Riders to watch for the Amstel Gold Race, beyond the favourites

Alex Baudin is developing into one of the more intriguing riders in the peloton. After an impressive 2024 season with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team, he made the move to EF Education-EasyPost, where he initially needed time to adapt. This season, however, he appears to have rediscovered his best level.

His early races were relatively quiet, but at Paris-Nice he showed clear progression, improving throughout the week and finishing fifth on the final stage. That is notable for a punchy rider, who would typically fade as a stage race wears on.

He carried that form into Milano-Torino and later into the GP Miguel Indurain, where he finished third after being one of the strongest riders on the final climb. In Itzulia Basque Country, he was on course for a top five overall before losing ground in difficult weather conditions.

That sequence of races should leave him well prepared for Amstel, with the Brabantse Pijl serving as an ideal final tune up.

Valentin Madouas is a rider whose strength lies in endurance. The harder and longer the race, the more he tends to come into his own. His early career already hinted at that profile, with a strong third week in the Giro d’Italia in 2019, where he also finished 13th overall despite not being a pure climber.

In 2022, he combined a top ten overall finish in the Tour de France with a podium at the Tour of Flanders, a rare combination that underlined his versatility. That same season, dominated by Tadej Pogačar, somewhat overshadowed the scale of Madouas’ achievements.

His palmarès also includes strong results in races such as Strade Bianche and the Bretagne Classic, as well as an Olympic silver medal in the 2024 road race. While 2025 has not yet delivered standout results, recent signs suggest his form is returning. His performance on the Oude Kwaremont at the Tour of Flanders was a reminder of his engine.

On a course as demanding as the Amstel Gold Race, that strength could prove decisive.

Frank van den Broek has taken an unconventional route to the top, only committing fully to the sport at a relatively late stage. His rise since then has been rapid.

After impressing at Continental level with ABLOC in 2023, he quickly moved through the ranks at Team dsm-firmenich, earning a WorldTour promotion for 2024. He immediately justified that step by winning the Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye and earning a place at the Tour de France.

There, he made headlines with an attacking ride alongside Romain Bardet, helping the Frenchman to a stage victory. A year later, he again came close to a Tour stage win, finishing second behind Kaden Groves.

His 2026 campaign was disrupted by a crash at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but recent signs in Itzulia suggest he is returning to form. With Amstel as a key target, timing could be on his side.

Alexander Kamp has built a strong reputation at the Amstel Gold Race over the years, consistently outperforming expectations. His track record on this course stands out, even in seasons where his form elsewhere has been less convincing.

Recent results suggest he is once again finding his rhythm, including a stage win and second place overall at the Région Pays de la Loire Tour.

Although Andreas Kron is expected to lead Uno-X Mobility, Kamp’s experience and affinity with this race give him the freedom to aim for his own result.

Jenno Berckmoes is another rider well suited to the demands of the Amstel Gold Race. His punchy profile makes him particularly effective on steep, repeated climbs.

His last two spring campaigns were disrupted by illness and crashes, preventing him from showing his full potential. This year, however, he appears to have put those setbacks behind him.

Arriving motivated and in improving condition, Berckmoes could be one of the riders capable of taking advantage if the race opens up.