Evenepoel wins anniversary edition of the Amstel Gold Race
Remco Evenepoel claimed victory in the 60th edition of the Amstel Gold Race. The Belgian prevailed in a two-man sprint against defending champion Mattias Skjelmose, while Benoît Cosnefroy won the sprint for third place.
A packed Market Square in Maastricht provided the backdrop for the start of the 60th edition of the Amstel Gold Race. It was also the final race for long-time race director Leo van Vliet, who steps down after thirty years. At 11:15 a.m., he waved the flag to start “his” Amstel Gold Race for the last time, sending the riders off towards Valkenburg with 33 climbs on the route.
The early breakaway formed quickly, as nine riders went on the attack: Artz (Lotto Intermarché), Maciejuk (Movistar Team), Frigo (NSN Cycling Team), Barguil (Team Picnic PostNL), Azparren (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Lopez (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA), Deweirdt (Team Flanders – Baloise), Retailleau (TotalEnergies) and Stockman (Unibet Rose Rockets). The leaders’ maximum advantage grew to around four minutes.
Up front, Frigo proved to be clearly the strongest. With several sharp accelerations, the Italian dropped his breakaway companions and went solo. With fifty kilometres remaining, his lead was down to one minute after Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe ramped up the pace in the peloton.
Grégoire (Groupama – FDJ United) opened the finale on the Kruisberg, joined by Evenepoel (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe), Skjelmose (Lidl‑Trek), Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Vauquelin (INEOS Grenadiers). Following a crash involving Vauquelin and Jorgenson, the lead group was reduced to three riders, who then bridged across to Frigo.
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The Italian was eventually forced to give way after an acceleration by Evenepoel, while Grégoire cracked shortly afterwards on the penultimate ascent of the Cauberg. Skjelmose and Evenepoel then started the final lap together. Grégoire was caught by a chasing group including Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) and Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla), almost a minute behind.
Even on the final ascent of the Cauberg, Evenepoel was unable to drop Skjelmose, setting up a sprint finish between the two. Evenepoel launched powerfully and Skjelmose could not follow. The Belgian thus secured his first Amstel Gold Race victory, after finishing third on his debut last year. In the battle for third place, Cosnefroy came out on top.
