A week and a bit ago, I was at the start of the Amstel Gold Race Ladies in Maastricht, before quickly moving on to the decisive Cauberg to take pictures of the day's action as it unfolded, and what an action it was! Halfway through the race, a strong group broke away. A crumbling peloton with the pre-race favourites was unable to catch up despite the scorching pace, and Chantal Blaak managed to win the race before Lucinda Brand, Amanda Spratt and Alexis Ryan. 

One of the biggest classics that is dwarfed by being smack in the middle of the three northern monuments, the Amstel Gold Race arrives on our doorstep this weekend. Starting from the historical town of Maastricht -which is almost more Walloon in character than Dutch- the race snakes through the hills of southern Limburg, making the Amstel the opening battle in the Ardennes Classics. And, after a few experimental editions in the early 2000s, last year finally saw the introduction of Women's World Tour edition of the ride.