The Ardennes Classics will start earlier this year, and the Amstel Gold Race will replace Paris-Roubaix due to a calendar reshuffle.

The race is the biggest race day of the season in the Netherlands and the opening race of the three major WorldTour hill climb races in the lowlands, including La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Current champions Wout van Aert and Marianne Vos will not be competing in this event, but the women's and men's Amstel Gold Race peloton is packed with stars, including Mathieu van der Pol, Annemiek van Fruten, Tom Pidcock

The race is also the first to be held in the Amsterdam Gold Race.

See their comments in Maastricht here.

"It will be special. The year we won was crazy and we had the national champion jersey, so that could have been an even bigger trigger for the fans. It's the first time in the last couple of years that people have been able to get to the side of the course, so it's going to be a great atmosphere."

"I know this race well because I practiced here a lot when I was younger. So I know all the roads and climbs. Like I said before, experience is important, but legs are more important."

"People will look at me a little bit, but I don't think they like me any more than they did in Flanders, and that suits me better. Here in Amstel it is a bit different, there are no cobblestones. It's going to be a hard race for sure and I think some of the riders will come out on top in the end."

"I think I'm well rested after Altitude Week. After a week at altitude, I'm well rested.

"There are some small paths, left, right, left, right, similar to Flanders. Position is quite important. My personal challenge is to make a difference on the sharp, short climbs. I need at least 4 minutes to make a gap on the others. My favorites are the hard races, so at least I will suffer.

"SD Walks is the big favorite here. The team proved last week that you can't forget about Movistar.

"I got sick this week and it was very frustrating. I made a lot of efforts to stay healthy, but now I can only think it was bad luck. But I'm at the starting line and I'm going to give it my best today."

"It's a really good race. I love running around here. I love racing here. I didn't race here last year, so it's a new track for me. So I'm looking forward to the experience of the other riders and having fun."

"It's a really cool race for us, and with so many spectators on the side and family and friends, I'm really excited to do a good race here with the team.

"Amsterdam suits me very well, but I think the other races do too.

"Of course [Anne-Mike] is a big favourite and a constant danger for us and the other racers, so we have to be careful with her.

"Hopefully today I feel better than last weekend. Last week I was still feeling a little under the weather, but I had a good rest, so hopefully today I will be able to reach my full potential."

"It's a little bit different race than last year and the year before. It's a little bit different going into the climbs. I think that's where the action will be as we head towards the Cauberg at the end."

"It's hard to say because Mathieu also likes to go from a distance. It will be interesting to see the tactics of the other teams. I hope to play a war of attrition today and hope that in the final I can make my run with the best team members."

"I think we will have a good chance to win the race," he said.

"This race is beautiful but I think it is too hard for me. Of course I will do my best but it will be a hard race today. Let's see what happens on the road. There will be a lot of attacks and we want to be part of that. We'll find out eventually."

"Hopefully we can make it to the finals and then we can cut our own cards. Parkour is quite different. I think it's more difficult than it was a few years ago when we played the same final.

"We did well in Flanders, but we missed the first group and had to chase from behind. I want to avoid making the same mistake again. I'm going to try to force it before the last lap. We have the riders for that and I will do my best."

"I am very excited. It's always great to race in your home country and it's special to have so many spectators here."

"It's difficult because a lot can happen. It could be a breakaway group, it could be a sprint from a small group ...... I have to say it's an unpredictable race. There are so many different scenarios."

"Personally, my best bet is to be in a breakaway group, and Balsamo is there for the sprint. As a team we have different options. The shape of the race is very good, but to be honest, it's not for me.

"I started in Italy and won my first race there. It's hard to say how I'm feeling after such a long race, but I'm happy to be back and I feel good today."

"It's definitely going to be a super hard race and I think there are a couple of steep, short climbs with 60km to go. That's going to be the key. That's where you have to get to the front and that's where the main group will go."

"I'm really looking forward to it. It's my best race of the year. I'm back on the road and I felt pretty good last week [at the Volta Limburg Classic]. Hopefully I can get something out of it and run well in the final."