The Ardennes Week aperitif. The Amstel Gold Race will take place this Sunday, April 19, between Maastricht and Berg en Terblijt, in the Netherlands. On the schedule, 257 kilometers and 33 listed difficulties including the famous Cauberg, the very last climb on the riders’ route.
After Mattias Skjelmose’s success in 2025, sprinting in a group of three ahead of Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel, the 2026 edition looks promising. While the Slovenian world champion winner in 2023 will not be present, nor the British Tom Pidcock (winner in 2024), the defending champion is back to defend his crown along with Evenepoel aiming for a first victory.
It has been 45 years since a French rider has won the Dutch classic. It was in 1981, Bernard Hinault dominated the sprint ahead of Belgian riders Roger de Vlaeminck and Fons de Wolf. And before Hinault? Jean Stablinski won the very first edition in 1966, held on April 30, the national holiday. The French rider surpassed Belgian Bernard van de Kerckhove and Dutchman Jan Hugens.
Two small French victories in 59 editions… will the third one happen this Sunday, April 19, 2026?
