Amstel Gold Race - Ladies Edition 2026

[Libertine Seguros]

Idk about that. There must have been 20 hills. Just make the teammates go full gas and attack with 20km to go if you are the favorite...

There are precisely 20 hills in the race. The first 7 are an initial loop, the last 13 are four and a bit loops of the circuit, and it's one of those circuits that I'm afraid just has that negative aura. You know how we talk about climbs having certain auras relative to their actual challenge, like how on paper Arcalis isn't that bad a climb but it just always generates really negative racing, while Formigal is a nothing climb that for some reason seems to beget really good stages? This is that kind of thing. The finish being where it is does not help because it allows "final Cauberg shootout" to be a thing that is always in the riders' minds; the Bemelerberg is four of those final 13 climbs and really oughtn't be considered a climb at all, it's a complete nothingburger, and having Geulhemmerweg so close to the start of the circuit and Cauberg so close to the end means there's a large part of the circuit that just doesn't really add anything. It feels like most of the big guns feel like they're too marked to go from afar, nobody among them believes that an attack anywhere but the Cauberg is likely to succeed, and nobody major wants to risk their potential results at Flèche and LBL for a low percentage attack anywhere before the final Cauberg here.

Whether that's right or fair or not is another question, but that's why I perceive the race playing out as it has tended to in recent years.

 

[Divergence]

There are precisely 20 hills in the race. The first 7 are an initial loop, the last 13 are four and a bit loops of the circuit, and it's one of those circuits that I'm afraid just has that negative aura. You know how we talk about climbs having certain auras relative to their actual challenge, like how on paper Arcalis isn't that bad a climb but it just always generates really negative racing, while Formigal is a nothing climb that for some reason seems to beget really good stages? This is that kind of thing. The finish being where it is does not help because it allows "final Cauberg shootout" to be a thing that is always in the riders' minds; the Bemelerberg is four of those final 13 climbs and really oughtn't be considered a climb at all, it's a complete nothingburger, and having Geulhemmerweg so close to the start of the circuit and Cauberg so close to the end means there's a large part of the circuit that just doesn't really add anything. It feels like most of the big guns feel like they're too marked to go from afar, nobody among them believes that an attack anywhere but the Cauberg is likely to succeed, and nobody major wants to risk their potential results at Flèche and LBL for a low percentage attack anywhere before the final Cauberg here.

Whether that's right or fair or not is another question, but that's why I perceive the race playing out as it has tended to in recent years.

Well AvdB attacked with 35 km or so to go and there was a strong group of 5, but they did not cooperate and let the pace drop down. So there were opportunities it is just that the racing was slow and bad tactically. I guess it happens sometimes.

 

[yaco]

EF have been using Vallieres as a domestique for most of her races dating back to the TDU. I posted at the time there was a chance that Vallieres may not win a race.

UAE get their just rewards for their consistency in races. Lidl Trek were disgraceful in having four riders in the chase group and not committing a rider until it was too late. Again SD Worx fell for the trap of sunken cost fallacy of having a rider in the break. Big surprise with Paternoster's race as Trina-Colonel was the leader.

Finally, there has been lots of whinging about the reduced coverage of PR but the fact is often little happens in the early stages of a women's race. There is little fighting for the break and often there is no break which makes for uninspiring racing.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

EF have been using Vallieres as a domestique for most of her races dating back to the TDU. I posted at the time there was a chance that Vallieres may not win a race.

UAE get their just rewards for their consistency in races. Lidl Trek were disgraceful in having four riders in the chase group and not committing a rider until it was too late. Again SD Worx fell for the trap of sunken cost fallacy of having a rider in the break. Big surprise with Paternoster's race as Trina-Colonel was the leader.

Finally, there has been lots of whinging about the reduced coverage of PR but the fact is often little happens in the early stages of a women's race. There is little fighting for the break and often there is no break which makes for uninspiring racing.

This was something that I had hoped would change to be honest - several years ago there would frequently be no break-of-the-day action, because well, there was no TV coverage so no reason for those small teams to get out there and get coverage of their sponsors or anything. But what you tended to get instead was that there would be several attempts, ramping up in frequency as the race went on, to try to split the bunch and forge escape groups, meaning the pace went up and down frequently, and often because the races were short in duration and there was a huge discrepancy between the strongest and weakest riders in a race, once it did break up, that was usually decisive. This also allowed a few teams and riders who were simply overpowered in strength to get away without needing much by way of tactical acument and just brute forcing their way to the right selection. The 'break of the day' action tended to be reserved for races like the Giro and the Tour de l'Aude where there was a bit of coverage, or even if there wasn't, there were smaller teams who would take advantage of the big name riders wanting to use certain days for recovery, and trying to win stages where the break was allowed to go. There are a small handful of riders I remember specifically for these kind of escapades. Now so many more races have TV coverage I figured that we'd see more races seeing attacks for TV time, although I guess we are seeing fewer teams and riders going for that approach on the men's side too now that the péloton don't even let them get enough of a lead to even imagine staying away most of the time, it's just that at least the practice still exists on that side of the sport.

As the races have got longer and the level in the bunch has got stronger, we have seen that the earlier attacks have grown rarer because both the amount of riders able to chase is larger and the distance to the finish is usually further, but this has not been counterbalanced by an increase in break-of-the-day type exploits, meaning we have the péloton riding as a pack longer, but also because they aren't having to continually change pace to deal with speculative moves, or at least aren't having to do so as often, they are then less likely to be split or defeated by the moves from the big names until quite late on. The racing is still in the process of adapting to the increased professionalism and the increased variety in courses being raced, but this is unfortunately leading to a fair few disappointing races in the current environment.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

The finish being where it is does not help because it allows "final Cauberg shootout" to be a thing that is always in the riders' minds;

But that's now three editions in a row where the "final Cauberg shootout" has not been decisive, so something being a potential false consideration is arguably a good thing in mixing up the thinking and tactics somewhat.

 

[Divergence]

This was something that I had hoped would change to be honest - several years ago there would frequently be no break-of-the-day action, because well, there was no TV coverage so no reason for those small teams to get out there and get coverage of their sponsors or anything. But what you tended to get instead was that there would be several attempts, ramping up in frequency as the race went on, to try to split the bunch and forge escape groups, meaning the pace went up and down frequently, and often because the races were short in duration and there was a huge discrepancy between the strongest and weakest riders in a race, once it did break up, that was usually decisive. This also allowed a few teams and riders who were simply overpowered in strength to get away without needing much by way of tactical acument and just brute forcing their way to the right selection. The 'break of the day' action tended to be reserved for races like the Giro and the Tour de l'Aude where there was a bit of coverage, or even if there wasn't, there were smaller teams who would take advantage of the big name riders wanting to use certain days for recovery, and trying to win stages where the break was allowed to go. There are a small handful of riders I remember specifically for these kind of escapades. Now so many more races have TV coverage I figured that we'd see more races seeing attacks for TV time, although I guess we are seeing fewer teams and riders going for that approach on the men's side too now that the péloton don't even let them get enough of a lead to even imagine staying away most of the time, it's just that at least the practice still exists on that side of the sport.

As the races have got longer and the level in the bunch has got stronger, we have seen that the earlier attacks have grown rarer because both the amount of riders able to chase is larger and the distance to the finish is usually further, but this has not been counterbalanced by an increase in break-of-the-day type exploits, meaning we have the péloton riding as a pack longer, but also because they aren't having to continually change pace to deal with speculative moves, or at least aren't having to do so as often, they are then less likely to be split or defeated by the moves from the big names until quite late on. The racing is still in the process of adapting to the increased professionalism and the increased variety in courses being raced, but this is unfortunately leading to a fair few disappointing races in the current environment.

One of the big changes in cycling after 2020 is that there are less and less breakaways for TV time. I do not have the exact statistics but I think that most of the time it is quite difficult to get into a breakaway and once you are there you have a chance to win because the riders willing to control the race spent a lot of bullets chasing the previously unsuccessful breakaways. But, of course, for this you have to have quite a lot of riders capable of riding quite fast for their respective teams and I think that is missing in the woman's peloton.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I was unable to watch the race due to me being away with my family this weekend. However, on a Friday I drove past the SUEZ offices in Aarhus and then Gery went on to win BP afterwards. Today I only drove past them after AGR was done so I take full responsibility for FDJ not getting the victory.

UAE have been strong this year, but things haven't worked out for them in the bigger races before today. Blasi is a beast, but she obviously needed some luck to pull it off, and today the stars aligned for her.

 

[RedheadDane]

However, on a Friday I drove past the SUEZ offices in Aarhus and then Gery went on to win BP afterwards.

I went past them twice* Friday, and it was my birthday.
I claim credit for her win!





*Unless they have some other secret office apart from that on Chr. X road.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I went past them twice* Friday, and it was my birthday.
I claim credit for her win!





*Unless they have some other secret office apart from that on Chr. X road.

Oh, so it was your fault Vollering didn't win? You owe me some CQ points! (And belated happy birthday).

 

[RedheadDane]

Oh, so it was your fault Vollering didn't win? You owe me some CQ points! (And belated happy birthday).

I didn't go past the office today! It's Sunday... I'm not going to work!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

One of the big changes in cycling after 2020 is that there are less and less breakaways for TV time. I do not have the exact statistics but I think that most of the time it is quite difficult to get into a breakaway and once you are there you have a chance to win because the riders willing to control the race spent a lot of bullets chasing the previously unsuccessful breakaways. But, of course, for this you have to have quite a lot of riders capable of riding quite fast for their respective teams and I think that is missing in the woman's peloton.

Is that for cycling in general or just women's?

I can think of a few converging factors that would contribute to men's race seeing fewer breakaways of that manner - the reduction in the number of wildcard invites available to organisers meaning more teams are secure in their participation and don't have to make deals on animation to secure their invitation; the UCI points system meaning that teams from ranking positions 12-13 or so down will be on the hunt to score points and in stages which aren't obviously designated as "let the break take this one by minutes", that means having a sprinter who can finish 5th or so is more valuable than having somebody up the road; the refining of the train template in the HTC days meaning that the break could be held at 2-3 minutes all day and then collected whenever required (usually as late as possible to prevent anybody else trying their luck) rather than gaining 7-8 minutes or more and then being slowly reeled back when it was the Saeco or Fassa Bortolo trains beforehand meant that miscalculations by the bunch became ever rarer; the resource gap between the top WT teams and the wildcard teams growing ever larger such that unknown riders in the break being strong enough to hold off the group has become almost inconceivable, as well as meaning that the top teams are strong enough that they aren't usually bothered about off-loading the leaders' jersey; also the relative marginalisation of secondary classifications such that the KOM invariably goes to a GC man and intermediate sprints have been cut in number (and increased in value for the bunch, meaning they often don't allow large groups so that they can score sprint points at the intermediate, and the larger a breakaway group the more chance it has of still being fresh enough at the end of the race).

On the women's side I just think they have never developed that TV breakaway culture that men's cycling has had for decades, and now they're in a position where it might be able to take root, it's at a time in cycling when the practice is becoming less and less common overall.

 

[jmdirt]

Congrats PB!
I love it when a rider goes out and TAKES the race!

 

[jmdirt]

Not really, I tuned in and immedialety saw the WC champ being dropped from a 50 women peloton struggling. Thats not worthy IMO.

Of course, once you win the WC you should win every race moving forward and never have an off day.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Of course, once you win the WC you should win every race moving forward and never have an off day.

Yes, thats defintiely what I said.

 

[Sciatic]

Just watched the last 25km. That was very strange; peloton was about 25 seconds back when Blasi attacked at the bottom of the penultimate Cauberg. And then they just let her ride away to the win? Did they not realize she was up there? But great win for Blasi--loved the UAE team celebrating together at the finish

 

[Sciatic]

Blasi was dropped at one point. But she played it perfectly after. And still had the legs to take it home.

even with a slightly wrong turn--crazy that there wasn't a flagger at that spot.

 

[Divergence]

Is that for cycling in general or just women's?

I can think of a few converging factors that would contribute to men's race seeing fewer breakaways of that manner - the reduction in the number of wildcard invites available to organisers meaning more teams are secure in their participation and don't have to make deals on animation to secure their invitation; the UCI points system meaning that teams from ranking positions 12-13 or so down will be on the hunt to score points and in stages which aren't obviously designated as "let the break take this one by minutes", that means having a sprinter who can finish 5th or so is more valuable than having somebody up the road; the refining of the train template in the HTC days meaning that the break could be held at 2-3 minutes all day and then collected whenever required (usually as late as possible to prevent anybody else trying their luck) rather than gaining 7-8 minutes or more and then being slowly reeled back when it was the Saeco or Fassa Bortolo trains beforehand meant that miscalculations by the bunch became ever rarer; the resource gap between the top WT teams and the wildcard teams growing ever larger such that unknown riders in the break being strong enough to hold off the group has become almost inconceivable, as well as meaning that the top teams are strong enough that they aren't usually bothered about off-loading the leaders' jersey; also the relative marginalisation of secondary classifications such that the KOM invariably goes to a GC man and intermediate sprints have been cut in number (and increased in value for the bunch, meaning they often don't allow large groups so that they can score sprint points at the intermediate, and the larger a breakaway group the more chance it has of still being fresh enough at the end of the race).

On the women's side I just think they have never developed that TV breakaway culture that men's cycling has had for decades, and now they're in a position where it might be able to take root, it's at a time in cycling when the practice is becoming less and less common overall.

What I wrote is for the men's peloton.
I lose interest when there is a breakaway up the road because the other theme/riders do not care about that stage (of course this rarely happens at one day races). That is why I enjoy the all out cycling of nowadays and when GTs have boring sprinters days is when watching is not interesting and people crash.

I am glad if it is really true that in the woman's peloton that nonsense TV time breakaway never developed but I am not really sure about that. Also, I think there are more races where the favorites just decide to not bother (even at important races such as today) and let someone go up the road and take it. That is why I thought today was a disservice for women's cycling.

 

[Andy262]

Yes, thats defintiely what I said.

Of course Mads wasn’t a WC one off either….

 

[Libertine Seguros]

What I wrote is for the men's peloton.
I lose interest when there is a breakaway up the road because the other theme/riders do not care about that stage (of course this rarely happens at one day races). That is why I enjoy the all out cycling of nowadays and when GTs have boring sprinters days is when watching is not interesting and people crash.

I am glad if it is really true that in the woman's peloton that nonsense TV time breakaway never developed but I am not really sure about that. Also, I think there are more races where the favorites just decide to not bother (even at important races such as today) and let someone go up the road and take it. That is why I thought today was a disservice for women's cycling.

The nonsense TV time breakaway never really developed because there wasn't TV time for it to be useful for. It used to mean that you would get frequent speculative darts that would gain a few seconds, then be chased, then another would go, then be chased, until the right composition that got away and was decisive occurred. Recent changes in women's cycling have led to this not being as successful and those earlier speculative moves being seen as of less value, which has led to much more racing where the péloton is just heading along gruppo compatto.

Think of it as being like, when the break of the day in men's cycling is not pre-arranged, and there's a scrap to be in it, how the first part of the stage would be interesting as people battled over getting in the break, then the last part of the stage would be interesting as the break was chased down, but the bit in the middle was just holding station with the commentators finding factoids about the riders in the breakaway to fill airtime. Before, women's cycling just cut that middle bit down to minimal amounts. Now, we increasingly see stretches of race that are like that middle bit, only without the benefit of a breakaway to discuss.

 

[yaco]

What I wrote is for the men's peloton.
I lose interest when there is a breakaway up the road because the other theme/riders do not care about that stage (of course this rarely happens at one day races). That is why I enjoy the all out cycling of nowadays and when GTs have boring sprinters days is when watching is not interesting and people crash.

I am glad if it is really true that in the woman's peloton that nonsense TV time breakaway never developed but I am not really sure about that. Also, I think there are more races where the favorites just decide to not bother (even at important races such as today) and let someone go up the road and take it. That is why I thought today was a disservice for women's cycling.

It was shocking that Lidl Trek had four riders in the peleton and only in the final 12kms did they put a rider in the front. This is such a failure?

 

[JR1012]

Just watched the last 25km. That was very strange; peloton was about 25 seconds back when Blasi attacked at the bottom of the penultimate Cauberg. And then they just let her ride away to the win? Did they not realize she was up there? But great win for Blasi--loved the UAE team celebrating together at the finish

Well FDJ tried but they were to tired and at one point I think Vollering was isolated. Trek probably didnt wanted to gift the win to Vollering or Kasia.

 

[PetPaima]

Blasi was dropped at one point. But she played it perfectly after. And still had the legs to take it home.

Yep, she was way back and dropped from peloton up Geulhemmerberg on penultimate lap (the same she made the winning attack) but paced back through the caravan on Marianne Vos' wheel. You can see two of them rejoining with 32 kms to go.

One of the most enjoyable winner's interviews ever!!!

 

[Didinho]

Lorena handing out bottles after her DNF.

*had a picture but error when loading here*

 

[JR1012]

Lorena handing out bottles after her DNF.

*had a picture but error when loading here*

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[RedheadDane]

I love that she kept her helmet on.