Cycling: Wout van Aert has won the Amstel Gold Race for the first time in his career. In the sprint of a top trio, the Belgian was only able to get ahead of the British Thomas Pidcock by a hair's breadth. The German Maximilian Schachmann has to settle for third place after a strong race.
Van Aert wins in photo finish ahead of Pidcock
Maximilian schachmann (Bora – hansgrohe) just missed out on a huge win in a one-day race. The German formed together with wout van aert (Jumbo – Visma) and thomas pidcock (Ineos – Grenadiers) the trio, which in the end was allowed to compete for the day's victory. There he tried to break away with an attack. After this failed, he was finally inferior to the two strong sprinters. However, even the television viewers were not able to see immediately who won the Amstel Gold Race 2021, because the decision was really close. Ultimately, Wout van Aert was declared the winner.
The somewhat different Amstel Gold Race
The Amstel Gold Race was held for the 55th time today, making it one of the youngest classics or semi-classics in cycling. And this year everything should be a little different. The one-day race started in Valkenburg and ended after 216,7 kilometers in Berg en Terblijt. This means that the "beer race" is not only significantly shorter than usual, but also follows a completely different course. Because of the corona pandemic, the Amtel Gold Race was held today without spectators and on a circuit. This had to be driven 12 times and included the Geulhemmerberg (1,1 km, 5,4%), the Bemelerberg (900 m, 5%) and the Cauberg (1,2 km, 5,8%) three difficulties.
Ide Schelling strong as a bear again
10 professionals tried their luck on the offensive right after the start. Stan Dewulf (AG2R - Citroën), Sebastien Grignard (Lotto – Soudal), Chad Haga (DSM), Ryan Gibbons (UAE), Kenny Molly (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB), Different Skaarseth (Uno-X), Edward Theuns (Trek - Segafredo), Julien bernard (Trek - Segafredo), Maurits Lammertink (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert) and Loic Vlichen (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert) were awarded a lead of a few minutes. In the peloton, Movistar, Astana, Deceuninck – Quick-Step, UAE and Jumbo – Visma felt responsible. Nevertheless it succeeded Ide Schelling (Bora – hansgrohe) to pull away after catching up with the escapees. The Dutchman again presented himself in an outstanding form on the day. When it went up the Cauberg for the last time, the Belgian team Deceuninck - Quick-Step pushed the pace enormously to win the race for captain Julian Alaphilippe correspondingly difficult to design. That's what happened to the lonely soloist.
Schachmann, Pidcock & Van Aert break up
The Cauberg lived up to its title of executioner of today's race. The main field broke up into nothing but small groups. Three professionals from the Ineos Grenadiers team found themselves right at the front. Of course, they now tried to turn their superior numbers into a top result by alternating attacks. Finally managed to get around 13 kilometers from the finish thomas pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Maximilian schachmann (Bora – hansgrohe) and wout van aert (Jumbo – Visma) from their companions. The group behind didn't really see eye to eye, so the trio ended up fighting for victory and all the podium places. The Deceuninck – Quick-Step team gambled a bit. While Julian Alaphilippe took over at the Cauberg, presented itself Mauri Vansevenant in top form. The Belgian fell and had to rejoin the field twice and was even stronger than his leader in the decisive race situation.
El Belga Wout van Aert, with photofinish, is impuso in the Amstel Gold Race #EGR2021. pic.twitter.com/Z48bqdN6tG
— Óscar David Ríos Gil🚲🌎 (@Orios8) April 18, 2021
Vos wins in Dutch triple success
The women had already finished their Amstel Gold Race around noon. The Ladies Edition of the famous race was held for the seventh time. After 116,3 kilometers was allowed Marianne Vos (Jumbo – Visma) crossing the finish line jubilantly. Demi Vollering (SD Worx) and Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) complete the purely Dutch podium. The decision was only made in a mass sprint, after the leading duo suddenly no longer agreed 300 meters from the finish line and got lost in tactical games. defending champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon – SRAM) from Poland and the Italian Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek – Segafredo) were able to break away at the Cauberg and have actually made everything clear in their favour. After being caught, they have to settle for ranks 10 and 8.
An ongelofelijke ontknoping in the Amstel Gold Race for vrouwen was Marianne Vos bijna te vroeg juicht! pic.twitter.com/xFXfF61OFY
— Sporza 🚴 (@sporza_koers) April 18, 2021