Amstel Gold women’s race LIVE - SD Worx-Protime’s Demi Vollering begins Ardennes classics defence, race neutralised until Valkenburg

The front group make it onto the climb, doing well to keep the gap at 1'15". Arlenis Sierra (Movistar Team) leading the peloton.

1'15" now is the gap to the front of the race.

Henrietta Christie (Human Powered Health) pulls the peloton, a minute behind. Koster around 20 seconds behind the front trio now, who are working well at the head of the race.

The pace has been upped as Olivia Baril (Movistar Team) leads the bunch, now a minute behind.

She's 16 seconds behind the front three, who are now 1'29" ahead of the bunch as they reach the Bemelerberg.

It's a 39-second gap to the peloton now for the breakaway trio. Koster still in pursuit of them.

Anouska Koster (Uno-X Mobility) goes clear from the peloton to begin to bridge the gap to the breakaway.

A trio made up of Tour de France Femmes stage winners Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon//SRAM Racing), and Eva van Agt (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) create a small gap.

Kopecky leads the group behind.

It's a short-lived breakaway, who are caught on the climb as Barbara Malcotti (Human Powered Health) pulls the chasing group.

Onto the Geulhemmerberg now, Niewiadoma leading the front group.

Kraak takes over at the front. Welcome back to racing Anna Henderson - great to see her in the front group as she returns from breaking her collarbone in February!

Van Dijk leads the chasing group across the line around 10 seconds back.

Longo Borghini, Niewiadoma, Chabbey, Kraak, Vollering, and Henderson form a small front group with a slight gap. Moolman-Pasio leads the chasing group behind.

The front of the race changes over multiple times before Longo Borghini goes over hte top to take the lead. Niewiadoma on her wheel.

Shirin van Anrooij leads into the iconic climb.

We have live pictures! The bunch seem to be together after the re-start. We could see a surprise victory today with the riders having fresher legs.

The neutralised peloton has crossed the finish line to begin three laps of racing.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) travelled to Colombia for a altitude training camp in March, missing the spring classics, but is looking to show her strength on the climbs in the Ardennes. It was the first time she’s committed to a training block at altitude, so it will be fascinating to see how she fares as a result.

Lidl-Trek have impressed so far this season with WWT wins at Ronde van Vlaanderen (Elisa Longo Borghini), and Trofeo Alfredo Binda and Classic Brugge-De Panne (both Elisa Balsamo).

They’ve also had four WWT second places this year at Strade Bianche Donne (Longo Borghini), Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Gent-Wevelgem, and Ronde van Drenthe (all Balsamo).

Dutch rider Shirin van Anrooij, who came third in this race last year, has five top-five finishes to her name this season and returns to Amstel Gold no doubt hoping for a podium place for Lidl-Trek.

Longo Borghini rejoins the team after missing Paris-Roubaix, a race she has won before, to focucs on the Ardennes classics. With this in mind, she’ll be a key rider to watch today. The last, and only Italian winner of Amstel Gold, Marta Cavalli (FDJ-SUEZ) isn’t racing today, but Italian national champion Longo Borghini could well be in the mix to add to her victories wearing il Tricolore.

Balsamo isn’t involved this week, but Longo Borghini and Van Anrooij are joined by Lucinda Brand, Amanda Spratt, and Ellen van Dijk. Brodie Chapman will not start due to illness.

Niewiadoma is an exciting prospect for today’s race. The 2019 Amstel Gold winner’s four-year victory drought was ended with a superb win at the Gravel Wolrd Championships last year, and the Canyon//SRAM rider seems to have grown in confidence masisvely since. She’s secured second place at Ronde van Vlaanderen and foruth at Strade Bianche Donne so far this season, and today she could well be up there for the victory.

Niewiadoma recovered well from her disappointment at Strade Bianche and was pleased with her second place at Ronde van Vlaanderen, but will no doubt be eyeing up the top step on the podium.

The Canyon//SRAM team today is additionally made up of Neve Bradbury, Ricarda Bauernfeind, Elise Chabbey, Tiffany Cromwell, and Soraya Paladin.

Vos is a key prospect for today’s win, in what would be her 251st road victory and second Amstel Gold title.

As well as having a previous winner in their ranks, back-to-back cyclo-cross world champion Fem van Empel returns from illness for Visma-Lease a Bike.

She said before the race: "I'm really looking forward to it," she said. "It is always fun to race in your own country; I know that from the cyclo-cross races. My family will be with me.

"The profile of the Amstel Gold Race is within my capabilities, but I am especially curious about my physical condition. We have a strong team, which makes different scenarios possible. I want to make my contribution to the team."

In addition to Van Empel’s return, British rider Anna Henderson takes part in her first race since breaking her collarbone earlier in February.

Aside from Henderson, the Visma-Lease a Bike team is made up of entirely Dutch riders with Riejanne Markus, Eva van Agt, and Sophie von Berswordt completing the team.

"I would be lying if I said we were not going for the win," said Rutger Tijssen, Visma-Lease a Bike’s technical director. "We are starting with a solid team.

"I'm sure we'll be fighting for victory. How great will it be to win the Amstel Gold Race again as a Dutch team?"

Read more below: