Former cycling great Tom Dumoulin is set to take over as the new director of the Amstel Gold Race in 2027, the race organisation announced this morning.
The 2017 Giro d’Italia winner and former World Time Trial Champion will succeed current director Leo van Vliet next year as head of one of the best-loved hilly Classics of the season.
Van Vliet has been running Holland’s only men’s WorldTour Classic since 1996, with an equivalent women’s race – also raced on the southern half of the Netherlands – added during his directorship first for a three-year period from 2001-2003 and then continuously from 2017.
After last year’s men’s Amstel Gold Race ended with a thrilling three-way duel won by Mattias Skjelmose ahead of Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar, Sunday April 19 will thus be the last edition to take place with Van Vliet as director.
“It’s quite remarkable to realise that I’ve had the opportunity to experience 30 editions as race director,” Van Vliet said in a press release.
“The Amstel Gold Race is a race that has given me such a lot, both personally and in terms of sport,” Dumoulin, 35 and a native of Maastricht himself, added.
“The fact that I’ve been entrusted to lead this race as from 2027, following in the footsteps of [the first Amstel race director] Herman Krott and Leo van Vliet, feels like a great honour and responsibility. I look forward to working with the team to continue the rich tradition of this unique Classic.”