The Amstel Gold Race is the only Dutch classic in professional cycling. Every year, many thousands of cycling tourists, cycling fanatics and other enthusiasts also ride the tour version, which takes place the day before the grand tour. In addition, the other 363 days a year you can enjoy the Amstel Gold Race by riding one of the three loops. These loops have existed since 2009. When we ourselves were in Limburg were, we rode parts of the course, which is really stunning. Now there is good news: the loops have been updated AND a new loop has been added!
Starting and finishing point Shimano Experience Center
One thing at least remains the same. The start and finish of all loops is at the Shimano Experience Center, just outside the centre of Valkenburg. Of course, you can pick up the loops at any point, as long as you have the GPX or you follow the signs (with recognisable colouring and numbering). A collaboration between the province of Limburg, Routepunt Zuid-Limburg and Shimano has resulted in an update, as well as a new, fourth loop. This should also give a little more spread to the number of cycling enthusiasts active at certain points at the same time.
The course evolves, the routes evolve with it
It is nice to see that new routes have been developed. Of course, you might wonder whether a new route creates more or fewer tourists, but let's not be a killjoy. As Leo van Vliet course director of the AGR puts it: "Over the past 15 years, we have seen that the Amstel Gold Race 365 routes are eagerly cycled. At the same time, apart from some details, we have never changed those routes in all those years. A women's race has been added and both the men's and women's courses have undergone developments. We also see that several municipalities have invested in cycling infrastructure. With the installation of the new loop 4 and the improvement of loop 1, the Amstel Gold Race is investing in spreading cyclists throughout the region.“
Upgrade of loop 1
Loop 1 is about 80 kilometres long and takes cyclists mainly through the Grensmaasvallei. Some 560 altimeters are conquered in the municipalities of Meerssen, Stein, Beek and Sittard-Geleen. An ideal loop for the cyclist who enjoys the peace and quiet and is not aiming for maximum altitude metres. Also the ideal loop as a run-up to another loop, such as the final loop.
The new loop 4
The newest loop in the bunch, number 4 is so far unknown. It measures 86 kilometres and alternates well-known 'AGR municipalities' with new, as yet unknown ones. The route has around 750 altitude metres over many climbs unknown to the general public. After the start in Valkenburg, the following municipalities are successively visited: Beekdaelen, Sittard-Geleen, Brunssum, Landgraaf, Heerlen, Kerkrade, Simpelveld and Voerendaal.
New routes AGR 365
Below you will find a nice route collection of the old and new routes of the Amstel Gold Race 365. So you can have AGR cycling fun all year long! More info? You can find it on the Amstel Gold Race.
