Amstel Gold Race takes more credit than deserved in increased prize money for women
18 April 2019 08:30
On April 9, the Amstel Gold Race organisation announced that it would double the prize money for their women's race and substantially increase participation fees. The race deserves praise for increasing the prize money fund to a level above and beyond what is required by the UCI, but a closer look reveals that the race organisation takes more credit than it deserves. The increase in participation allowances was not a choice by the race but is due to a rule change by the UCI. The race organisation's press release reads that "the Amstel Gold Race will double the prize money for the ladies for the upcoming edition in April. In addition, the appearance money for all teams has been increased by almost €10,000 in total." The race director of the Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition, Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel, is quoted as saying that "we are doubling the prize money for the women this year and I am very happy with that."ADVERTISEMENT Zijlaard-van Moorsel also says, "It is now also important to let the sport grow across the board so that all teams can become more professional. For that reason, we have also considerably increased the appearance money for all women's teams." Increase in prize money not as large as claimed It is true that the prize fund has been increased considerably. In 2018, the race followed the minimum prize money table mandated by the UCI for a Women's WorldTour one-day race, paying out a total of €5,245 of which the winner Chantal Blaak (Boels Dolmans) received €1,150. The winner of the 2019 edition to be held on April 21 will receive €2,500, and the total prize fund is now €10,000. The UCI has also increased its minimum prize money ahead of the 2019 season. The minimum total prize fund for a Women’s WorldTour one-day race is now €5,765, €1,265 of which goes to the race winner. Increase in appearance money down to rule change by UCI
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