photo credits @ WTFK
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) stamped his authority on today’s Amstel Gold Race, after he attacked along the Eyserbosweg with 36 kilometers to go, a move that saw only Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) able to respond to the Slovenian rider’s move before dispatching his rivals on the next climb of the Keutenberg.
From there, Pogačar never looked back, later crossing the finish some 38-seconds ahead of runner-up, Healy, who dropped his British companion during the final kilometers.
Race Highlights
A small breakaway group containing Mathias Vacek (Trek-Segafredo) Ward Vanhoof (Team Flanders – Baloise) Martin Urianstad (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) Alessandro Fedeli (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) Tobias Ludvigsson (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) Mattéo Vercher (TotalEnergies) Leon Heinschke (Team DSM), managed to ride clear within the first 4 kilometers, later opening up an advantage of around 5 minutes over the peloton.
UAE Team Emirates, with the firmest of favorites in their fold, was tasked with controlling things from there, a responsibility the squad was happy to take on before reining in the escapees.
Indeed. with 110 kilometers remaining, the race was all back together. But, not for very long, as the peloton approached the finishing circuit, a sizable group of riders forced a split at the front of the bunch.
Now at 16-riders strong, the group was able to open up a slight gap of around half a minute, with riders like Chris Juul-Jensen (Jayco AIUla) getting dropped on the steeper climbs.
With 39 kilometers remaining, Pogačar was forced to make a bike change, but this didn’t prevent him from easily making his way back into the lead group with consummate ease.
It wasn’t long after, that Pogačar executed his winning move, with only Pidcock and Healy managing to hold onto his wheel over the Eyserbosweg.
With 28 kilometers to go, Pogačar dropped the hammer, jettisoning his companions with not so much as a glance back.
From that point, Pogačar’s gap only grew, allowing him a ceremonial lap of honor, while Healy attacked Pidcock on the Geulhemmerberg, dropping the INEOS rider in pursuit of second spot on the podium.
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