South Limburg remains the place for cycling adventure in the Netherlands. Since 2009 you can taste the atmosphere of the Amstel Gold Race every day of the year on four permanently signposted loops. These Amstel Gold Race 365 routes are fantastic for a day or a weekend of cycling. And since spring 2025 Loops 2 and 3 updated with an eye for experience, safety and spreading cyclists across the whole of Limburg. Exactly what you are looking for as an adventurous cyclist. We are fans of Valkenburg ourselves. In 2024 we were still at Landal Castle Estate de Cauberg, the ideal place for your next cycling adventure.
All routes start from the Shimano Experience Center in Valkenburg, but of course you can join wherever you like. That makes the system flexible and attractive for the holiday cyclist, the local or the keen climber passing through.
Loop 1: the easy warm-up (80 km / 560 m)
Perfect for exploring or for combining with a longer ride. Loop 1 takes you through the Grensmaas Valley, past towns such as Meerssen, Stein and Sittard-Geleen. Quiet roads, fine views and a rolling rhythm. An ideal warm-up for those who want to tackle the harder loops later.
Loop 2: the real AGR work (85 km / 1,300 m)
The queen of the four. The bar is set high here. You wind your way towards the Vaalserberg and takes in legendary hills such as the Keutenberg, Eyserbosweg, Camerig, Gulperberg and Daalhemerweg along. A string of well-known AGR classics, packed into one loop. For those who want to seriously test their climbing legs.
Loop 3: the hidden gems (76 km / approx. 900 m)
You get the Cauberg, Bemelerberg and Geulhemmerberg, but also lots of lesser-known but beautiful climbs. Think shady farm tracks, surprising hairpins and quiet shortcuts. The Mathieu van der Poel Allee is the symbolic dessert of this varied ride. For those who like to mix classic and new.
Stage 4: new and unfamiliar terrain (86 km / 750 hm)
New since 2024. This route links the South Limburg of the AGR with that of the Parkstad. You ride through lesser-known but surprisingly green towns such as Beekdaelen, Brunssum, Kerkrade and Simpelveld. Perfect for those who want to avoid the crowds but still want that Limburg vibe.
Amstel Gold Race 365 routes
All routes are permanently signposted and free to use. You can download them below:
South Limburg is ready for your next adventure. The only question is: which loop will you ride first? You can find more information about this on this page
New Amstel Gold Race 365 routes!
The Amstel Gold Race is the only Dutch classic in professional cycling. Every year, many thousands of cycling tourists, cycling enthusiasts and other enthusiasts also take part in the road version, which takes place the day before the big race. In addition, you can enjoy the Amstel Gold Race for the other 363 days of the year by riding one of the three circuits. These circuits have been in place since 2009. When we participated ourselves in the Limburg were, We are sharing sections of the course, which is really beautiful. Now there is good news: the circuits have been updated and a new circuit has been added!
Start and end point Shimano Experience Center
One thing remains the same, however. The start and finish of all the loops are at the Shimano Experience Center, just outside the city center. Valkenburg. Of course, you can pick up the loops at any arbitrary point, as long as you have the GPX or follow the signs (with recognizable color scheme and numbering). A collaboration between the province of Limburg, Routepunt Zuid-Limburg and Shimano has resulted in an update, but also a new, fourth loop. This should also lead to a greater spread in the number of cycling enthusiasts who are active at the same time at certain points.
The course is developing, the routes are developing along with it
It’s nice to see that new routes have been developed. You might naturally wonder whether a new route will attract more or fewer tourists, but let’s not be a spoiler. As Leo van Vliet, course director of the AGR put it:“Over the past 15 years, we have seen that the Amstel Gold Race has been enthusiastically cycled on 365 routes. At the same time, we have never changed those routes, with a few minor details aside. A women’s race has been added, and both the men’s and women’s courses have undergone developments. Additionally, we see that various municipalities have invested in cycling infrastructure. By adding the new loop 4 and improving loop 1, we are investing in the distribution of cyclists across the entire region with the Amstel Gold Race.“
Upgrade of loop 1
Lus 1 is approximately 80 kilometers long and takes the cyclists through the Grensmaas Valley in particular. Approximately 560 meters of elevation gain are made in the municipalities of Meerssen, Stein, Beek and Sittard-Geleen. An ideal loop for the cyclist, who enjoys the tranquility and does not aim for a maximum number of elevation gains. In addition, it is also the ideal loop as a prelude to another loop, such as the final loop.
The new loop 4
The newest addition to the group, number 4, is as yet unknown. It measures 86 kilometers and alternates well-known ‘AGR municipalities’ with new, yet unknown ones. The route features approximately 750 meters of elevation gain over many climbs that are unknown to the general public. After the start in Valkenburg, the following municipalities are visited in succession: Beekdaelen, Sittard-Geleen, Brunssum, Landgraaf, Heerlen, Kerkrade, Simpelveld and Voerendaal.
New routes AGR 365
Below you will find a beautiful collection of routes from the old and new routes of the Amstel Gold Race 365. This way you can enjoy cycling all year round! More info? You can find it on the site of the Amstel Gold Race.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.