Top 10 finish for AG Insurance – Soudal in Amstel Gold Race

In an eventful tenth edition of the Amstel Gold Race, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio of AG Insurance – Soudal achieved an impressive seventh place in the final sprint. The Amstel Gold Race, a Dutch one-day race, started in Maastricht and wound through the hilly terrain of South Limburg to a decisive finish in Valkenburg. The race was temporarily overshadowed by an accident on the course, leading to a prolonged neutralization after 46 kilometers. The incident occurred outside the competition but still impacted the dynamics of the race.

After the interruption, the race resumed but remained neutralized until reaching Valkenburg, where the riders completed three local laps before moving into a challenging finale. The legendary Cauberg was a pivotal point; the last time the riders climbed this hill, it was only 1.6 kilometers to the finish line. The race ended with a sprint in which Ashleigh secured a place in the top ten.

“Today was an unusual day, interrupted by a neutralization halfway through. I hope everyone involved in the incident is okay. Our team performed strongly at the start, despite some challenges. Mireia had to drop out early, and unfortunately, we also lost Kim early in the race. After a long neutralization, we restarted, and my legs were initially not optimal, which forced me to stay calm and get back into the race. Maud was phenomenal in helping with my positioning, staying by my side until the end. It’s always a plus to have a teammate with you. As we entered the final lap, my legs felt much better, and I tried to get into a good position for the Cauberg. I wasn’t ideally placed, but I managed to move forward and gave everything in the sprint. I felt strong, but unfortunately got boxed in at the end. It’s a good start, and Wednesday is a new opportunity,” said Ashleigh Moolman Pasio.