Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition 2025, one day classic, April 20 (women's)

[Samu Cuenca]

Puck appears to have successfully managed it on the descent, taking some other CX types like Vas with her and taking advantage of bike handling, but because SD Worx successfully toasted Blanka to work for Wiebes, she is struggling to hang on too.

Yeah, now SDW are in shambles. I think Wiebes has more left, but she didn't want to close down her teammates there.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

That was a powerful gap closure.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yeah, now SDW are in shambles. I think Wiebes has more left, but she didn't want to close down her teammates there.

This was the folly, I thought it was possibly an issue that Vas was working so much earlier on, she's obviously the best bike handler of the three they had in the selection, being a 'cross and MTB rider at the elite level too, but she'd done way too much work to respond when they kept the pace up on Geulhemmerweg too. Bredewold is obviously in the chase duo but I'd expect these three up front to want to work together to at least secure a podium and take their chances against each other on the Cauberg and the sprint, since van Dijk is such a powerful rider to have chasing.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Right, if this goes to a quintet, I can definitely see Bredewold winning, this isn't too dissimilar from the terrain she does so well in at places like Plouay, she's got a very good final kick. Persico has too, mind.

 

[yaco]

Yes I'm serious. The circuit here only has the Cauberg as an obstacle that can create gaps from a large bunch, so if the bunch is interested in contesting it, it will come down to the Cauberg 99/100 times.

Today it seems the bunch aren't interested in contesting it, so it's down to the break to play games with each other and figure out who can win from here.

Well as soon as they attacked on the climb after the Cauberg the group split to 5.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Van Dijk will definitely have to attack before the finish and then hope that no one responds right away.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Well as soon as they attacked on the climb after the Cauberg the group split to 5.

I wouldn't describe that as being from a large bunch.

The péloton clearly isn't interested in taking this one.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Van Dijk will definitely have to attack before the finish and then hope that no one responds right away.

And now it's happening, but Bredewold is able to follow.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Times clearly getting strange, Wiebes went to the front and pulled time back (which is counterintuitive with Bredewold up the road), but as soon as the impetus went out she has responded well to this, slowing things down and fostering disharmony in the chase.

Clearly Bredewold and van Dijk have the best legs on the flat here, the extended loop for the final climb has been beneficial to them as the other three made the difference on the climb but have been distanced and unable to respond to van Dijk here.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

...and van Dijk blows up on the Cauberg. Another SD Worx shambles that they work their way out of by virtue of sheer strength, but hard to say Bredewold hasn't earned where she is here.

 

[Salvarani]

Not over just yet.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Gap is not that big, but it's still hard to see Bredewold lose this even if she gets caught.

 

[Gratemans]

Well this is pretty exiting!

 

[JR1012]

Great race.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Decent last lap, but still just a Cauberg shootout, just from a smaller selection than usual.

 

[Salvarani]

That Bredewold could sit on for a while in the group was probably to her advantage here. Had enough left in the end.

 

[Berniece]

Exciting race and end

 

[postmanhat]

Great race.

I'll be happy/shocked if the men's is even half as exciting.

 

[Gratemans]

Decent last lap, but still just a Cauberg shootout, just from a smaller selection than usual.

I don't disagree but to put it more positively: given the parcours this could have been way, way worse.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I don't disagree but to put it more positively: given the parcours this could have been way, way worse.

Given the parcours this usually is way, way worse. But "better than the last couple of races on this circuit" would be damning with extremely faint praise.

 

[JR1012]

Full dutch podium in Amstel.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Didn't realise Valverde was doing women races now.

Bredeweld is a great rider

 

[Samu Cuenca]

FDJ are the real losers here after putting all their eggs in the Labous basket by having Kraak work for her and the rest of the team doing nothing behind.

Not a great result for UAE either, of course, but ELB could also easily have missed out on the podium in a battle between the favourites.

 

[yaco]

I wouldn't describe that as being from a large bunch.

The péloton clearly isn't interested in taking this one.

The peleton was too far back. Did you not see riders in the peleton who had team-mates in the lead group chasing.

 

[Didinho]

Only saw the last 6km. Mischa really strong, as was Puck it seems. They often train together.

What happened to all the favorites coming in together in G3? Just a tactical race and everyone had someone in front or so?