Olympic Champion takes third just two days after winning Brabantse Pijl.
Remco Evenepoel finished a remarkable third in Amstel Gold Race, the first of the Ardennes Classics, which took in 255.9 kilometers and 34 climbs that made the day an intense one and reduced the peloton to some 40-odd riders by the moment the big moves came on the penultimate lap.
The result – which came after an early crash – speaks volumes of the Belgian’s fantastic determination, fighting spirit and mentality of never giving up no matter the circumstances, at the same time serving as a huge confidence-boost ahead of the next two races, Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
Sunday’s Amstel was one of the best and most thrilling races of the season, in part thanks to Evenepoel, who produced another massive show of strength on the hilly roads of Limburg, adding some much-needed salt and pepper to a race that looked to be very much over with 46 kilometers to go, when Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) attacked and opened a gap of more than 40 seconds on the others. The Wolfpack didn’t throw in the towel, Ilan Van Wilder assuming pace-setting duties at the head of the small chasing group and making inroads into the advantage of the Slovenian.
When the gap showed 30 seconds, it was the cue for Evenepoel to take off, bridging across Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) and joining the Dane. The double Olympic Champion went into time trial mode as did most of the chasing, and his effort paid dividends when the two caught Pogacar just eight kilometers from the line. Remco continued to ride strongly at the front as they tackled the Cauberg for the last time and entered in the final kilometer with the others glued to his wheel. There, he waited for the last 300 meters to open the sprint, emptying himself en route to an impressive third place – our team’s 20th podium in the Ardennes.
“I have mixed feelings. Overall, it was a good day, although not everything was perfect. Coming back after the crash cost me some important energy today, because at one point I was more than two minutes behind. It’s a pity I had that bad luck, as without it I think the outcome and the result would have been different, especially as I felt really good at the start. On the other hand, I can be happy with the way I fought and came back, this is good for my morale ahead of next week.”
“In the sprint there was some headwind and maybe I should have waited a bit more before launching my effort, but it’s something from which I’ll learn. I’m content with the fact I am on the podium in my first Amstel Gold Race and motivated for the next races”, said Remco after his seventh podium in a World Tour one-day race.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
