Preparation guide · Amstel Gold Race Toerversie (cyclo-sportive)
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 2027: how to prepare it and what to eat and drink
The next edition is on Saturday 17 April 2027 (provisional date: the organisers haven't confirmed it yet; in 2026 it was held on 18 April. Start time is indicative), starting in Limburg (Netherlands) at 8:00. Here you have the route of Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 65 km, Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 100 km, Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 125 km, Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 150 km, Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 200 km and Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 240 km, its climbs, the usual weather and how much to eat and drink for your target time.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 65 km: route and profile
Official 2026 GPX. Hills located on the track; length and gradient measured on it (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg: published figures).
The climbs and key sections, one by one
| Climb or section | Length | What it's like and how to ride it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Adsteeg km 32.8 | 0.6 km avg 4 % | First hill of the day, short and gentle. It's the first of many: ride it easy and see how your legs respond. |
| 2. Lange Raarberg km 40.5 | 0.8 km avg 4.9 % | Straight, steady climb in Meerssen. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 3. Sibbergrubbe km 58.5 | 1.8 km avg 3.8 % | Gentle climb up a hollow between fields towards Sibbe. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 4. Cauberg km 63 | 0.8 km avg 5.8 % · max 12 % | The Amstel's most famous hill: it leaves the centre of Valkenburg, hardest at the start and close to the finish. Spend whatever you have left here, but don't start flat out from the bottom: the first ramp is the hardest. Enjoy it, it's the last one. |
Route keys
- This is the Toerversie, the Amstel Gold Race cyclo-sportive, the Saturday before the professional race: six distances, from 65 to 240 km, over the short, back-to-back hills of southern Limburg (Netherlands).
- What matters here isn't the total climbing but the number of short, hard hills: each is a 1 to 4 minute effort (the Camerig, over 10). Train 1–3 minute repeats at 105–115 % of FTP and recover by spinning, without stopping.
- Don't ride them all flat out: on the long ones, below your threshold; on the short ones, at most just above, seated and with your gear selected beforehand. The hard ones (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg) come at the end.
- Gearing: compact 50/34 with 11-32. The Keutenberg goes over 20 % and the Eyserbosweg over 15 %: with a big sprocket you can climb them seated.
5 more keys in WinWatts: with the forecast for the days before, the wind and heat section by section, and on which climbs to eat and drink.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 65 km: what to eat and drink
How much a typical rider (72 kg) needs depending on their time. From 2–3 hours on, what matters most is eating carbs regularly (every 20–30 minutes) and drinking before you're thirsty.
| Total time | Carbs per hour | Total carbs | Drink per hour | Total drink | Sodium per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 h 30 | 60 g/h | 110 g | 400 ml/h | 1.0 l | 300 mg/h |
| 3 h | 75 g/h | 150 g | 400 ml/h | 1.2 l | 300 mg/h |
| 3 h 30 | 75 g/h | 185 g | 400 ml/h | 1.4 l | 300 mg/h |
| 4 h | 75 g/h | 220 g | 400 ml/h | 1.6 l | 300 mg/h |
More than 60–90 g of carbs per hour only if you've trained it. Don't try on race day what you haven't tolerated in training.
Section by section between feed stations (for about 3 h)
At the feed stations (km 37) you stop, eat something and refill your bottles. But what matters most is what you take on the move until the next one: this table tells you how much. You can pick it up at the station or carry your own gels and bars; what matters is spreading it out, not eating it all at once when you stop.
| Section | Duration | Carbs to take in the section | Drink in the section |
|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 → 37 | 1 h 37 | 120 g | 650 ml |
| km 37 → 65 | 1 h 23 | 105 g | 550 ml |
The key section is the first one: there's no feed station until km 37, so you leave Limburg with full bottles and about 120 g of carbs on you (for example, 2 gels and a bar).
Not going to take 3 h? In WinWatts you set your target time and the feed stations, and you see these sections with your real pace on each climb. You can also compare scenarios: what changes if you go faster or slower.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 65 km: weather in mid-April
What the weather was like on the Toerversie Saturday in recent editions:
| Year | Low | High | Rain | Max wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 ºC | 10 ºC | 0.0 mm | 14 km/h |
| 2023 | 5 ºC | 8 ºC | 0.0 mm | 11 km/h |
| 2024 | 5 ºC | 7 ºC | 0.3 mm | 17 km/h |
| 2025 | 7 ºC | 11 ºC | 0.0 mm | 8 km/h |
| 2026 | 10 ºC | 16 ºC | 0.0 mm | 8 km/h |
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 100 km: route and profile
Official 2026 GPX. Hills located on the track; length and gradient measured on it (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg: published figures).
The climbs and key sections, one by one
| Climb or section | Length | What it's like and how to ride it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Adsteeg km 32.8 | 0.6 km avg 4 % | First hill of the day, short and gentle. It's the first of many: ride it easy and see how your legs respond. |
| 2. Lange Raarberg km 40.5 | 0.8 km avg 4.9 % | Straight, steady climb in Meerssen. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 3. Bergstraat (Sweikhuizen) km 55.8 | 1.2 km avg 4.2 % | A climb of just over a kilometre between fields, often windy. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 4. Bergseweg km 76.7 | 2.1 km avg 3.5 % | Long by Limburg standards and gentle: 2 km below 4 %. One to ride in a group: steady pace, no surges, and use it to drink. |
| 5. Sibbergrubbe km 92 | 1.8 km avg 3.8 % | Gentle climb up a hollow between fields towards Sibbe. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 6. Cauberg km 96.4 | 0.8 km avg 5.8 % · max 12 % | The Amstel's most famous hill: it leaves the centre of Valkenburg, hardest at the start and close to the finish. Spend whatever you have left here, but don't start flat out from the bottom: the first ramp is the hardest. Enjoy it, it's the last one. |
Route keys
- This is the Toerversie, the Amstel Gold Race cyclo-sportive, the Saturday before the professional race: six distances, from 65 to 240 km, over the short, back-to-back hills of southern Limburg (Netherlands).
- What matters here isn't the total climbing but the number of short, hard hills: each is a 1 to 4 minute effort (the Camerig, over 10). Train 1–3 minute repeats at 105–115 % of FTP and recover by spinning, without stopping.
- Don't ride them all flat out: on the long ones, below your threshold; on the short ones, at most just above, seated and with your gear selected beforehand. The hard ones (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg) come at the end.
- Gearing: compact 50/34 with 11-32. The Keutenberg goes over 20 % and the Eyserbosweg over 15 %: with a big sprocket you can climb them seated.
5 more keys in WinWatts: with the forecast for the days before, the wind and heat section by section, and on which climbs to eat and drink.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 100 km: what to eat and drink
How much a typical rider (72 kg) needs depending on their time. From 2–3 hours on, what matters most is eating carbs regularly (every 20–30 minutes) and drinking before you're thirsty.
| Total time | Carbs per hour | Total carbs | Drink per hour | Total drink | Sodium per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 h 30 | 75 g/h | 185 g | 400 ml/h | 1.4 l | 300 mg/h |
| 4 h 15 | 75 g/h | 255 g | 400 ml/h | 1.7 l | 300 mg/h |
| 5 h | 75 g/h | 290 g | 400 ml/h | 2.0 l | 300 mg/h |
| 5 h 45 | 75 g/h | 330 g | 400 ml/h | 2.3 l | 300 mg/h |
More than 60–90 g of carbs per hour only if you've trained it. Don't try on race day what you haven't tolerated in training.
Section by section between feed stations (for about 4 h 15)
At the feed stations (km 37, 62) you stop, eat something and refill your bottles. But what matters most is what you take on the move until the next one: this table tells you how much. You can pick it up at the station or carry your own gels and bars; what matters is spreading it out, not eating it all at once when you stop.
| Section | Duration | Carbs to take in the section | Drink in the section |
|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 → 37 | 1 h 31 | 115 g | 600 ml |
| km 37 → 62 | 0 h 57 | 70 g | 400 ml |
| km 62 → 100 | 1 h 47 | 135 g | 700 ml |
The key section is the first one: there's no feed station until km 37, so you leave Limburg with full bottles and about 115 g of carbs on you (for example, 2 gels and a bar).
Not going to take 4 h 15? In WinWatts you set your target time and the feed stations, and you see these sections with your real pace on each climb. You can also compare scenarios: what changes if you go faster or slower.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 100 km: weather in mid-April
What the weather was like on the Toerversie Saturday in recent editions:
| Year | Low | High | Rain | Max wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 ºC | 12 ºC | 0.0 mm | 16 km/h |
| 2023 | 5 ºC | 11 ºC | 0.0 mm | 13 km/h |
| 2024 | 5 ºC | 8 ºC | 0.4 mm | 18 km/h |
| 2025 | 7 ºC | 12 ºC | 0.0 mm | 11 km/h |
| 2026 | 10 ºC | 17 ºC | 0.0 mm | 8 km/h |
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 125 km: route and profile
Official 2026 GPX. Hills located on the track; length and gradient measured on it (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg: published figures).
The climbs and key sections, one by one
| Climb or section | Length | What it's like and how to ride it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Adsteeg km 32.8 | 0.6 km avg 4 % | First hill of the day, short and gentle. It's the first of many: ride it easy and see how your legs respond. |
| 2. Lange Raarberg km 40.5 | 0.8 km avg 4.9 % | Straight, steady climb in Meerssen. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 3. Bergstraat (Sweikhuizen) km 55.9 | 1.2 km avg 4.2 % | A climb of just over a kilometre between fields, often windy. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 4. Bergseweg km 101.7 | 2.1 km avg 3.5 % | Long by Limburg standards and gentle: 2 km below 4 %. One to ride in a group: steady pace, no surges, and use it to drink. |
| 5. Sibbergrubbe km 117 | 1.8 km avg 3.8 % | Gentle climb up a hollow between fields towards Sibbe. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 6. Cauberg km 121.4 | 0.8 km avg 5.8 % · max 12 % | The Amstel's most famous hill: it leaves the centre of Valkenburg, hardest at the start and close to the finish. Spend whatever you have left here, but don't start flat out from the bottom: the first ramp is the hardest. Enjoy it, it's the last one. |
Route keys
- This is the Toerversie, the Amstel Gold Race cyclo-sportive, the Saturday before the professional race: six distances, from 65 to 240 km, over the short, back-to-back hills of southern Limburg (Netherlands).
- What matters here isn't the total climbing but the number of short, hard hills: each is a 1 to 4 minute effort (the Camerig, over 10). Train 1–3 minute repeats at 105–115 % of FTP and recover by spinning, without stopping.
- Don't ride them all flat out: on the long ones, below your threshold; on the short ones, at most just above, seated and with your gear selected beforehand. The hard ones (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg) come at the end.
- Gearing: compact 50/34 with 11-32. The Keutenberg goes over 20 % and the Eyserbosweg over 15 %: with a big sprocket you can climb them seated.
5 more keys in WinWatts: with the forecast for the days before, the wind and heat section by section, and on which climbs to eat and drink.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 125 km: what to eat and drink
How much a typical rider (72 kg) needs depending on their time. From 2–3 hours on, what matters most is eating carbs regularly (every 20–30 minutes) and drinking before you're thirsty.
| Total time | Carbs per hour | Total carbs | Drink per hour | Total drink | Sodium per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 h 30 | 75 g/h | 250 g | 400 ml/h | 1.8 l | 300 mg/h |
| 5 h 15 | 75 g/h | 295 g | 400 ml/h | 2.1 l | 300 mg/h |
| 6 h | 75 g/h | 365 g | 450 ml/h | 2.7 l | 300 mg/h |
| 7 h | 75 g/h | 440 g | 400 ml/h | 2.8 l | 300 mg/h |
More than 60–90 g of carbs per hour only if you've trained it. Don't try on race day what you haven't tolerated in training.
Section by section between feed stations (for about 5 h 15)
At the feed stations (km 37, 64, 87) you stop, eat something and refill your bottles. But what matters most is what you take on the move until the next one: this table tells you how much. You can pick it up at the station or carry your own gels and bars; what matters is spreading it out, not eating it all at once when you stop.
| Section | Duration | Carbs to take in the section | Drink in the section |
|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 → 37 | 1 h 32 | 115 g | 600 ml |
| km 37 → 64 | 1 h 05 | 80 g | 450 ml |
| km 64 → 87 | 0 h 52 | 65 g | 350 ml |
| km 87 → 125 | 1 h 47 | 135 g | 700 ml |
The key section is the first one: there's no feed station until km 37, so you leave Limburg with full bottles and about 115 g of carbs on you (for example, 2 gels and a bar).
Not going to take 5 h 15? In WinWatts you set your target time and the feed stations, and you see these sections with your real pace on each climb. You can also compare scenarios: what changes if you go faster or slower.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 125 km: weather in mid-April
What the weather was like on the Toerversie Saturday in recent editions:
| Year | Low | High | Rain | Max wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 ºC | 13 ºC | 0.0 mm | 19 km/h |
| 2023 | 5 ºC | 12 ºC | 0.0 mm | 16 km/h |
| 2024 | 5 ºC | 9 ºC | 0.5 mm | 17 km/h |
| 2025 | 7 ºC | 13 ºC | 0.0 mm | 14 km/h |
| 2026 | 10 ºC | 18 ºC | 0.0 mm | 10 km/h |
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 150 km: route and profile
Official 2026 GPX. Hills located on the track; length and gradient measured on it (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg: published figures).
The climbs and key sections, one by one
| Climb or section | Length | What it's like and how to ride it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Bemelerberg km 10.6 | 0.8 km avg 4.2 % | Short hill with views over the Meuse valley and Maastricht. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 2. Schweibergerweg km 66.1 | 3.1 km avg 3.7 % | Long, gentle climb towards the high ground of southern Limburg. It's the gateway to the Camerig and Vaalserberg: endurance pace and eat something here. |
| 3. Camerig km 72.4 | 4.3 km avg 4 % | The longest climb in the Netherlands: from Epen to Vijlen, over 4 km through woodland, hardest at the start. No punching your way up here: it's a 12–20 minute effort. At 85–90 % of FTP and seated; ease off in the upper part. |
| 4. Vaalserberg (Three-Country Point) km 85.1 | 2 km avg 3.8 % | Climb to the highest point of the mainland Netherlands (322 m), on the border with Belgium and Germany. Steady pace without going too deep: Gemmenich and the loop back via Vijlen come next. |
| 5. Gemmenich (Belgium) km 89.3 | 0.9 km avg 6.3 % | Short, steep ramp on the Belgian side. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 6. Vijlen (Epenerbaan) km 92.2 | 3.5 km avg 2.2 % | Gentle climb back to Vijlen through the woods. Recover here from the Vaalserberg block: small ring, cadence and drink. |
| 7. Botterweck (Wahlwiller) km 104.1 | 0.7 km avg 7.6 % | Short, steep hill with ramps over 10 %. Easy gear selected before the ramp and seated; don't go flat out, the Eyserbosweg is next. |
| 8. Eyserbosweg km 106.2 | 1.1 km avg 8.1 % · max 17 % | One of the hardest: narrow, between fields and very steep in the middle. Go in with your easy gear already selected and stay seated on the steep part; it eases at the top and that's where you recover. |
| 9. Bergseweg km 121.2 | 2.1 km avg 3.5 % | Long by Limburg standards and gentle: 2 km below 4 %. One to ride in a group: steady pace, no surges, and use it to drink. |
| 10. Keutenberg km 131.8 | 0.7 km avg 9.4 % · max 22 % | The steepest of the route: a ramp over 20 % in the middle, on a narrow road. Your easiest gear (34×32 or lighter) before it starts, seated with your weight back. If there's a jam, it's fine to put a foot down at the side. |
| 11. Cauberg km 141.9 | 0.8 km avg 5.8 % · max 12 % | The Amstel's most famous hill: it leaves the centre of Valkenburg, hardest at the start and close to the finish. Spend whatever you have left here, but don't start flat out from the bottom: the first ramp is the hardest. Enjoy it, it's the last one. |
Route keys
- This is the Toerversie, the Amstel Gold Race cyclo-sportive, the Saturday before the professional race: six distances, from 65 to 240 km, over the short, back-to-back hills of southern Limburg (Netherlands).
- What matters here isn't the total climbing but the number of short, hard hills: each is a 1 to 4 minute effort (the Camerig, over 10). Train 1–3 minute repeats at 105–115 % of FTP and recover by spinning, without stopping.
- Don't ride them all flat out: on the long ones, below your threshold; on the short ones, at most just above, seated and with your gear selected beforehand. The hard ones (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg) come at the end.
- Gearing: compact 50/34 with 11-32. The Keutenberg goes over 20 % and the Eyserbosweg over 15 %: with a big sprocket you can climb them seated.
5 more keys in WinWatts: with the forecast for the days before, the wind and heat section by section, and on which climbs to eat and drink.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 150 km: what to eat and drink
How much a typical rider (72 kg) needs depending on their time. From 2–3 hours on, what matters most is eating carbs regularly (every 20–30 minutes) and drinking before you're thirsty.
| Total time | Carbs per hour | Total carbs | Drink per hour | Total drink | Sodium per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 h | 75 g/h | 295 g | 400 ml/h | 2.0 l | 300 mg/h |
| 6 h | 75 g/h | 365 g | 400 ml/h | 2.4 l | 300 mg/h |
| 7 h | 75 g/h | 435 g | 400 ml/h | 2.8 l | 300 mg/h |
| 8 h | 75 g/h | 510 g | 400 ml/h | 3.2 l | 300 mg/h |
More than 60–90 g of carbs per hour only if you've trained it. Don't try on race day what you haven't tolerated in training.
Section by section between feed stations (for about 6 h)
At the feed stations (km 50, 86, 119) you stop, eat something and refill your bottles. But what matters most is what you take on the move until the next one: this table tells you how much. You can pick it up at the station or carry your own gels and bars; what matters is spreading it out, not eating it all at once when you stop.
| Section | Duration | Carbs to take in the section | Drink in the section |
|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 → 50 | 1 h 56 | 145 g | 800 ml |
| km 50 → 86 | 1 h 42 | 125 g | 700 ml |
| km 86 → 119 | 1 h 17 | 95 g | 500 ml |
| km 119 → 144 | 1 h 05 | 80 g | 450 ml |
The key section is the first one: there's no feed station until km 50, so you leave Limburg with full bottles and about 145 g of carbs on you (for example, 3 gels and a bar).
Not going to take 6 h? In WinWatts you set your target time and the feed stations, and you see these sections with your real pace on each climb. You can also compare scenarios: what changes if you go faster or slower.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 150 km: weather in mid-April
What the weather was like on the Toerversie Saturday in recent editions:
| Year | Low | High | Rain | Max wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 ºC | 14 ºC | 0.0 mm | 20 km/h |
| 2023 | 5 ºC | 13 ºC | 0.0 mm | 18 km/h |
| 2024 | 5 ºC | 9 ºC | 0.6 mm | 18 km/h |
| 2025 | 7 ºC | 15 ºC | 0.0 mm | 14 km/h |
| 2026 | 10 ºC | 18 ºC | 0.0 mm | 11 km/h |
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 200 km: route and profile
Official 2026 GPX. Hills located on the track; length and gradient measured on it (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg: published figures).
The climbs and key sections, one by one
| Climb or section | Length | What it's like and how to ride it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Adsteeg km 32.8 | 0.6 km avg 4 % | First hill of the day, short and gentle. It's the first of many: ride it easy and see how your legs respond. |
| 2. Lange Raarberg km 40.5 | 0.8 km avg 4.9 % | Straight, steady climb in Meerssen. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 3. Bergstraat (Sweikhuizen) km 55.9 | 1.2 km avg 4.2 % | A climb of just over a kilometre between fields, often windy. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 4. Bergseweg km 76.7 | 2.1 km avg 3.5 % | Long by Limburg standards and gentle: 2 km below 4 %. One to ride in a group: steady pace, no surges, and use it to drink. |
| 5. Bemelerberg km 106.9 | 0.8 km avg 4.2 % | Short hill with views over the Meuse valley and Maastricht. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 6. Eyserbosweg km 162.2 | 1.1 km avg 8.1 % · max 17 % | One of the hardest: narrow, between fields and very steep in the middle. Go in with your easy gear already selected and stay seated on the steep part; it eases at the top and that's where you recover. |
| 7. Bergseweg km 177.3 | 2.1 km avg 3.5 % | Long by Limburg standards and gentle: 2 km below 4 %. One to ride in a group: steady pace, no surges, and use it to drink. |
| 8. Keutenberg km 187.8 | 0.7 km avg 9.4 % · max 22 % | The steepest of the route: a ramp over 20 % in the middle, on a narrow road. Your easiest gear (34×32 or lighter) before it starts, seated with your weight back. If there's a jam, it's fine to put a foot down at the side. |
| 9. Cauberg km 198 | 0.8 km avg 5.8 % · max 12 % | The Amstel's most famous hill: it leaves the centre of Valkenburg, hardest at the start and close to the finish. Spend whatever you have left here, but don't start flat out from the bottom: the first ramp is the hardest. Enjoy it, it's the last one. |
Route keys
- This is the Toerversie, the Amstel Gold Race cyclo-sportive, the Saturday before the professional race: six distances, from 65 to 240 km, over the short, back-to-back hills of southern Limburg (Netherlands).
- What matters here isn't the total climbing but the number of short, hard hills: each is a 1 to 4 minute effort (the Camerig, over 10). Train 1–3 minute repeats at 105–115 % of FTP and recover by spinning, without stopping.
- Don't ride them all flat out: on the long ones, below your threshold; on the short ones, at most just above, seated and with your gear selected beforehand. The hard ones (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg) come at the end.
- Gearing: compact 50/34 with 11-32. The Keutenberg goes over 20 % and the Eyserbosweg over 15 %: with a big sprocket you can climb them seated.
5 more keys in WinWatts: with the forecast for the days before, the wind and heat section by section, and on which climbs to eat and drink.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 200 km: what to eat and drink
How much a typical rider (72 kg) needs depending on their time. From 2–3 hours on, what matters most is eating carbs regularly (every 20–30 minutes) and drinking before you're thirsty.
| Total time | Carbs per hour | Total carbs | Drink per hour | Total drink | Sodium per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 h 30 | 75 g/h | 400 g | 400 ml/h | 2.6 l | 300 mg/h |
| 7 h 30 | 75 g/h | 475 g | 400 ml/h | 3.0 l | 300 mg/h |
| 8 h 30 | 75 g/h | 550 g | 450 ml/h | 3.8 l | 300 mg/h |
| 9 h 30 | 75 g/h | 620 g | 450 ml/h | 4.3 l | 300 mg/h |
More than 60–90 g of carbs per hour only if you've trained it. Don't try on race day what you haven't tolerated in training.
Section by section between feed stations (for about 7 h 30)
At the feed stations (km 37, 62, 93, 146, 175) you stop, eat something and refill your bottles. But what matters most is what you take on the move until the next one: this table tells you how much. You can pick it up at the station or carry your own gels and bars; what matters is spreading it out, not eating it all at once when you stop.
| Section | Duration | Carbs to take in the section | Drink in the section |
|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 → 37 | 1 h 20 | 100 g | 550 ml |
| km 37 → 62 | 0 h 50 | 60 g | 350 ml |
| km 62 → 93 | 1 h 14 | 90 g | 500 ml |
| km 93 → 146 | 1 h 57 | 145 g | 800 ml |
| km 146 → 175 | 1 h 05 | 80 g | 450 ml |
| km 175 → 200 | 1 h 05 | 80 g | 450 ml |
The key section is the first one: there's no feed station until km 37, so you leave Limburg with full bottles and about 100 g of carbs on you (for example, 2 gels and a bar).
Not going to take 7 h 30? In WinWatts you set your target time and the feed stations, and you see these sections with your real pace on each climb. You can also compare scenarios: what changes if you go faster or slower.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 200 km: weather in mid-April
What the weather was like on the Toerversie Saturday in recent editions:
| Year | Low | High | Rain | Max wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 ºC | 15 ºC | 0.0 mm | 20 km/h |
| 2023 | 5 ºC | 13 ºC | 0.0 mm | 22 km/h |
| 2024 | 5 ºC | 9 ºC | 0.7 mm | 18 km/h |
| 2025 | 7 ºC | 15 ºC | 0.0 mm | 15 km/h |
| 2026 | 10 ºC | 18 ºC | 0.0 mm | 11 km/h |
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 240 km: route and profile
Official 2026 GPX. Hills located on the track; length and gradient measured on it (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg: published figures).
The climbs and key sections, one by one
| Climb or section | Length | What it's like and how to ride it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Adsteeg km 32.8 | 0.6 km avg 4 % | First hill of the day, short and gentle. It's the first of many: ride it easy and see how your legs respond. |
| 2. Lange Raarberg km 40.5 | 0.8 km avg 4.9 % | Straight, steady climb in Meerssen. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 3. Bergstraat (Sweikhuizen) km 55.9 | 1.2 km avg 4.2 % | A climb of just over a kilometre between fields, often windy. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 4. Bergseweg km 76.9 | 2.1 km avg 3.5 % | Long by Limburg standards and gentle: 2 km below 4 %. One to ride in a group: steady pace, no surges, and use it to drink. |
| 5. Bemelerberg km 107.1 | 0.8 km avg 4.2 % | Short hill with views over the Meuse valley and Maastricht. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 6. Schweibergerweg km 162.6 | 3.1 km avg 3.7 % | Long, gentle climb towards the high ground of southern Limburg. It's the gateway to the Camerig and Vaalserberg: endurance pace and eat something here. |
| 7. Camerig km 168.9 | 4.3 km avg 4 % | The longest climb in the Netherlands: from Epen to Vijlen, over 4 km through woodland, hardest at the start. No punching your way up here: it's a 12–20 minute effort. At 85–90 % of FTP and seated; ease off in the upper part. |
| 8. Vaalserberg (Three-Country Point) km 181.6 | 2 km avg 3.8 % | Climb to the highest point of the mainland Netherlands (322 m), on the border with Belgium and Germany. Steady pace without going too deep: Gemmenich and the loop back via Vijlen come next. |
| 9. Gemmenich (Belgium) km 185.8 | 0.9 km avg 6.3 % | Short, steep ramp on the Belgian side. Short hill: climb it with rhythm, seated and at most just above your threshold; recover at the top by spinning easy. |
| 10. Vijlen (Epenerbaan) km 188.8 | 3.5 km avg 2.2 % | Gentle climb back to Vijlen through the woods. Recover here from the Vaalserberg block: small ring, cadence and drink. |
| 11. Botterweck (Wahlwiller) km 200.7 | 0.7 km avg 7.6 % | Short, steep hill with ramps over 10 %. Easy gear selected before the ramp and seated; don't go flat out, the Eyserbosweg is next. |
| 12. Eyserbosweg km 202.7 | 1.1 km avg 8.1 % · max 17 % | One of the hardest: narrow, between fields and very steep in the middle. Go in with your easy gear already selected and stay seated on the steep part; it eases at the top and that's where you recover. |
| 13. Bergseweg km 217.8 | 2.1 km avg 3.5 % | Long by Limburg standards and gentle: 2 km below 4 %. One to ride in a group: steady pace, no surges, and use it to drink. |
| 14. Keutenberg km 228.3 | 0.7 km avg 9.4 % · max 22 % | The steepest of the route: a ramp over 20 % in the middle, on a narrow road. Your easiest gear (34×32 or lighter) before it starts, seated with your weight back. If there's a jam, it's fine to put a foot down at the side. |
| 15. Cauberg km 238.4 | 0.8 km avg 5.8 % · max 12 % | The Amstel's most famous hill: it leaves the centre of Valkenburg, hardest at the start and close to the finish. Spend whatever you have left here, but don't start flat out from the bottom: the first ramp is the hardest. Enjoy it, it's the last one. |
Route keys
- This is the Toerversie, the Amstel Gold Race cyclo-sportive, the Saturday before the professional race: six distances, from 65 to 240 km, over the short, back-to-back hills of southern Limburg (Netherlands).
- What matters here isn't the total climbing but the number of short, hard hills: each is a 1 to 4 minute effort (the Camerig, over 10). Train 1–3 minute repeats at 105–115 % of FTP and recover by spinning, without stopping.
- Don't ride them all flat out: on the long ones, below your threshold; on the short ones, at most just above, seated and with your gear selected beforehand. The hard ones (Eyserbosweg, Keutenberg and Cauberg) come at the end.
- Gearing: compact 50/34 with 11-32. The Keutenberg goes over 20 % and the Eyserbosweg over 15 %: with a big sprocket you can climb them seated.
5 more keys in WinWatts: with the forecast for the days before, the wind and heat section by section, and on which climbs to eat and drink.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 240 km: what to eat and drink
How much a typical rider (72 kg) needs depending on their time. From 2–3 hours on, what matters most is eating carbs regularly (every 20–30 minutes) and drinking before you're thirsty.
| Total time | Carbs per hour | Total carbs | Drink per hour | Total drink | Sodium per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 h | 75 g/h | 510 g | 400 ml/h | 3.2 l | 300 mg/h |
| 9 h | 75 g/h | 585 g | 400 ml/h | 3.6 l | 300 mg/h |
| 10 h | 75 g/h | 660 g | 400 ml/h | 4.0 l | 300 mg/h |
| 11 h | 75 g/h | 725 g | 400 ml/h | 4.4 l | 300 mg/h |
More than 60–90 g of carbs per hour only if you've trained it. Don't try on race day what you haven't tolerated in training.
Section by section between feed stations (for about 9 h)
At the feed stations (km 37, 62, 93, 146, 183, 216) you stop, eat something and refill your bottles. But what matters most is what you take on the move until the next one: this table tells you how much. You can pick it up at the station or carry your own gels and bars; what matters is spreading it out, not eating it all at once when you stop.
| Section | Duration | Carbs to take in the section | Drink in the section |
|---|---|---|---|
| km 0 → 37 | 1 h 17 | 95 g | 500 ml |
| km 37 → 62 | 0 h 48 | 60 g | 300 ml |
| km 62 → 93 | 1 h 11 | 90 g | 450 ml |
| km 93 → 146 | 1 h 53 | 140 g | 750 ml |
| km 146 → 183 | 1 h 38 | 120 g | 650 ml |
| km 183 → 216 | 1 h 13 | 90 g | 500 ml |
| km 216 → 240 | 1 h 01 | 75 g | 400 ml |
The key section is the first one: there's no feed station until km 37, so you leave Limburg with full bottles and about 95 g of carbs on you (for example, 2 gels and a bar).
Not going to take 9 h? In WinWatts you set your target time and the feed stations, and you see these sections with your real pace on each climb. You can also compare scenarios: what changes if you go faster or slower.
Amstel Gold Race Toerversie 240 km: weather in mid-April
What the weather was like on the Toerversie Saturday in recent editions:
| Year | Low | High | Rain | Max wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 ºC | 15 ºC | 0.0 mm | 20 km/h |
| 2023 | 5 ºC | 12 ºC | 0.0 mm | 23 km/h |
| 2024 | 5 ºC | 8 ºC | 1.1 mm | 20 km/h |
| 2025 | 7 ºC | 15 ºC | 0.0 mm | 15 km/h |
| 2026 | 10 ºC | 17 ºC | 0.2 mm | 14 km/h |
Your Amstel Gold Race Toerversie, tailored to you
This guide uses a typical rider. In WinWatts we calculate it with your data:
- Your time, average power and finish time from your FTP and weight.
- The race-day forecast for each section, and what to wear.
- Your food and drink plan kilometre by kilometre, with your gels, bars and bottles.
- Your training plan until Saturday 17 April 2027, adjusted every week to how you're doing.
WinWatts is not affiliated with the organisers of the Amstel Gold Race Toerversie. Dates, routes, schedules and registration: official website. Distances and feed stations from the official website (2025 edition; the 2026 list may differ); weather from past editions (Open-Meteo). For guidance only: it doesn't replace advice from a health professional.