour. We will have a bus available to take people to the airport during the day.