Tom Dumoulin to take over as Amstel Gold Race race director

The handover was confirmed in Maastricht at café In den Ouden Vogelstruys on the Vrijthof, a symbolic venue where the original plan for a Limburg based international race was formed back in 1965. 

Dumoulin was introduced there as the man chosen to guide the event into its next chapter, with a transition year built in to ensure continuity. This spring, he will work alongside Van Vliet during the preparation and race period before taking the lead the following year.

Van Vliet has been central to the Amstel Gold Race since 1996, when he succeeded founder Herman Krott. He helped turn it into a UCI WorldTour fixture and broadened the event far beyond the men’s pro race, with the hugely popular Amstel Gold Race sportive and the women’s race now firmly embedded in the weekend.

“The edition in 2026 feels like the right moment for me to hand the baton to a new generation,” Van Vliet said in quotes collected by Wielerflits.

For the organisers, the choice of Dumoulin is both strategic and personal. He brings international recognition, a calm public profile, and a clear bond with the region he grew up in and the race itself.

Dumoulin also knows the event from the inside. He raced the Amstel Gold Race six times during his career, with 20th place in 2014 as his best result. That mix of credibility and local connection appears central to why he was selected as Van Vliet’s successor, in a decision that echoes the earlier Krott to Van Vliet handover.

The appointment also closes a circle for Dumoulin: the Amstel Gold Race was the last international race he finished as a professional, completing the 2022 edition in 30th place.

Dumoulin said he was honoured by the appointment and aware of the legacy attached to the role. “The Amstel Gold Race is a race that has given me a great deal, personally and professionally,” he said.

“That I will be trusted from 2027 to help lead this event forward, following in the footsteps of Herman Krott and Leo van Vliet, feels like a great honour and responsibility. I look forward to building on the rich tradition of this unique Classic together with the team.”

Since ending his racing career in 2022, Dumoulin has stayed closely connected to the sport as a commentator and analyst for Dutch broadcaster NOS and as an ambassador for Giant. He has also continued to make headlines away from the bike with eye catching running performances, most notably clocking 2:29:21 at the Amsterdam Marathon last October.