Herman Krott the founder of . .
. . the Amstel Gold Race. It will be the first time since 1966 that Herman Krott is absent. The founder of the Netherlands' most prestigious cycling classic passed away last October at the age of 79. "Without Herman, we would not have been at the start of the Amstel Gold Race," says Leo van Vliet, who succeeded Krott as race director in 1996.
“Herman was always there, even though his health declined in recent years,” says Van Vliet about his illustrious predecessor, who not only laid the foundation for the AGR but also stood at the cradle of a golden era of Dutch cycling. He discovered talents such as Peter Post, Fedor den Hertog, Joop Zoetemelk, Hennie Kuiper, Gerrie Knetemann, Gert-Jan Theunisse, and Teun and Leo van Vliet. Widow Jos will fire the starting gun in Maastricht this year. “It will be emotional. Our bond was strong,” indicates Van Vliet, who himself rode for Krott’s team in the past. When Van Vliet took over, a few things changed at the Amstel Gold Race. “The start moved from Kerkrade to Maastricht, the Cauberg became the finish location, and nowadays we have the touring ride. Herman had his own ideas. If I said something in the beginning, he always replied: are you sure you want to do that? It was better for me not to ask anything and just prove that it was better. It will be a bit strange on Sunday. Herman wasn't someone who wanted to be in the spotlight, but he was proud.”
Amstel Gold Race
Amstel Gold Race The Amstel Gold Race is a Dutch one-day cycling race for professional riders, held annually in the Limburg hills since 1966 and considered one of the cycling classics. The Amstel Gold Race was part of the Cycling World Cup from 1989, the UCI ProTour from 2005, the UCI World Calendar from 2009, and has been part of the UCI World Tour since 2011. Despite this, the race is still considered a notch below, for example, Milan-San Remo, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, or the Tour of Flanders. The Amstel Gold Race is a race of twists and turns, in which many South Limburg hills must be climbed, sometimes more than once. Some of the most important climbs are the Cauberg, Keutenberg, and the Eyserbosweg. After Meerssen (from 1966 to 1990, with the exception of 1968, when the finish was in Elsloo) and Maastricht (from 1991 to 2002) served as the finish locations for many years, the finish line has been drawn at the top of the Cauberg in Valkenburg since 2003. The start has been on the Markt in Maastricht since 1998.Twelve winners on a stamp
The twelve Dutch cyclists who have won the Amstel Gold Race in the past are each receiving their own stamp. On April 14, 2011, TNT Post presented a stamp booklet about the top Dutch classic in Valkenburg, which was held for the first time 45 years ago, in 1966. The hugely popular amateur version is also being organized for the 10th time this year. In addition to interesting background stories and photos, the booklet also contains 12 stamps featuring all the Dutch winners:Arie den Hartog, Harrie Steevens and Gerrie Knetemann
Steven Rooks, Jan Raas and Jacques Hanegraaf
Joop Zoetemelk, Adrie van der Poel and Jelle Nijdam
Michael Boogerd, Frans Maassen and Erik Dekker
Rabobank with special shirt in Gold Race
The Rabobank cyclists will be at the start of the Amstel Gold Race on April 17 wearing a special jersey. For this one-off occasion, the Rabos will ride in a jersey featuring the Ride for the Roses logo. The team has received permission for this from the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the organizers of the Dutch classic.
The annual Ride for the Roses cycling tour is intended to raise money for the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF Kankerbestrijding ). A number of Rabobank riders will participate in the tour on September 4, which starts in Aalsmeer this year.
Jan Raas won the race five times, a record. In those years, people referred to it as the Amstel Gold Raas.