Amstel Gold Race 2016 - Hills and climbs on Google Maps

Details: Category: Limburg - places to visit...

The Amstel Gold Race is an annual road bicycle race in the province of Limburg, the Netherlands. It traditionally marks the turning point of the spring classics, with the climbers and stage racers replacing the cobbled classics riders as the favourites.

Since 1989 the event has been included in season-long competitions at the highest level of UCI, as part of the UCI Road World Cup (1989–2004), the UCI ProTour (2005–2010), UCI World Ranking (2009–2010) and since 2011 of the UCI World Tour. It is the only one-day World Tour race staged in the Netherlands and is considered the most important Dutch road cycling event. Dutchman Jan Raas holds the winning record with five victories.

Dutch beer brewer Amstel has served as the race's title sponsor since its creation in 1966. The name does not directly refer to the river Amstel, which runs through the city of Amsterdam.

Route
Although the Netherlands are known for their flat, wind-affected roads, the Amstel Gold Race takes place in the hilly southern region of Limburg. The route twists through the rolling Limburg countryside, often turning abruptly to climb as many hills (bergs) as possible. The most notable climb is the Cauberg, which is covered four times, the last time at the very end of the race finale. The total distance is 250 km. Team tactics and race knowledge often play a vital part in deciding the winner of the race.

Hills (See table with most hills and climbs)
The present course features more than 30 short climbs which come in greater succession as the race progresses, meaning riders have little time to recover in between the hills. 25 climbs are covered in the last 165 kilometers of the race, with eight coming in the final 45 kilometers. The steepest are the Cauberg, Keutenberg and Eyserbosweg. Some ascents are as steep as 22% (Keutenberg), others are more gently sloped. In contrast to the cobbled bergs in the Tour of Flanders, all the hills in Limburg are aspahlted nowadays.

Hills and climbs in the Amstel Gold Race

Number	Name	Kilometer	Location	Length (in m)	Average climb (%)
1	Slingerberg	9	Geulle	1200	5,4
2	Adsteeg	14	Beek	500	5,4
3	Lange Raarberg	22	Meerssen	1300	4,5
4	Bergseweg	38	Voerendaal	2700	3,3
5	Sibbergrubbe	50	Valkenburg	2100	4,1
6	Cauberg	54	Valkenburg	1200	5,8
7	Geulhemmerweg	59	Valkenburg	1000	6,2
8	Wolfsberg	78	Noorbeek	800	4,4
9	Loorberg	81	Slenaken	1500	5,5
10	Schweibergerweg	93	Gulpen	2900	3,9
11	Camerig	99	Vijlen	4300	3,8
12	Drielandenpunt	110	Vaals	3700	3,7
13	Gemmenich	114	Blieberg	900	6,4
14	Vijlenerbos	118	Vaals	1800	5,1
15	Eperheide	127	Epen	2300	4,1
16	Gulperberg	135	Gulpen	700	8,1
17	Plettenbergweg	142	Eys	1000	4,2

Number	Name	Kilometer	Location	Length (in m)	Average climb (%)
18	Eyserweg	144	Eys	2200	4,3
19	Huls	148	Simpelveld	1000	7,7
20	Vrakelberg	154	Voerendaal	700	7,9
21	Sibbergrubbe	161	Valkenburg	2100	4,1
22	Cauberg	166	Valkenburg	1200	5,8
23	Geulhemmerweg	170	Valkenburg	1000	6,2
24	Bemelerberg	183	Bemelen	900	5,0
25	Loorberg	198	Slenaken	1500	5,5
26	Gulperberg	208	Gulpen	700	8,1
27	Kruisberg	217	Wahlwiller	800	7,5
28	Eyserbosweg	219	Eys	1100	8,1
29	Fromberg	222	Fromberg	1600	4,0
30	Keutenberg	227	Keutenberg	700	9,4
31	Cauberg	237	Valkenburg	1200	5,8
32	Geulhemmerweg	242	Valkenburg	1000	6,2
33	Bemelerberg	250	Bemelen	900	5,0
34	Cauberg	255	Valkenburg	1200	5,8

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