The Amstel Gold Race is the latest event to announce a prize purse of €40,000 each for men and women, with €16,000 for the winner.

The first of three Ardennes Classics, the Amstel Gold Races, will take place on April 10 in the Netherlands, and the women's peloton will win €30,000 more than the previous year's race won by Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma women).

"In recent years we have taken repeated measures to increase the equality of the Amstel Gold Race," Els Dijkhuizen, marketing director of Heineken Nederland, was reported by AD.nl (opens in new tab).

"From the playful action with the lap masters to the unique joint male-female team presentation in cycling.

"In addition, the prize money has been gradually increased in recent years and will be raised to a fully equal prize for men and women starting with the next competition."

The organizers of the Amstel Gold Race took a similar decision with the Tour of Flanders, which increased the total prize money for women to €50,000, and the Classic Bourges des Pannees, which increased the total prize money for women to €40,000.

Although only a fraction of the men's Grand Tour prize money, the Tour de France Femme and the Giro d'Italia Donnay offer €250,000.

"It's a big step forward. Considering where women's cycling came from and where it is now, this really makes a big difference," said race director Leontien Girard Van Moorsel.

"The development of equality in cycling has made great strides in recent years. I am proud to be taking a leading role in the Amstel Gold Race, always taking innovative steps."

"I am very proud to be a part of the Amstel Gold Race, and I am very proud to be a part of the Amstel Gold Race.