The inaugural edition of the Gravel Fondo Limburg, the offroad race on the iconic hills of the Amstel Gold Race in a splendid landscape was an instant success as the race was sold out in a few weeks. Lots of pro riders signed up and it was a battle between real gravel specialists, roadies and cyclocross riders.
A group of 13 riders quickly got away to battle for the win over three laps for a total distance of 113km. During the last lap, Timo Kielich got away with Cameron Mason and Jasper Ockeloen to make his final move on the Keutenberg to win one minute ahead of Mason and Spanish Ismael Esteban Aguero as third. Mason and Esteban got also third and second in the first round last week in Spain.
The female race who started together with the men on the steep Cauberg had Martha Maltha, reigning Gran Fondo World Champion as overall winner after a strong battle with German Janine Schneider with Tessa Neefjes as third. Maltha moved her way up to the front and won a bit more than 1 minute to Schneider while Neefjes was 3 minutes behind.
