‘It’s in the top eight victories in my career’ - Remco Evenepoel sprints to maiden Amstel Gold Race win

Remco Evenepoel secured his first-ever victory at the Amstel Gold Race in a dramatic sprint finish against defending champion Mattias Skjelmose. The Belgian rider, who is having an exceptional season with eight wins to date, edged out Skjelmose by a narrow margin after the pair broke away from the peloton in the closing stages. Their duel mirrored last year’s showdown, but this time Evenepoel demonstrated superior strength and confidence, crossing the line just ahead of the Dane. The race saw a select group of riders escape the main field with around 40km remaining, including Romain Grégoire, who was eventually dropped on the penultimate climb of the Cauberg. Evenepoel and Skjelmose then increased their lead over the final circuit, maintaining a comfortable gap as they reached the iconic climb for the last time. Despite Skjelmose’s efforts to respond, Evenepoel’s sprint proved decisive, while Benoît Cosnefroy claimed third place in the chasing group. Reflecting on his win, Evenepoel described the victory as one of the top eight of his career, emphasising his fondness for the race’s short, sharp climbs. He expressed confidence during the race, noting that he felt stronger on the ascents and sensed his rival was reaching his limit. Skjelmose, meanwhile, acknowledged that last year’s win had been fortunate, conceding that Evenepoel was simply the stronger rider this time around. Looking ahead, Evenepoel is set to compete in Liège–Bastogne–Liège next Sunday, with the possibility of riding La Flèche Wallonne midweek depending on his recovery. He highlighted the importance of assessing his condition before deciding on additional racing, but was keen to savour the significance of his Amstel Gold triumph. This victory further cements Evenepoel’s status as a dominant force in the spring classics and adds to an already impressive season.