Amstel Gold Race: Evenepoel takes revenge with sprint win

Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel won the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, beating Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose in a two-man sprint. It is his first victory in the Dutch classic and revenge for last year, when Skjelmose beat both him and Tadej Pogacar.

The race was decided after a late attack on the Cauberg, where only Skjelmose could follow Evenepoel. The pair stayed clear to the finish, with Evenepoel proving stronger in the final sprint.

France’s Benoit Cosnefroy took third place, winning the sprint from the chasing group ahead of Romain Gregoire. Belgium’s Emiel Verstrynge finished fifth.

This was Evenepoel’s seventh win of the season and the 74th of his career. He recently finished third at the Tour of Flanders.

In the women’s race, Spain’s Paula Blasi took victory after a strong late effort. She was joined by Dutch veteran Marianne Vos before pulling clear to win. Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma finished second, with the Netherlands’ Demi Vollering in third place.

^{Remco Evenepoel and Mattias Skjelmose © BELGA PHOTO POOL VINCENT KALUT}