The first of the three Ardennes Classics is coming up and therefore a completely open race. Since the resumption of the race in 2017, there has been no other two-time winner apart from Marianne Vos, who has won the race twice in that time. From overall classics riders to classics specialists, different types of riders have always won here. This makes the question of the biggest favourites both tricky and exciting. Sometimes an athlete wins here who wasn't at the top of the list beforehand.
There is no outstanding top favourite in the women's Amstel Gold Race this year, instead the race seems more open than ever. This is hardly surprising: the undulating profile with its many short, steep climbs almost automatically ensures that the strongest riders will prevail in the end. In particular, the selective finale around Cauberg and Bemelerberg will be the decisive stage as usual, just without the one rider who is currently clearly above the rest.
These are the favourites
Nevertheless, there is a narrow circle of names that have to be at the top of the list. Demi Vollering is almost always one of the hottest candidates on this terrain: She can decide races with attacks, is tactically strong and just as dangerous when it comes to winning from a small group. Last year, the Dutchwoman was unable to keep up until the final, losing almost two minutes to the winner. However, after her victory in the Tour of Flanders, she is still one of the biggest contenders for victory. She has also won the Amstel Gold Race, and in 2023 she pulled away decisively in the final. With Elisa Chabbey, Juliette Berthet and the recent Paris-Roubaix winner Franziska Koch, she has a very strong team behind her. Should Vollering not feel well on Sunday, all three of her helpers can also ride to victory.
Katarzyna Niewiadoma is almost guaranteed to be at the front in the decisive moments of such classics. The Polish rider won the race in 2019, but crashed at Milan-Sanremo. The Amstel Gold Race is her first race after this crash, so there is also a little uncertainty about her form and recovery. Niewiadoma also has a German helper in the team, who is planned for her captain, but could also take on this role herself if the race goes according to plan: Antonia Niedermaier.
Liane Lippert can also hope for a good result, but with Cat Ferguson there is a second, at least equally strong rider in the Movistar Team line-up. Marianne Vos has already won the race in 2021 and 2024 and is therefore once again one of the favourites. Her second place at Paris-Roubaix was a huge disappointment for the rider who has achieved almost everything in professional cycling. With this resentment in her stomach, she should bring an extra dose of motivation to the Ardennes Classics. In 2024, however, it initially looked as if Lorena Wiebes had won the race. She rolled to the finish line with her arms raised, but was overtaken by Vos. It was a fitting reminder for the sprinter, who usually wins almost every sprint. Wiebes still has a score to settle and wants to put her mistake right.
Last year's surprise winner, Mischa Bredewold, is one of the extended favourites, but is not at the top of the list. There are parallels to the men's race, where Mattias Skjelmose is also only one of the most likely contenders to win. Puck Pieterse is likely to cause a stir in the women's race. The young rider is known for her aggressive riding style and has achieved strong results this season. Meanwhile, the EF Education - Oatly team has two strong female riders. With Noemi Rüegg and world champion Magdeleine Vallieres, there is plenty of reason to hope for a strong result.
Leon Weidner
Working student
