The Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition returns on Sunday, 20th April 2025. Following the disappearance of the Ronde van Drenthe, the Amstel Gold Race Women is the Netherlands’ only Women’s WorldTour one-day event this year. It’s a loss for Dutch cycling, but the Amstel Gold Race Women remains a major classic that offers everything that makes Limburg’s roads special—narrow, punchy, chaotic—and is a key stop in the spring classics campaign.
This will be the 11th edition of the modern race, and the formula remains familiar: a lengthy approach through South Limburg’s twisting lanes followed by a brutal closing circuit packed with climbs. At the heart of it all, as ever, lies the Cauberg—a short but punishing ascent that continues to define the race.
Last year’s edition produced one of the most memorable finishes in recent memory. Marianne Vos claimed her second win at the race after Lorena Wiebes, seemingly on her way to victory, sat up too early and was caught right on the line. Vos timed her sprint perfectly, pipping Wiebes by a wheel and becoming the first two-time winner since the race returned to the calendar in 2017. Behind them, Ingvild Gaskjenn, Pfeiffer Georgi and Elisa Longo Borghini rounded out the top five.
Photo Credit: GettyDemi Vollering, who won in 2023 with a well-timed attack, played the role of teammate last year and finished 22nd after working for Wiebes. This year, Wiebes returns as the likely favourite. She’s in exceptional form after a dominant spring that’s seen her win Sanremo Women, Gent-Wevelgem, Le Samyn, and Classic Brugge-De Panne. While the Cauberg may suit the climbers and puncheurs, Wiebes has shown she can survive the hills and still deliver one of the strongest sprints in the peloton.
The 2025 route introduces just one notable change: the early addition of the Nijswillerweg climb. Otherwise, it’s the same selective pattern. After around 60 kilometres, the key sequence of Kruisberg, Eyserbosweg, Fromberg and Keutenberg comes in rapid succession. From there, the riders enter the finishing circuit around Valkenburg, tackling the Cauberg, Geulhemmerberg and Bemelerberg four times. On the final lap, a slight detour after the Bemelerberg tweaks the run-in to the finish.
As ever, the race is unlikely to be decided on the Cauberg alone. The climb is steep and sharp, but the finish lies a few kilometres further on, favouring those who can either solo clear or sprint from a reduced group. That balance between punchy attackers and powerful sprinters remains the central tension of the Amstel Gold Race Women.
Previous Winners
2024
Marianne Vos
2023
Demi Vollering
2022
Marta Cavalli
2025 Amstel Gold Race Women Race Profile
Live TV Coverage
Sunday 20th April 2025
Live on Discovery+/Max/TNT Sports Online across most of Europe
Live from 12:00-13:30
All times in BST
Twitter: #AGR25 or #AGRwomen
Startlist: FirstCycling
Amstel Gold Race Women 2025 Contenders
Lorena Wiebes has unfinished business at the Amstel Gold Race Women. She came heartbreakingly close last year, finishing 2nd after making it over the Cauberg and into a sprinting position, only to raise her arms in victory too early. Her form in 2025 has been near-flawless with major wins at Gent-Wevelgem, Classic Brugge–De Panne, and Sanremo Women, reinforcing her dominance in fast finishes. Whether the course gets the better of her again or not may depend more on how hard others ride the Cauberg than on her own limitations. Lotte Kopecky, a punchier, more all-round rider, was 2nd here in 2023 and sacrificed her own Paris-Roubaix Femmes ambitions last weekend to ride for Wiebes. That dynamic could repeat again here, especially if the race comes back together late. Still, if the opportunity presents itself, Kopecky has the legs to attack solo or win from a reduced group. Anna van der Breggen, a past winner here in 2017, returns to a race where she’s usually ridden for others. She’s building towards Flèche Wallonne and Liège, and might play a similar domestique role here while taking the chance to test herself mid-race if the moment suits.
Marianne Vos always rises to the occasion at Amstel Gold Race Women, a race she’s won twice — in 2021 and again in 2024 — and finished on the podium another two times. No other rider has matched her record here. Even in a peloton with so many rising stars, Vos knows how to use the course’s rhythm to her advantage, timing attacks on the Cauberg or reacting sharply to the right moves. This will be her biggest spring goal ahead of the more climbing-based Ardennes Classics. She’ll have support from Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, fresh from winning Paris-Roubaix Femmes at the weekend. The Frenchwoman has pedigree here (8th in 2017), but this time she’ll be fully committed to helping Vos, as she did perfectly at Sanremo Women. Eva van Agt, 21st last year, is a natural fit for domestique duties, but she’s aggressive enough to launch pressure moves mid-race and force other teams to chase.
Kasia Niewiadoma is one of the most tactically consistent performers at the Amstel Gold Race Women, and finally added a long-awaited win here back in 2019. Since then, she’s remained a constant presence near the front, finishing 4th last year, 5th in 2022, and 3rd in 2017. Her performance at the Tour of Flanders this spring, where she finished 4th, was her first top-10 of 2025 and a clear sign she’s building form for this block of races. If Amstel Gold Race Women stays selective and disorganised, Niewiadoma will attack. She always does. Soraya Paladin adds a solid second option for Canyon SRAM zondacrypto. A three-time 5th-place finisher (2019, 2021, 2023) and 10th last year, she handles the Cauberg well and often finds herself in the top group. The concern is form — she’s yet to finish in the top 10 this season, with her best result coming back in January at Trofeo Palma Femina.
There’s no ambiguity about leadership at FDJ-Suez—Demi Vollering will have full support as she targets her second victory at Amstel Gold Race Women. She won in 2023 after back-to-back 2nd-place finishes in 2021 and 2022, and was also 7th in 2019. Last year’s 22nd was an outlier, shaped in part by her role in helping teammates earlier in the day. Now, without that obligation, Vollering has looked ready to peak again, already winning Strade Bianche and placing 4th at Sanremo Women. Her form is trending upward just in time for the Ardennes. She’s backed by Juliette Labous, who has a strong record of consistency here—11th in 2022, 18th in 2023, and 19th last year—and Amber Kraak, 8th in 2024 and the kind of strong engine who can help set tempo or chase late attacks. Expect both to play defensive roles as Vollering goes on the offensive.
Photo Credit: GettyFew riders in the peloton have been as consistently close to cracking Amstel Gold Race Women as Elisa Longo Borghini. 5th last year, 5th again in 2017, and 8th in 2021, she’s always been in the mix—but has never quite been able to break away decisively enough to avoid a fast finish that doesn’t favour her. That said, she’s arrived in good form, passing her comeback test with a win at Brabantse Pijl after suffering a concussion at Flanders. The solo victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen just before that showed that her trademark strength is still there. If the race breaks apart late, Longo Borghini could finally get her shot. Silvia Persico will likely be riding in support, though she remains a strong card to play if things open up. She was 9th in 2023 but has been erratic this spring—5th at Tour of Flanders one week, then anonymous the next. UAE Team ADQ also has Eleonora Gasparrini, who produced a surprise 6th place here last year by surviving the Cauberg and delivering a strong sprint. Her best 2025 result was also a 6th, at Omloop het Nieuwsblad, but the rest of her Classics campaign has been muted. If she repeats last year’s climbing, she could be the team’s fastest finisher once again.
Elisa Balsamo is likely to lead Lidl–Trek, but this is a race that hasn’t always delivered for her. She’s been top-10 before—8th in 2022 and 10th in 2019—but struggled in other editions, including 76th in 2023 and 49th in 2021. Her best shot comes if she can stay in touch on the final Cauberg ascent and then rely on her sprint. Anna Henderson is a useful Plan B; she was 11th here last year and has been climbing as well as anyone in the team this spring. If Balsamo is dropped or isolated, Henderson might be allowed to chase her own result. Lucinda Brand, a past runner-up in 2018, should be working for others this time around, but her experience will be vital late in the race. Riejanne Markus, 4th back in 2018 and consistent with 14th in both 2022 and 2023, has had a disrupted spring, including DNFs at both Strade Bianche and Trofeo Alfredo Binda, and may be some way off the sharp end.
Few riders have a record as consistently strong at the Amstel Gold Race Women as Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio. Top-10 finishes in five separate editions show exactly how well the race suits her, but not having the top-end sprint to finish it off remains the challenge. Her 7th last year and in 2022, along with 8th in 2023 and 9th in both 2021 and 2017, mark her as one of the most reliable climbers on the course. That said, she’s had a very quiet start to 2025, including a modest 19th overall at the UAE Tour, where she struggled on Jebel Hafeet. She’s reset since and will be aiming to come into the Ardennes block sharper. Another good option in AG Insurance–Soudal colours is Kim le Court, who has had another strong spring. Top-5 finishes at both the Tour of Flanders and Sanremo Women show that she has the speed and power to handle this kind of effort. If Moolman-Pasio marks the main moves, Le Court could pounce late or win from a small group sprint.
Puck Pieterse arrives with the kind of form and profile that should translate well to Amstel Gold Race Women—even if she’s never raced it before. She skipped Paris-Roubaix specifically to prepare for this part of the calendar, and with her top-10 finishes in every road race she’s done in 2025, her climbing and off-road handling make her well-suited to the punchy, technical course. Yara Kastelijn will be a natural choice to help on the Cauberg and is no stranger to performing here, finishing 9th last year and 13th in 2022. Whether Fenix–Deceuninck rides all-in for Pieterse or plays a more reactive role remains to be seen, but the pieces are in place for a strong showing either way.
Photo Credit: GettyMarlen Reusser has always been one of the strongest riders in the bunch on rolling terrain, and now with a freer role at Movistar, Amstel Gold Race Women may finally give her the platform to show it. Her best results here so far have been muted—19th in 2022 and 30th in 2021—largely due to riding in the service of others at SD Worx. But this time, the Swiss rider could well be the one causing problems, not covering them. Her trademark power lends itself perfectly to launching over the top of the Cauberg or forcing a split before the final selection, and if a group hesitates behind, Reusser can time trial away from almost anyone. In support, Liane Lippert brings a proven Amstel pedigree. She was 3rd in 2022, 15th in 2023, and looks to be peaking at just the right time with her 3rd place at the Tour of Flanders. If the race breaks apart over the climbs, Lippert will be among the last riders standing and remains a very real podium threat.
All eyes at Uno-X Mobility will be on Ingvild Gåskjenn to back up her podium finish from last year. 3rd in 2024 was by far her best Amstel Gold Race Women result, improving on 25th from 2022 and showing her ability to endure repeated short climbs and still have something left in the finale. This spring, however, has been more low-key. She last raced over a month ago, finishing 55th at Sanremo Women, and hasn’t matched her early-season form since a strong ride at Setmana Valenciana, where she was 2nd on Stage 3. If she can rediscover that level, she’ll be a dark horse again, but there’s a risk she’ll need a few race days to sharpen up.
Letizia Paternoster makes her Amstel Gold Race Women debut this year, but signs from her 2025 season suggest she could be a threat. She’s managed top-15s in harder races—5th at Trofeo Alfredo Binda, 13th at Gent-Wevelgem, and 14th at Tour of Flanders—and with a clean run, she’s got the acceleration to hang on over the climbs and still deliver in a small group sprint. Silke Smulders is perhaps the strongest climbing option on Liv AlUla Jayco’s roster. She was 10th at Strade Bianche and 5th at the Cadel Evans Road Race, and already has some experience here with 20th in 2022. If the pace goes up early, she could help soften up the race or be allowed to go for a result. Quinty Ton continues to impress this spring, most recently making the early break at Paris-Roubaix. Amstel Gold Race Women may prove just a touch too hilly for her to hang on to the front group late on, but she’ll be useful in forcing other teams to chase. Caroline Andersson, 32nd last year, has improved steadily through the season, including strong top-10 finishes at Trofeo Oro in Euro and Clasica de Almeria. On a good day, she could punch above expectations and finish inside the top 20.
Margot Vanpachtenbeke leads the VolkerWessels squad and could be a top-20 contender if the race unfolds in her favour. She was 46th last year but her spring includes a top-10 at Trofeo Oro in Euro, which shows her condition has been steadily building. Eline Jansen hasn’t raced since Gent-Wevelgem, where she finished 16th, but she climbs well and sprints better than many of her peers. Her 28th here in 2024 gives her a base to build on, especially if the peloton hesitates heading into the final lap. Anne Knijnenburg, who was 86th last year, has been a standout in lower-level stage races this season—2nd overall at Région Pays de la Loire Tour and 4th at Trofeo Oro in Euro suggest she could play an attacking role if given the green light.
It’s been a long road back to form for Marta Cavalli, but the signs are improving. The 2022 Amstel Gold Race Women winner looked untouchable in the Ardennes classics that spring, before her career was dramatically halted by a heavy crash later that year. Since then, consistency has been hard to find, but her 13th at Sanremo Women was one of her most encouraging rides in a long time. If she continues to build rhythm, a top-10 finish isn’t out of the question—even if matching that historic win remains a long shot. Pfeiffer Georgi, on the other hand, has turned herself into a reliable top-tier performer at Amstel. 4th in 2024, 7th in 2023, she knows how to ride this race. Her ability to respond to attacks and hold position through repeated accelerations gives her a real shot at being in the final group once again. Winning may require the perfect scenario—one where she gets away with one or two others—since her sprint isn’t quite on par with the fastest finishers. Still, her tactical intelligence often buys her space when others misjudge the timing.
Kristen Faulkner is a rider who always feels like a potential disruptor at the Amstel Gold Race Women but has yet to fully convert. She was 15th in 2021 and 19th last year, but the run-in to the Cauberg isn’t always ideal for her style. She’s best when going long or powering clear on climbs with fewer accelerations. With only two race days under her belt in 2025—Sanremo Women and Brabantse Pijl—there’s a question around sharpness. Cédrine Kerbaol presents a similar profile: powerful, aggressive, and capable of a long-range threat. Her 2025 has included solid results—20th at Binda, 21st at Sanremo Women, and a podium at Trofeo Binissalem Andratx. The question is whether the repeated rhythm of the Cauberg will drain too much energy before the finish. Noemi Rüegg is perhaps the team’s most balanced option. She climbs well, sprints better than most puncheurs, and if she times her effort right, a top result is within reach. This will be her Amstel debut, but the parcours fits her skillset, and a podium isn’t out of the question with a clean run.
Amstel Gold Race Women 2025 Outsiders
Eugenia Bujak returns to the Amstel Gold Race Women for the first time since her 9th place back in 2018. Now with Cofidis, the Slovenian has put together a solid 2025 campaign with 6th at GP Oetingen and 13th at both Nokere Koerse and Clasica de Almeria. She’s not the punchiest rider, but if the pace is steady on the Cauberg and she’s positioned well, she could still make it into the mix for a top-20 finish.
Vera Tieleman has emerged as one of the most promising names from the Continental level this spring. The 2025 Amstel Gold Race Women will be another opportunity to show she belongs in bigger races. She’s never raced here before, but her results at the Classics have been impossible to ignore: 22nd at Paris-Roubaix, 31st at Tour of Flanders, and 25th at Gent-Wevelgem, all while frequently getting into breakaways. If she’s given freedom to race aggressively again, she could find herself in the late selection or feature as part of an early move that hangs on longer than expected.
Lucy Lee has a strong sprint; if this were a flatter finish, she’d be more in the conversation. The Cauberg, however, is likely to test her limits in this company. The DAS Hutchinson rider picked up a morale-boosting win at the Kennel Hill Classic and had some decent 20-something finishes in Mallorca earlier in the year. A solid ride from her would be finishing with the second group on the road.
Alexis Magner brings experience and a smart racing head to Cynisca Cycling. It’s been years since her 5th place here back in 2018, but her return to the European scene in 2025 has been encouraging. She hasn’t cracked the top-10 yet, but rides like 12th at Vuelta CV Feminas, 14th at Clasica de Almeria, 17th at Omloop van het Hageland, and 24th at Scheldeprijs show a rider consistently near the front. With her finishing speed, she’s a good shout to win the sprint from the second group if things go as expected.
Magdalene Lind may get her chance to step forward for Team Coop–Repsol, especially with Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset missing out due to a hip fracture. Lind has been consistent this season, with 19th at Clasica de Almeria and 15th on the final stage at Vuelta Extremadura Feminas. She’s often ridden in support but always finishes reliably around the top 30. This could be her opportunity to test herself deeper in a major one-day race. India Grangier could also feature, having been active in similar terrain and finishing 23rd at Brabantse Pijl this week.
Top 3 Prediction
⦿ Lorena Wiebes
⦿ Marianne Vos
⦿ Demi Vollering
